Iowa State's Student Union has a small pub called the Maintenance Shop. When I was a student there there was a PBS series called "Jazz at the Maintenance Shop" (later there was a follow-on series called "Blues at the Maintenance Shop") where they brought in top acts from around the world [Pat Matheny, Charlie Byrd, Dixie Dregs, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Arlo Guthrie, Firesign Theatre, Leo Kottke, Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, Son Seals {several times each year}]. The M-Shop sat 200 if they REALLY liked each other. Typical setup for a show was about 80-120, on the lower end for the PBS tapings. As you might expect, tickets were very hard to come by.

I only got tickets once, but it was for my all-time favorite jazz artist, Jean-Luc Ponty. It was an incredible show. You were literally close enough to feel the sweat fly from his forehead. I saw him a few years later at the Moore Theater in Seattle and had front row center seats, but it was nothing like that night at the Maintenance Shop.

They still have shows at the M-Shop but I must admit I have not heard of any of the recent artists. Doesn't mean that others wouldn't have, though.

p.s. Janis Joplin was my Mom's 2nd Cousin. Can't remember what that makes me, is that a 3rd cousin or it one of those "once removed" nonsenses? She was, to put it lightly, the black sheep of the family. My great-grandmother basically refused to let anyone bring up her name.