Cheap Girls

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Cheap Girls

| image = Cheapgirls_live.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Cheap Girls playing at Mac's Bar in Lansing, Michigan.

| origin = Lansing, Michigan, United States

| genre = Power pop, indie rock, punk rock, pop punk, heartland rock

| years_active = 2007–2017

| label = All in Vinyl, Art of the Underground, Asian Man Records, Bermuda Mohawk, Rise Records, Paper + Plastick, No Idea Records, Quote Unquote Records, Business Casual, Suburban Home Records, Xtra Mile

| past_members = Ian Graham
Ben Graham
Adam Aymor
Jason Draper

}}

Cheap Girls were an American rock band from Lansing, Michigan. The band consisted of brothers Ian Graham (guitar, lead vocals) and Ben Graham (drums, back-up vocals), Jason Draper (Bass) and Adam Aymor (guitar). Formed in 2007, the band quickly began recording and touring, releasing their first album, Find Me a Drink Home in 2008. Together, they released four full-length studio albums. The band toured with bands such as Against Me!, The Gaslight Anthem, The Hold Steady, and The Bouncing Souls across the US and Europe. Their sound was often compared to The Replacements, The Lemonheads, and early Smoking Popes.{{cite web|url=http://www.1.xtramilerecordings.com/news/2014/2/19/cheap-girls-release-third-album-famous-graves-on-13-may |title=CHEAP GIRLS RELEASE THIRD ALBUM 'FAMOUS GRAVES' ON 12 MAY 2014 |publisher=Xtra Mile Recordings |date=February 19, 2014 |accessdate=November 19, 2014}}

History

=Beginnings=

Brothers Ian and Ben Graham began playing in bands when they were 11 and 13, respectively. Playing local shows and small venues in the Lansing, MI region is how they met Adam, who was playing in a different band at the time. In 2007, after their previous groups disbanded, the three formed Cheap Girls with the idea of creating back-to-basics rock.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/feature/cheap-girls-qa/ |last=Moore |first=Shannon |title=Q&A: Cheap Girls – Features – CMJ |publisher=CMJ |date=May 6, 2014 |accessdate=May 8, 2014}}[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cheap-girls-mn0002332307 "Cheap Girls – Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic"] AllMusic The band began playing shows and writing the music that would become their first album, Find Me a Drink Home.

=Debut album: ''Find Me a Drink Home'' (2007–2009)=

Their first full-length album, Find Me a Drink Home, was released on April 22, 2008, through Quote Unquote Records.[http://quoteunquoterecords.com/qur018.htm "Quote Unquote Records{{spaced ndash}} Find Me a Drink Home"]. Quote Unquote Records. On August 2, 2012, it was announced that future pressings of Find Me a Drink Home and My Roaring 20's would be released by Asian Man Records.[http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/post/28557774022/fmadh-mr20s-on-asian-man-records-etc "FMADH, MR20S On Asian Man Records, Etc"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508222614/http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/post/28557774022/fmadh-mr20s-on-asian-man-records-etc |date=May 8, 2014 }}. Cheap Girls Tumblr Page.

=''My Roaring 20's'' (2009–2011)=

They toured the US extensively in support of Find Me a Drink Home, which led to the release of their sophomore album My Roaring 20's via Paper + Plastick on October 9, 2009.[http://paperandplastick.com/release_details.php?id=24 "Paper + Plastick{{spaced ndash}} My Roaring 20's"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214110127/http://paperandplastick.com/release_details.php?id=24 |date=February 14, 2012 }}. Paper + Plastick. Again, their album was followed with tours of the US, as well as Europe, including the United Kingdom.[http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/post/5821763225/heres-a-poster-for-the-uk-portion-of-our "Cheap Girls Tour UK"]. Cheap Girls Tumblr Page. They also played Chicago's Riot Fest and Gainesville's The Fest. The exposure landed the band an opening slot with Against Me! when they played a one-off show in Lansing, MI in 2010 while on tour with Silversun Pickups. In February 2011, the band went on a full US tour with Against Me![http://www.punknews.org/bands/cheapgirls "Cheap Girls | Punknews.org"], Punknews.org

=Rise Records signing and ''Giant Orange'' (2011–2013)=

The band signed to Rise Records for their third LP, Giant Orange, and released the album on February 21, 2012.[http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/post/14268029751/new-record-giant-orange-out-february-21st "New Record Giant Orange Out February 21st"]. Cheap Girls Tumblr Page. It debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and was supported by a US tour with The Sidekicks.[http://www.punknews.org/article/45610 "Cheap Girls / Sidekicks (Eastern US)"]. Punknews.org.{{cite magazine|title=Cheap Girls – Chart history – Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/299036/Cheap+Girls/chart?f=324|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2014-05-22}} During this time, the band also opened for The Gaslight Anthem, Against Me!, Mustard Plug, and The Bouncing Souls at shows across the US and Europe.

In March 2012, Paste Magazine listed Cheap Girls as one of the "twenty must-see bands at SXSW 2012".{{cite web|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/03/20-must-see-bands-at-sxsw-2012.html |last=Blau |first=Max |title=Twenty Must-See Bands at SXSW 2012 |publisher=Paste |date=March 10, 2012 |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}

=''My Roaring 20's Acoustic'' (2013)=

On January 14, 2013, the band digitally released My Roaring 20's Acoustic through Quote Unquote Records. The album is an acoustic version of their 2009 release, My Roaring 20's and was made available to download for free with an option to donate. All of the donations will go towards paying for Ian Graham's medical bills from a recent knee surgery.[http://quoteunquoterecords.com/qur063.htm "Cheap Girls – My Roaring 20's Acoustic"], Quote Unquote Records

=''BARELY ALIVE in Grand Rapids, Michigan 12/30/12'' (2013)=

On February 5, 2013, the band digitally released BARELY ALIVE in Grand Rapids, Michigan 12/30/12 on their own record label, Business Casual. It is a live performance recorded at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 30, 2012.[https://archive.today/20130216235613/http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/post/42023587870/recovery-live-record "RECOVERY! LIVE RECORD!"]. Cheap Girls Tumblr Page.

=Xtra Mile Recordings and ''Famous Graves'' (2013–2017 and breakup)=

On February 19, 2013, the band posted a picture on their Facebook page from a studio in Grand Rapids, MI stating it was "day one" of demoing for their next album.{{cite web|title=Day one of demoing for our next record in Grand Rapids. Feels great to be back in the studio, moving quick.|url=http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151519548545820&set=a.10150414673090820.415734.132762340819&type=1|work=Cheap Girls on Facebook|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=20 February 2013|author=Cheap Girls|date=19 February 2013}} In an interview with Lansing's City Pulse published November 21, 2013, the band stated they have been recording and plan to release a new album in the spring of 2014.{{cite web|last=Tupica|first=Rich|title=Cheap Girls chat about upcoming LP, touring|url=http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-9571-cheap-girls-chat-about-upcoming-lp-touring.html|publisher=City Pulse|accessdate=25 November 2013|date=21 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129070255/http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-9571-cheap-girls-chat-about-upcoming-lp-touring.html|archive-date=November 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}

On January 15, 2014, it was announced that the band had signed to the independent UK-based label Xtra Mile Recordings for a world-wide release of the album.{{cite web|title=Cheap Girls announce signing to Xtra Mile Recordings|url=https://www.facebook.com/CheapGirlsMusic/posts/580503098691290|work=Cheap Girls on Facebook|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=16 January 2014|author=Cheap Girls|date=15 January 2014}}

On February 19, 2014, it was announced that the band's next album, Famous Graves, would be released on May 13, 2014. The first single from the album, "Knock Me Over", was made available online the same day.

In support of the album, the band toured with Against Me! and The Hold Steady in the spring of 2014.{{cite web|last=Anthony|first=David|title=Cheap Girls announce Famous Graves, debut new song|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/cheap-girls-announce-famous-graves-debut-new-song-201241|publisher=The A.V. Club|accessdate=February 22, 2014|date=February 19, 2014}} A tour with Andrew Jackson Jihad and Dogbreth then took place in June 2014, followed by another stint with The Hold Steady throughout July and August.{{cite web|title=Noisey Presents: Andrew Jackson Jihad Tour with Cheap Girls, Hard Girls, and Dogbreth|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/noisey-presents-andrew-jackson-jihad-tour-with-cheap-girls-hard-girls-dogbreth/|publisher=Noisey.Vice.com|access-date=April 16, 2014|date=April 15, 2014}} The band returned to Europe for a tour with Joyce Manor and Great Cynics in November 2014. Following a spring 2015 tour of the US with Restorations and Chris Farren of Fake Problems, the band posted on Twitter that it was time to write another record.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Cheap_Girls/status/576444721607884800|title=Twitter / Cheap Girls: Another fun tour in the books!|date=March 13, 2015|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=March 13, 2015}}

The band released a b-sides and rarities compilation, "God's Ex-Wife (Selective Rarities 2007–2014)," on September 16, 2016 on Asian Man Records.

On January 20, 2017, Cheap Girls announced via their Facebook page that they had broken up. Ian Graham explained the band was a vehicle for exercising his worst personality tendencies, such as substance abuse and manipulating female fans, among others.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CheapGirlsMusic/posts/10155003601480820|title=Cheap Girls on Facebook|date=January 20, 2017|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=January 21, 2017}}

Members

Adam Aymor – lead guitar (2007–2017)
Ben Graham – drums, backing vocals (2007–2017)
Ian Graham – lead vocals (2007–2017), bass guitar (2007–2016), guitar (2016–2017)
Jason Draper – bass guitar (2016–2017)

Discography

=Albums=

Find Me a Drink Home (2008, Quote Unquote / Bermuda Mohawk)
My Roaring 20's (2009, Paper + Plastick)
Giant Orange (2012, Rise Records)[http://www.alterthepress.com/2011/09/cheap-girls-sign-to-rise-records.html "Cheap Girls Sign to Rise Records & Release New Demo"]. Alter The Press!.
My Roaring 20's Acoustic (2013, Quote Unquote)[http://cheapgirls.tumblr.com/post/40272797928/some-actual-news-my-roaring-20s-acoustic-etc "Some Actual News, My Roaring 20's Acoustic, Etc."]. Cheap Girls Tumblr Page.
BARELY ALIVE in Grand Rapids, Michigan 12/30/12 (2013, Business Casual)
Famous Graves (2014, Xtra Mile Recordings)

=7" records=

Art of the Underground Singles Series (2009, Art of the Underground Records)[http://www.artoftheunderground.com/single-series.php "Single Series"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207032246/http://www.artoftheunderground.com/single-series.php |date=February 7, 2009 }}. Art of the Underground.
Cheap Girls / Failures' Union Split 7" (2009, Bermuda Mohawk)[http://failuresunion.com/release/cheap-girls-split "Failures' Union / Cheap Girls Split"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823133010/http://failuresunion.com/release/cheap-girls-split |date=August 23, 2013 }}. Failures' Union.
Cheap Girls / Above Them Split 7" (2010, All in Vinyl)[http://www.banquetrecords.com/AIV006;jsessionid=96FAC499779526D96FAB446589189EE1 "Cheap Girls / Above Them Split"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055026/http://www.banquetrecords.com/AIV006;jsessionid=96FAC499779526D96FAB446589189EE1 |date=March 4, 2016 }}. Banquet Records.
Cheap Girls / Lemuria Split 7" (2011, No Idea Records)[http://www.noidearecords.com/bands/releases/cheapgirls_lemuria.php "Cheap Girls / Lemuria Split"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027082216/http://www.noidearecords.com/bands/releases/cheapgirls_lemuria.php |date=October 27, 2011 }}. No Idea Records.
Cheap Girls / Noise By Numbers Split 7" (2011, Suburban Home Records)[http://www.suburbanhomerecords.com/2011/06/23/tppo-cheap-girlsnoise-by-numbers-under-the-influence-volume-15-7/ "Cheap Girls / Noise By Numbers Split"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122234645/http://www.suburbanhomerecords.com/2011/06/23/tppo-cheap-girlsnoise-by-numbers-under-the-influence-volume-15-7/ |date=January 22, 2016 }}. Suburban Home Records.
"Ruby" b/w "Living Like Hell" single

=Live Session Releases=

Pink Couch Sessions[http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/video/cheap-girls/parking-lot/ "Cheap Girls{{spaced ndash}}Parking Lot"]. If You Make It.
Kerosene{{spaced ndash}}Track on Germs of Perfection[http://www.punknews.org/article/40266 "Germs of Perfection: A Tribute to Bad Religion"]. Punknews.org.
Daytrotter Session[http://www.daytrotter.com/#!/concert/cheap-girls/20054459-111887 "Daytrotter: The Source for New Music from the Best Emerging Bands"]. Daytrotter.
Nervous Energies Session[http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2138722 "Cheap Girls at Nervous Energies"]. AbsolutePunk.
Live in the Hurley Studio[http://www.hurley.com/hurleytv/tvview.cfm?VidID=40159 "Hurley"]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Hurley.com.