Lafayette, Indiana’s, The Half Rats might come just as advertised. They’re definitely scroungers. They’ve rummaged through the sounds of early rock and roll for their signature harmonies and syrupy melodies. Then they mix those up with a lo-fi pop sensibility circa 1990-something. But The Half Rats aren’t simply rehashing the past. As they play around with musical scraps from different eras, they wind up assembling something fresh.

The Half Rats play a pair of Chicago shows this week. Tomorrow night they’ll open for Paul Collins Beat at the Empty Bottle. And on Thursday, they’ll join Tyler Jon Tyler and The Hollows at the Hideout.