photo via mgmt [myspace]

Bad news for impulse planners, both of these shows are sold out. Maybe you have connections, the tenacity to wait outside hoping for spare tickets to appear from heaven, or other options? (update: … or a miraculous last-minute release of tickets! A few Raconteurs tickets just became available. [tig / ticketswest]) Either way:

• Last month, the Raconteurs raced against the leakers and pirates to distribute their album online. Everyone liked the stylings of the Jack White-anchored supergroup that tickets for tonight’s show at Neumo’s disappeared in a matter of pre-sale hours. with Birds of Avalon. [neumos]
• If it ever gets warm enough, there are at least three tracks among MGMT’s rediscovery of peace and free love anthems on Oracular Spectacular ready and willing to contend for a place in your summer muxtape. I waver between swirling opener “Time to Pretend” with its roots in youth fantasia (although, maybe with a six-figure record deal it’s not so out there) and pulsing “Kids”, with its dance-friendly drumbeat and the upper registers of a casio being worked over intensely, fuzzy vocals, and samples of children on either side. At their high points, its easy to imagine a season of sun, bandanas, and dance parties. For now, Chop Suey will have to serve as a reasonable approximation. [chopsuey ]