Upon hearing the sampled beats and metallic whirring of “Cold Hands” on Valis‘ Giant System debut, I couldn’t help but feel like I was suddenly trapped in the movie Silence of the Lambs. The only thing missing among the dimly lit room and mysterious fog was Buffalo Bill dancing to “Goodbye Horses.” All that aside, Valis’ brand of hypnotic, industrial techno is definitely worth a listen. As long as the lights are still on at home. Welcome back, Giant System!

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Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• • First ward alderman Proco Joe Moreno calls the Congress Theater “a dump” in a recent interview with WBEZ blogger Jim DeRogatis. Moreno has scheduled an Deleterious Impact/Public Nuisance hearing for Tuesday, April 17, at 11:30 a.m., which will be held at City Hall, to address public safety and noise concerns. The community is invited to attend. If the Congress doesn’t meet its community commitments, it stands to lose its liquor license.
• • Michael Orlove, one of this city’s prolific music programmers for the city’s many free music events like Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays and World Music Festival among others, has been hired away by the National Endowment for the Arts. No word on how this will affect Downtown Sound.
• • Leor Galil chronicles the story of DIY venue Summer Camp which hosted its last show last year. The final show will be commemorated with a four track 7-inch and a two and a half hour DVD to be released in April.
• • Are you ready for the return of R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet? Because it’s happening.
• • It’s about time OK Go started their own dating website.

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Three “Vowels? We don’t need no stinkin’ vowels!” reasons to hop, skip or jump over to the Empty Bottle tonight…

1. There certainly seems to be a nationwide love affair happening with ye old surf rock. However, I’m not talking about your dad’s surf rock. No, you won’t find any Dick Dale riffs around here. Costa Mesa, California, quartet TRMRS is all about that good time rock’n'roll fun. The group mix plenty of warm sunshine into its drenched-in-reverb psychedelic pop tuneage. They call it Trash Pop, I call it bleach blanket bingo music. LISTEN: “Hello Self“

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Numero Group has announced that it will once again open its pop-up retail shop during Record Store Day, to be held Saturday, April 21.

The biggest surprise? The Empty Bottle will serve as Numero Group’s Record Store Day headquarters. Last year, the label opened up shop in a Wicker Park storefront.

Numero Group said in a blog post announcing the shop that it will sell a limited edition Record Store Day LP/CD, WTNG 89.9FM: Solid Bronze, as well as a 45 that can only be purchased at the Bottle. In addition to their gems from their own catalog, Numero Group promises to fill the bottle with thousands of LPs, CDs, tapes, 45s, 8-tracks, DVDs, books and magazines from venders all over the country.

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Three “Hey, Spring, What happened to you? You used to be cool,” reasons to head on over to Beat Kitchen and avoid that sun…

1. Brooklyn baroque poppers North Highlands are the perfect band with which to kick back and settle into some mellow. The group’s twinkling atmospherics mixed with shimmering guitar work will leave you floating. Vocalist Brenda Malvini’s gentle harmonies tie North Highland’s dreamy compositions together with a big red bow. There’s an air of similarity between North Highlands and post-rocking Brits Electrelane, but where Electrelane’s bend toward the experimental hit harder and faster, North Highlands’ takes some time to smell the roses. LISTEN: “Chicago.”

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When we last heard from Hollows, the quintet was trying to get us into a tasty summer groove with their head boppin’ single “Hot Sand.” Now the group is back with some new tunes on its sophomore album, Vulture.

The album’s first single “V for Vultures” may be Hollows most serious song yet with its somber, steady vibe and mini-orchestra backing singer Maria Jenkins’ earnest and thoughtful vocals. The song is rounded out plenty of dense drum beats and Jenkins’ familiar organ looping throughout. Listen to the track after the jump.

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Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• • Greg Kot at the Tribune announced that Lollapalooza ticket prices will rise this year after the festival renegotiated its tax deal with the city. The new agreement will raise over $4 million in city and county revenue and keep the annual music fest at Grant Park until 2021.
• • The Sun-Times has the details on Mayor Emanuel’s plan to charge $25 per seat at Taste of Chicago concerts held at Petrillo Music Shell.
• • Soul rockers JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound provided Gapers Block with a SXSW tour diary filled with their Austin adventures. Local jazzy hip-hop outfit Jip-Jop contributed as well.
• • Speaking of SXSW, in an effort to see who still cares what he has to say, Billy Corgan called today’s mainstream artists “prostitutes” and “strippers.” He also said this gem: “I was part of a generation that changed the world – and it was taken over by poseurs.” The more you know.
• • Time Out Chicago has photos from Company of Thieves big hometown show at the Metro two Fridays ago.

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