Janis Joplin and the Kozmic Blues Band played the Minneapolis Armory on November 22, 1969, to a crowd of 8,000.  For a change we’ll cite a review by the Current, which was a short-lived underground newspaper at St. Louis Park High.  This review is by Shelly Thomas:

Janis Joplin has a definite hold over her audiences that finds them wanting much more than they get at her concerts.  Saturday, November 22, at the Minneapolis Armory was no exception.  The billing started out with Danny’s Reasons, who sounded like a recording of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.  The lead singer was a good dancer..

The Crow followed.  They came out saying “we aren’t going to stuff all that political crap down you.”  It was unsophisticated, wild fun.  They performed music on their next album, to be released in February.

By the end of their part of the show, many people agreed that they’d already gotten their money’s worth.  But the best was yet to come – Joplin walked out on stage!

Her presence drew loud applause.  Then came her plea to turn off the balcony lights.  “I’ll take full responsibility,” Janis offered.  Unfortunately there are city ordinances forbidding it.

She launched into songs from her first solo album “I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again, Mama.” …  After singing the album’s title song she received a standing ovation, which was continuous through the rest of the concert.

Until this time all the audience witnessed was Janis wiggling around on the stage.  She overcame this problem in the first fifteen minutes of the concert and just sang (which was greatly appreciated).  Next came “Piece of My Heart” from about a year ago.  Joplin’s new back-up band (complete with brass) performed much better than “Big Brother.”

Most of the main floor audience found their way to the stage.  Those in the balcony were standing and dancing.  Janis was called back for an encore.  She wailed out “Ball and Chain” to the delight of her fans.  Someone shouted out “Janis, we love you.”  “I love you to,” she replied.

Connie Hechter started out the November 29, 1969, issue of the Insider with his review:

The great white chick who wails the blues with mournful, soulful sounds came to town last Saturday, the 22nd, and accomplished something very few artists can do:  she literally packed the huge, barn-like Minneapolis Armory.  It is rarer to fill the Armory than it is the Minneapolis Auditorium.

Janis Joplin is strong enough to pull thousands (perhaps 8,000) of the hip, folk-rock youth who showed in their finery; the style show down the aisle as bodies went looking for their seats was worth the price of admission.  She also attracted hundreds of hip adults (over 25) who wanted to be turned on by her brand of charisma and shouting.  She wailed into the mike, combining her lyrics with the famous Joplin screams, and the crowd responded with applause and cheers.

Her back-up band was more than up to the task of providing tight music with well rehearsed arrangements which more than once echoed of Big Brother, her former cohorts.  It was Janis at her best, except for the fact that anyone sitting more than half way back in the hall could really not see her too well.  The p.a. system she used also left much to be desired.  It was tough to understand her much of the time and the kids rushed forward toward the end of her show, blocking the aisles and the view of hundreds of seated patrons.  It was a bad scene when this happened, something like the scene at the Jimi Hendrix show at the Minneapolis Auditorium last year.  As in the Hendrix concert, many left the Armory in disgust.  Her fans in the [?] rows who couldn’t come up with the price of the “better” seats didn’t have any alterative if they wanted to view and hear the show….

She was exciting though, and I’d welcome the chance to catch her in a smaller hall or club.