The Vacant Shapes are a California, USA-based rock band who Jane has featured before for us on the blog. Having discovered them in her Monthly Favourites round up in September, she went on the interview them later in the year. Now it’s my turn to run the rule over their music. Their latest is called Ghosts of Sunflowers.

By Graeme Smith

For their single, The Vacant Shapes drew on an eclectic mix of rock influences. Flavours of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs mix nicely with influences that include Interpol, ’80s post-punk and the melodic rock of the ’90s as personified by REM. With all that going on, Ghosts of Sunflowers is an intriguing prospect, at once familiar yet challenging.

The Vacant Shapes, made up of Rico Shackleford on guitars and vocals, Rob “De La Casas” Ochoa on bass and Gregg Gross on drums, have been releasing music since 2017, originally recording straight to analogue tape. Their music is a must-listen for fans of DIY rock. You can check out Ghosts of Sunflowers below.