What to Do Tonight: Cheap Girls

It may seem like the ’90s were a lousy decade for music — the airwaves were clogged with a mix of post-grunge brutishness, rap-metal ridiculousness and boy-band garishness — but let’s not forget the contributions made to power-pop during the era. Fuzzed-drenched slackers like the Lemonheads, Superdrag and Smoking Popes showed us that three chords and a solid melody were all you needed to write great songs. The ’90s may be long gone, but Cheap Girls carry the torch for the decade’s best power-pop groups. The Michigan trio’s recently released sophomore album, My Roaring 20s, is an energetic and sincere romp through drunken nights, emotional breakdowns and the ennui of early adulthood. Buzzing chords, screeching leads and bouncy rhythms mix with singer Ian Graham’s melodic musings. For guys who seem so confused by life, they certainly have this songwriting thing down. Failures Union, Signals Midwest, Two Hand Fools and Gunner-Son open at 9 p.m. at Now That’s Class (11213 Detroit Ave., 216.221.8576, myspace.com/nowthatsclass). Tickets: $5. — Matt Whelihan