I've had a few nice opportunities to see bands in intimate settings... and definitely an excellent experience. Much of what I think of as "my music" was 1980s... in "later years" I have seen Howard Jones, Depeche Mode and the Fixx play small venues.
Other memorable events was walking through a park in Copenhagen during the summer of 1980 where there was a weekend of "alternative" rock... just as a band took the stage... and a (now) famous voice yelled "We're U2, and we're from Dublin!" Amazing sound and energy! That was just before they got big.
Also had the privilege of seeing an unknown band called "The Police" at a small club in London in 1977... while I was in boarding school in the UK.
You've got some nice stories for the grandchildren. :)
Seeing a few bands before they got big is always interesting. The Police also played in a pub in Toronto before that hit it big.