Three Holy-Moly-the-weekend-is-nearly-here reasons to head down to Beat Kitchen tonight…

1. What can I say? I love a good grunge pop throwback. Chicago trio Swimsuit Addition play fun melodic punk that maintains a rough and tumble edge while plowing some tasty riffs and showing off some sweet vocal harmonies. There’s even a touch of Sleater-Kinney to up the riot grrrl quotient. I dare you not to break out into a “Batusi.”

2. Local electropop duo The Hit Back sound more Euro than American, and for good reason. For their album Who Are These Weird Old Kids, masterminds Jesse Hanabarger and Seth Weidmann sought help from the Swedes to craft the delicate pop songs that are part acoustic ballad and part atmospheric noise replete with digital drum beats and synthesizers. A description like that screams music that is on the verge of cheese-dom, but somehow The Hit Back create a soothing, and entirely enjoyable experience.

3. I often wonder if nerdy powerpop is what the Cars meant in their hit “Just What I Needed.” Chicago’s Wally Dogger takes the nerd band label and runs with it incorporating such geeky influences as Weezer, Fountains of Wayne and They Might Be Giants. It’s all harmless good fun when the band launches into “IT is for Rockstars” and “You Only Like Me When I’m Leaving.” Headliners Victorian Halls will celebrate their record release party after recently signing with locals Victory Records. The guys incorporate unusual vocals (think: screechy and high pitched in the same vein as melodic hardcore heroes Blood Brothers) over heavy-hitting dance punk rhythms. Outta sight.

7:00 p.m. Thursday, 8/11. Beat Kitchen. 17+ $10.