Review: Split District – “Invitation to Exile”

Rocket Vault Records – 12 Nov 2021

Wisconsin duo Split District drop debut LP of melodic, midwestern punk.

I got turned on to a band called The Darbs a couple of years ago. They’re a punk trio from Sheboygan, WI made up of 40-somethings. I felt an immediate kinship with these older dudes playing punk rock for all the right reasons. Split District share singer/songwriter/bass player John Michels with The Darbs. His voice is pretty distinctive, and the bass in both bands is fairly prominent. As a matter of fact, the first time I heard Invitation to Exile I wondered why it wasn’t the new Darbs record. 

Repeated listens revealed subtle but significant differences. Split District are a duo, with Michels joined by multi-instrumentalist Matt Planton, and Invitation to Exile is their debut LP. While The Darbs play three chord punk, (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), Split District are more ambitious. The songs on Invitation to Exile incorporate more rock and roll elements, and have more complex (but not too complex!) arrangements. 

For example, side one opener “Another Road” kicks off with a short piano intro to establish the mood. On the title track, the guitars are layered for that sweet dual lead sound. The backing vocals are even a cut above standard punk fare. “We’ll Take You Home” has a huge sing along chorus that might have been inspired by classic street punk. Of course there are still a couple of straight up punk bangers, “The Villains in the Car” being a good example. 

Lyrically, the songs feel like the musings of someone at a crossroads. Maybe someone whose life has been upended. Split District came together during the pandemic, and the songs are certainly informed by it. At the very least, the dozen individual tracks all feel bound by a common sentiment. In addition to the previously mentioned songs, “Start at Zero”, “A Show of Hands”, “Out to Lunch” and “Take This” are highlights.

With a couple of notable exceptions, Wisconsin isn’t exactly known for being a punk hotbed. (You won’t find much Die Kreuzen or Boris the Sprinkler here!) Split District have more in common with their punk brethren from Chicago or Minneapolis. If you’re a fan of melodic midwestern punk, you should really give Invitation to Exile a spin.

For vinyl fiends: This album was released digitally last year, but in what’s become an all too familiar story, the vinyl didn’t show up until Feb 2022. (I AM THE ANALOG MAN.) Invitation to Exile is currently available on basic black wax. Like the music itself, it’s kind of comforting. The insert is a nice touch, with the lyrics in white on black with a little picture for each song.