I definitely have a physical need to hear live acoustic music. If I go a long time without it, my health and mental outlook deteriorate. As you said, Vic, it doesn't have to be great music. Amateur performances satisfy that need, as long as they sing on key.

But it only works if the sound is coming from actual instruments and voices, rather than from speakers. Live music through a sound system doesn't help. There is a social aspect to live amplified music, i.e. being together with people in public and talking with them and sharing interest in the same music; but that's a different need, one which I find can also be satisfied by a coffeehouse with recorded music.