Three I’m-still-recovering-from-that-epic-Rodeo-set-last-night reasons to flex in the mirror, kiss your biceps, and hop on over to the Empty Bottle tonight…

1. Berlin’s – like Germany – Stereo Total are totally from Germany. The thing is, they have a sense of humor and whimsy. Just listen to “I Wanna Be A Mama” on the that there Myspace and you’d swear they were Japanese kids with German accents. I can think of no better way of describing the overtly cute schtick going on here. I’m going to need to check their passports.

2. Chicago’s Brilliant Pebbles eat up the 80′s new wave/goth and crap out 80′s new wave/goth. Anyone familiar with my opinion-a-tion knows that those are genres I am not, let’s say, in love with. The thing is, I saw them at the Bottle once before and after my eyes rolled back into place I became quite entranced by their front woman, Monika Bukowska. Not in that way. She just demands attention. So, maybe you can go see for yourself and let me know if I was momentarily insane or if Brilliant Pebbles Krautrock meets Siouxsie & The Banshees isn’t kind of mesmerizing.

3. And then there’s Chicago’s Boutros, who might be as close to Maneater Hall And Oates as humanly possible. You know despite how much you try to hate Hall And Oates that when they come on at work you find yourself dreaming of rolling up your jacket sleeves and belting out songs about lists of kisses. Boutros may dress up their tunes in keyboards and drum machines, but dammit if there aren’t pop gems lurking beneath. So, now you know I kind of like Hall And Oates. They’re no Little River Band, though.

9:30 p.m. Monday, 8/30. Empty Bottle. 21+. $15.