Jeff Ellis has been a police officer, a soldier, a paratrooper, a drill sergeant, a husband and a father. Through it all, he’s also been a songwriter. Despite living through things most artists just write about, Ellis manages to retain a deep passion for life and contagious optimism. Vacancy Hearts – which PopCult just declared “a killer album!” - is a compact, concise, and compelling collection of country-tinged, full-throttle rock and roll. The record is infused with a sense of urgency; Ellis wants us to wake up to the world around us, confront our demons, and put them down together.

“Ellis is a throwback to the old days of protest (meaning the sixties), but a modernized, rocked-up protest of a cerebral nature.” – Frank Gutch Jr., No Depression

“His vocals and music have a powerful, almost visceral effect. It's not a quality you can buy or learn. I hope he never loses it." – Larry Groce, NPR’s Mountain Stage