Stage AE fits perfectly into Pittsburgh's live music landscape because it fills a vital need that has been lacking for some time: a mid-level state of the art indoor space designed for taking in live music.
Anyone who has made the trek out to Burgettstown to watch a band who is used to playing indoors try to entertain five thousand people scattered across a lawn should be thrilled.
Anyone who has shelled out ticketmaster prices only to have to watch a favorite act from a seat that was created to watch hockey or basketball should be excited.
Anyone who has had to pile in a car and spend money on a hotel or crash on a couch because their favorite band wasn't playing Pittsburgh should be absolutely stoked.
Stage AE is poised to solve all of these problems. The sound is great. The viewing area is designed with great vantage points from all corners and open enough that it will allow for a crowd to move around as much or as little as it wants to. Because it is located in the middle of the stadiums in Northside, parking (and tailgating!), public transportation or finding a restaurant or a hotel should pose no issues.
I've only had the opportunity to check out the main indoor stage for the opening Girltalk show (which was pretty great), but I've heard good things about the smaller more intimate setting and the outdoor stage that will open this summer from the people who were able to take the full tour.
Overall, this place is a gift that will keep giving for the local Pittsburgh music fan.