I was torn between seeing the Rural Alberta Advantage again at the Cedar tonight (sold out long ago) or catching all of the Best New Bands showcase at First Avenue. Fortunately, the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis made that decision much easier.

The R.A.A. (in the photo above) is playing an in-store at 6 p.m. today at the Fetus (click here for details). This is obviously great news to anyone who missed out on tickets to the Cedar show, though if you're really desperate to go I wouldn't rule out just standing outside and trying your luck that someone has an extra.

For those set on attending the New Bands showcase, the R.A.A. in-store should finish in time to head over to First Ave for the opening 7:30 p.m. slot, for which the Leisure Birds are doing the honors. Here's the tentative list of set times for the First Ave gig:

7:30pm Leisure Birds
8:15pm No Bird Sing
9:00pm Peter Wolf Crier
9:45pm Red Pens
10:30pm cameo (TheAfternoonDeLight)
10:45pm Twilight Hours
11:30pm Slapping Purses
12:15am Moonstone