SONG OF THE WEEK: 5-17-2026

 

SONG:  "Pick Pocket"

ARTIST:  The Vacancies

ALBUM:  "Gutpunch"

YEAR:  2002

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Cleveland, Ohio

YEARS ACTIVE:  1998 - 2018

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The song addresses a relationship or situation where someone subtly and deceptively drains you of your energy, emotions, or resources while acting like a friend. Like a physical pickpocket, the perpetrator operates in plain sight, stealing from you without you realizing it until the damage is already done.

THE VACANCIES DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - Gutpunch (Smog Veil Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - A Beat Missing Or A Silence Added (Blackheart Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2007 - Tantrum (Blackheart Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE VACANCIES:

The Vacancies formed as a band back in 1998, hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Their sound is a nod to old school punk bands like The Ramones, The Clash and The Dead Boys. The band released their debut full length album back in 2002, titled "Gutpunch". After appearing as an opening act for Joan Jett, she was so impressed by the band's live energy that she signed them to her own label, Blackheart Records. The band's first release with Blackheart would be 2005's "A Beat Missing Or A Silence Added". The Vacancies' most recent release would be their 2007 album "Tantrum". By 2008, The Vacancies had basically broken up. In 2018, the band did get back together to play a short 20 year anniversary tour. Other than that, there has been no other activity for The Vacancies. As I said earler, The Vacancies were heavily influenced by old school punk rock bands. They do have a little "garage punk" to their style as well. They never really crossed over as a band. It was definitely a jolt in the arm for the band to have Joan Jett endorse them because she is a true legend but even that couldn't put the band over the top. I got into The Vacancies from their 2007 album "Tantrum". It's a good album and they are a good band but it's nothing that stands apart from anything else out there. I could definitely see why Joan Jett liked their energy however as they definitely feel like an energetic band.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Ducky Boys

Born To Lose

Far From Finished

The Blue Bloods

Pistol Grip

TEN THE VACANCIES SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Sick Modern Era

2. Below Merlot

3. Save Yourself

4. Saturday Saints

5. Headcase

6. Strummer

7. I Wanna Be There

8. Radio Revolution

9. Children Of The Century

10. Compound

SONG OF THE WEEK: 5-10-2026

 

SONG:  "Queensberry Rules"

ARTIST:  Gallows

ALBUM:  "Grey Britain"

YEAR:  2009

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Watford, Hertfordshire, England

YEARS ACTIVE:  2004 - 2021

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The song "Queensberry Rules" by Gallows—released on their 2009 album "Grey Britain"—is a critique of teenage knife crime and societal indifference in modern London. Vocalist Frank Carter has stated the song harks back to a "better day" where disputes were settled with fists or in a boxing ring rather than with lethal weapons. The lyrics "Let's take this back to the old school, live our lives by the Queensberry rules" urge a return to a more "honorable" or less fatal form of conflict.

GALLOWS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2006 - Orchestra Of Wolves (In At The Deep End Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Grey Britain (Warner Bros.)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Gallows (Venn Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2015 - Desolation Sounds (Venn Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON GALLOWS:

Gallows is an England hardcore punk band that got it's start back in 2004. The band dropped their debut full length studio album, "Orchestra Of Wolves" in 2006. The album was distributed by Epitaph Records here in the States. The song "In The Belly Of A Shark" is often considered to be the bands signature song. In 2009, Gallows signed a deal with major label Warner Bros. to release their sophomore effort, "Grey Britain". This would be the last album to feature Frank Carter on vocals as he would leave Gallows in 2011 citing disagreements about the direction of the band. Gallows wanted to continue on in a hardcore direction while Carter wanted to go in a more mainstream, melodic direction as evidenced by his next project Pure Love. Gallows brought in Alexisonfire lead singer Wade MacNeil to take over vocal duties. MacNeil's first full length album with the band was 2012's "Gallows". The band's last full length effort to date would be 2015's "Desolation Sounds". The last song the band would release was the Discharge cover, "The Possibility Of Life's Destruction" which was featured on a compilation album in 2017. 2019 would be the last concert Gallows would play at the Slam Dunk Festival. They were scheduled to perform at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2021 but cancelled due to Covid. The band has been considered broken up since 2021. There was a rumor that the original line-up would get back together but that never came to fruition. As I said earlier, Gallows is a hardcore punk band. Very aggressive and in your face. I'm definitely a bigger fan of the Frank Carter era of the band. I just like his vocals and songs better. I would gravitate to Carter's other projects, Pure Love and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, over Gallows as well. Especially over the MacNeil era of Gallows. I enjoy some of the MacNeil era songs but Carter just has that "it" factor. It definitely would have been interesting to see an original line-up reunion. Maybe it will happen some day!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes

Turnstile

H2O

Hot Water Music

Ignite

TEN GALLOWS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Misery

2. In The Belly Of A Shark

3. The Vulture (Acts I & II)

4. Staring At The Rude Bois (The Ruts cover)

5. Abandon Ship

6. London Is The Reason

7. Outsider Art

8. Bonfire Season

9. Cross Of Lorraine

10. Mystic Death

SONG OF THE WEEK: 5-3-2026

 

SONG:  "People Who Died" (The Jim Carroll Band cover)

ARTIST:  Against Me!

ALBUM:  "Songs That Saved My Life" (Compilation)

YEAR:  2018

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Naples, Florida

YEARS ACTIVE:  1997 - 2020

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"People Who Died" is a cover of a Jim Carroll Band song. Lead singer Laura Jane Grace noted that while the song is filled with death, its purpose is to take "sadness, pain, fear and trouble" and transform it into something empowering, celebratory, and life-affirming. The energetic delivery is intended to honor those who have passed by bringing their memory into a communal, "party-like" atmosphere rather than a dour mourning.

AGAINST ME! DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2002 - Reinventing Axl Rose (No Idea Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - As The Eternal Cowboy (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2005 - Searching For A Former Clarity (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Peaked at #114 on the Billboard 200

2006 - Americans Abroad! Against Me! Live In London! (Fat Wreck Chords)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2007 - New Wave (Sire Records)

* Peaked at #57 on the Billboard 200

2010 - White Crosses (Sire Records)

* Peaked at # 34 on the Billboard 200

2014 - Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble Music)

* Peaked at #23 on the Billboard 200

2015 - 23 Live Sex Acts (Total Treble Music)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2016 - Shape Shift With Me (Total Treble Music)

* Peaked at #80 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON AGAINST ME!:

Against Me! formed as a band back in 1997, hailing from Naples, Florida. Well, actually it started as just a solo acoustic project for lead singer Tom Gabel. It seemed that every EP they would release after their first one, more band members would join. By the time of the release of their debut full length in 2002, "Reinventing Axl Rose", Against Me! was a full band. In 2003, Against Me! signed with infamous punk rock label Fat Wreck Chords. There, they released 2003's "As The Eternal Cowboy" and 2005's "Searching For A Former Clarity". The latter being the first Against Me! album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at #114. In 2007, Against Me! signed a major label deal with Sire Records and released two albums with them, 2007's "New Wave" and 2010's "White Crosses". In 2012, Tom Gabel announced that he was transitioning into a female as he had a lifelong struggle with gender dysphoria. He took the name Laura Jane Grace from that point on. The band also created their own label at this time, Total Trebel Music, which all of their future albums were released on beginning with 2014's "Transgender Dysphoria Blues", which would be the band's highest charting album, peaking at #23. In 2016, Against Me! dropped "Shape Shift With Me". This was the last release by Against Me!. The band toured up until 2020 but the Covid pandemic really put a halt to the band's activities. I guess they were moving forward with a new album, but Covid just halted everything and ultimately, Against Me! has been on an indefinite hiatus. Laura Jane Grace has said that the band has not broken up and she still wants to continue on with the band but just doesn't see it happening anytime soon due to the band members working on other projects at the time. Grace has also been hard at work on her solo career as well. Against Me! is a punk rock band. I call bands like theirs "gruff punk". Not sure if that's even a real genre or whatever but they remind me of bands like Hot Water Music or Off With THeir Heads, bands that have "gruffy" vocals for lack of a better term. Not even sure what gruffy means! You know what I mean!! I got into Against Me! in 2005. I saw the "Don't Lose Touch" video and I was instantly hooked. I always saw them as a band that stood out from the pack. I would put them in a leader category, definitely not a follower. I'm hoping they get their act together and reunite to make new music soon. I got my fingers crossed!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Laura Jane Grace

The Menzingers

Alkaline Trio

The Lawrence Arms

Off With Their Heads

TEN AGAINST ME! SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. I Was A Teenage Anarchist

2. Don't Lose Touch

3. Black Me Out

4. Baby, I'm An Anarchist

5. Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show cover)

6. Sink, Florida, Sink

7. Thrash Unreal

8. Crash

9. Because Of The Shame

10. Lost And Searching In America