Okay, I've finally been to shows both indoors and outdoors here. And yes, A Perfect Circle played an excellent show. (And more importantly, so did Red Bacteria Vacuum. Am I right?)
Stage AE is something we'd been starved for in Pittsburgh for some time. It's a decent mid-sized venue. It's brand new, squeaky clean thus far, and although it definitely throws off a very "corporate" sort of vibe, I just don't care because the acts it'll bring will make that worth it.
The indoor area is sizeable, and comfortable... if that's the right word. The outdoor area is, well, about the same.
I don't know whose choice The Sound of Music was between sets/while they were setting up, but I never, ever want to hear anything from that play ever again.
The only issue I've seen with the place so far is that security seems to be really interested in yelling at you about cigarettes, cellphone pictures, etc. But seriously, who cares if someone takes a cellphone video of the show and posts it to Youtube? The quality will be terrible anyway. If that counts as copyright infringement then so is me drawing a picture of the Mona Lisa with my left hand. Come on.
BUT they seemed like they were all bark and no bite. People did just about the amount of getting-away-with-things that kept it fun but still safe. I only ever saw security take care of people who were getting way out of hand, and that's good, because that's what they're there for.
Parking isn't a nightmare, either! And there's plenty to do nearby, which is good because you can wait out the traffic jam after the show.
Stage AE is something we needed, and I think it says good things about the future of Pittsburgh as a fun place to be.