• • WBEZ’s Jim DeRogatis has the scoop on the Cook County Board of Commissioner’s recent move to grab control over the amusement tax waiver provided to Lollapalooza. The county estimates that the annual summer festival’s tax exemption adds up to approximately $350,000 a year to the county alone.
• • ‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius tragically passed away last week and Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot detailed Cornelius’ legacy as a civil rights pioneer and musical tastemaker.
• • Brooklyn Vegan Chicago has the details on Mavis Staples headlining this year’s Chicago Blues Festival in June.
• • Deli Chicago named Mutts its “Emerging Artist of the Year” for 2011. Congrats, guys!
• • Jessica Hopper spoke to Chicago singer-songwriter Ami Saraiya about her new album, due out in April, and how her nursing career inspires her music.

Veronica Falls

The Bottle and partners will produce five events under the High Fidelity banner to be held at WBEZ’s studios at Navy Pier this year. The first one takes place on Thursday, February 16, with London indie poppers Veronica Falls. The group will also appear later that night at The Empty Bottle.

Tickets for the series are free with RSVP (RSVP@EmptyBottle.com) to the Empty Bottle by midnight February 12. Each RSVP is good for one entry (Update: admission not guaranteed – see below). Attendees will receive an e-mail on February 13 with show information. An RSVP does not guarantee admission since space is limited. So get there early.

This isn’t the first time The Empty Bottle has presented a show with WBEZ. My Brightest Diamond performed at WBEZ studios as a part of The Empty Bottle’s “Music.Friendly.Dancing” series last August.

Update from The Empty Bottle: Just to clarify: An RSVP does not guarantee admission – names get entered into a drawing and winners will be randomly chosen and notified on February 13th, along with show information. Only those who are picked will be allowed into the show so getting their early won’t get you in. It’s double-secret exclusive…

Update #2 from WBEZ: “To clarify- the concert series is primarily for High Fidelity members of WBEZ. Empty Bottle is giving away a few additional tickets.”

“Cartoon Paper Cup” kicks off with a tight drum intro and bouncing bass line before metallic guitars riffs rip through the mix. The song’s perky, upbeat vibe is enough to rouse anyone suffering from a food- or work-induced coma.

Check out the single at the top left and then catch Swimsuit Addition, one of our 12 Bands to Watch in 2012, on February 24 at the Burlington with Vamos and House Sounds. Tickets are $5.

ellusive parallelograms

1. Milwaukee pop rockers Elusive Parallelograms are fairly impressive in the way they can combine alt-rock epic-ness with sparkling psychedelics and infectious pop structure without it overwhelming the listener with its differences. LISTEN: “Intelligent Design“

2. I’ve got a fever for more spooky garage pop. And Chicago’s Rabbit Children are happy to oblige with their jams that are heavy on guitar and packed full of grooving, moody rhythms and sweet, haunting harmonies. LISTEN: “Friend“

3. Get your dancing shoes on because opening act, Brother George shall get you on your feet with swinging garage rock that is a little bit Rolling Stones and a little bit Eagles of Death Metal with its tracks named after ladies like “Caroline, Again” and “Olivia.” LISTEN: “Keep U Mine.”

9:00 p.m. Thursday, 2/2. Panchos. 21+ $5.

1. Having a (slight) bit of down time can be a marvelous thing, especially when members of bands such as Disappears, Heavy Times and Verma decide to join forces. E+ specialize in doling out rhythms so fuzzy, creating atmosphere so dark and moody that they ultimately entrance the listener with swirling fits of minimalist psychedelics. LISTEN: “{Mithra} Sunn 88 (Live at Beat Kitchen)“

2. Tasked with whipping the audience into a small frenzy are local quartet Coffin Pricks. The decidedly “unchill wave” post-punks rumble with the same brewing intensity of bands like Mission of Burma and Husker Dü. LISTEN: “Group Home Haircut“

3. Getting the night off to the oh-so-right start are Chicago trio Wimps. The band waft by on a hazy cloud of bouncy, thick basslines and slick mellow grooves that transport us back to those sweet 60s surf rock days. LISTEN: “Every Night“

9:00 p.m. Wednesday, 2/1. Schubas. 21+ $8.

• • In stories that make you go “hmm” news, Gossip Wolf reveals that Chicago math rockers Del Ray have noticed a sales boost in Germany. Naturally, this can only be attributed to confusion with pouty pop temptress Lana Del Ray?
• • Brooklyn Vegan Chicago has some rad shots from last Tuesday’s Tortoise show at the Empty Bottle.
• • Gapers Block provide us with a wealth of photos in its review of Friday’s Los Campesinos! show at the Metro.
• • Gene Wagendorf of Windy City Rock discovers that even pounding sinus headaches accompanied by “orbs of phlegm” can’t stop a person from enjoying Yawn’s special brand of psych pop.

Lasers and Fast and Shit

Let’s get with “it” before they change what “it” was.

FRIDAY

SWIMSUIT ADDITION
Nothing gets you through an immensely long day that never seems to end like some bouncy power pop. Swimsuit Addition boost your energy levels with fun, snappy guitar solos and raw, scratchy vocals that feel warm and inviting through all that cigarette smoke. And, hey, the fine ladies of Swimsuit Addition just so happened to make our 12 Bands to Watch in 2012 list. So you definitely don’t want to waste this opportunity to bask in our raditude. Also appearing are Chicago by way of Portland (does that happen?) post-punks Big Joy and the grimiest sludge pop trio ever made, Rodeo. Come for the beer, stay for the bands. (Audrey Leon)

10:00 p.m. Friday, 1/27. Cole’s Bar. 21+ FREE!!!

SATURDAY

LASERS AND FAST AND SHIT
Get ready to sweat. Locals LASERS AND FAST AND SHIT bring their frenetic take on jerky punk rock to the Double Door on Saturday night. Their songs, which rarely reach three minutes in length, are rowdy but quite danceable, oh, and expect excessive use of fog machines. Also on the bill are Chicago’s, and I feel wholly comfortable saying this, best gypsy punk marching band, Mucca Pazza! Opening is Chicago-plant and house music spinning DJ RomaSoul. Get crazy. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 1/28. Double Door. 21+. $15.

DOZENS
While everyone else is out getting “cray cray,” the Empty Bottle will be awash in Chicago trio Dozen’s sweet new-wave jams. The group creates relaxed pop melodies that easily mix with spacey atmospherics and plenty of vibrating synths. Also appearing are Chicago new-wave meets gypsy rock group Milano, folk rockers Property of Saints and ambient shoegazers Oil Fields. (Audrey Leon)

9:30 p.m. Saturday, 1/28. Empty Bottle. 21+ $5.

SUNDAY

MANIPULATION
Because there’s no pro football on Sunday, you need something to take place of the violent hits and concussion-worthy sacks. Good thing the Empty Bottle put together a rad bill of local hardcore punk and metal. Manipulation headline with their wall of fuzz guitars, breakneck rhythms and scruffy vocals. But that’s not all! be sure to get there early for the smooth jazz ear-fuck stylings of Shithammer, Kontaminat and Die Time. If there was ever a show to use the word, “rage,” it’s this one. Let’s, uh, rage. (Richard Giraldi)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 1/29. The Empty Bottle. 21+. $3.