Lucinda Williams and Amos Lee Tickets

Stage AE has something going on with open sewer vents/manholes, grating, etc. that makes this place wreak of sanitary sewer. Heard rumors of this and thought it was crazy but it did indeed smell like foul sewage. Otherwise, Stage AE is a relatively intimate venue. If you're in the grass, a sun tarp covering stage equimpent blocks a good portions the view for this grass/lawn area. Went to see Amos Lee and I think we were the only ones that did. Most of the crowd appeared to be there for Lucinda. Made it kind of awkward when my wife and I were the only ones seemingly enjoying Amos Lee (he was amazing by the way). Lucinda sang a song with Amos Lee and sounded like "a dying cow." ...We left after Amos Lee finished his set.

Amos Lee rocked the house and kept it fun. He has a great voice and style. His band was very good, but I thought they could be a bit better. Lucinda remains one of my favorite song writers, and I love her interpretations, but I found it very disconcerting that she kept checking the sheet music. It made it seem like the short catchy phrasing that I've always loved and found interesting and quirky, was perhaps just to keep it short and simple. Her band was fantastic!!!

Well, Lucinda Williams was great, as expected, and Amos Lee was pretty good too (with the exception of the strange appearance by his "friend" who sang a strange song about sensual cereal). My issue is with the venue. I'm not sure if it's because this place is relative new or what, but there is very little info about the place--what you can bring in, what to expect, etc--anywhere online. Also, different staff people seem to believe different things about the "rules". I was told on the phone that blankets were fine for the lawn. Great. We toted our blankets. We get there and the sign of prohibited items says no blankets. To make sure, I ask the guy at the ticket window. Blankets are not allowed. So we haul our blankets all the way back to the parking garage. Then, we go in, and everyone on the lawn has a blanket. But us. We sit on the grass, which isn't terrible (thank goodness it hadn't just rained), but the miscommunication was irritated and concerning.