The Vacancies

The Cleveland outfit known as the Vacancies consisted of vocalist Billy Crooked, guitarist Michael James, bassist Bo, and drummer Angelo Merendino. Their initial output came via Reno's Smog Veil imprint with the 2004 release Gutpunch, after which they aligned with Joan Jett's Blackheart Records to deliver the 2005 album Beat Missing or a Silence Added. As one of the edgier examples of punk revivalism to emerge from the Midwest, Gutpunch set expectations high for similar intensity on Beat Missing, and October saw the group declare a support tour alongside the Turbo A.C.'s and the Dwarves—an ideal match of raw, energetic acts.