Overview
The original line-up consisted of Travis Brown (lead vocals/bass), Johnny Smoke (guitar, cool-sounding name, backing vocals) and Chris Michaels (drums). The band recorded a four-song demo and began playing small all ages and 21 and up venues around Illinois. Split Habit released an EP, Broken Strings, Broken Sticks and Broken Hearts which was shortly thereafter incorporated into the band's first full-length CD Rockstar 101. The CD helped Split Habit land a booking contract with J. Francis Associates.
An extended play record, often referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single, but is usually unqualified as an album or LP. EPs generally contain a minimum of four tracks and maximum of six tracks, and are considered "less expensive and time-consuming" for an artist to produce than an album. An EP originally referred to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play (SP) and LP, but it is now applied to mid-length CDs and downloads as well.
The band began touring the midwest and received strong review for their unique approach to pop, but the booking relationship expired after three months. The band's popularity in Illinois and neighboring states continued to grow as Split Habit shared the stage with Stroke 9, Sum 41 and Showoff. The band release another four-song EP entitled E to the P and became a headlining act at the premier all ages venue in Chicago "Metro".
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. Originally a NOFX cover band called Kaspir, the band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of vocalist, guitarist Deryck Whibley, guitarists Dave Baksh and Tom Thacker, bassist Jason McCaslin and drummer Frank Zummo.
Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States. As of the 2017 census-estimate, it has a population of 2,716,450, which makes it the most populous city in the Midwestern United States. Chicago is the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the United States, and the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area, which is often referred to as "Chicagoland." The Chicago metropolitan area, at nearly 10 million people, is the third-largest in the United States, the fourth largest in North America, and the third largest metropolitan area in the world by land area.
Unable to land a recording contract, Split Habit, continued to tour the midwest releasing Biting My Lip, a five-song EP that garnered a great deal of attention locally and airplay on Q101. During their promotion they played the first of five consecutive years on Warped Tour.
The Warped Tour was a traveling rock tour that had toured the United States annually each summer from 1995 to 2018. It was the largest traveling music festival in the United States, and was the longest-running touring music festival in North America. The first Warped Tour took place in 1995, and the skateboard shoe manufacturer Vans became the main sponsor of the tour starting with the second tour in 1996, when it became known as the Vans Warped Tour. Although Vans continued to be the main sponsor and lended its name to the festival, other sponsors also participated with stages or other aspects of the festival sometimes being named after them.
Biting My Lip was the swan song for guitarist Johnny Smoke. Heavily reliant on the harmonies produced between Brown and Smoke, the remaining members exhaustively searched for a replacement. Frankie Cacciato joined the band in late 2002.
The swan song is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful song just before their death, having been silent during most of their lifetime. This belief, whose basis in actuality is long-debated, had become proverbial in ancient Greece by the 3rd century BC and was reiterated many times in later Western poetry and art.
In early 2003, Split Habit headed to legendary Smart Studios with producer Sean O'Keefe (Fall Out Boy, Motion City Soundtrack) to record Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, their second full-length album. The album landed them a record contract with small Chicago label Double Zero Records. While the album benefited from Double Zero's promotion and radio push, the inability of the label to secure an agent for the band eventually led to the band's release from the label.
Smart Studios was a recording studio located in Madison, Wisconsin. It was set up in 1983 by Butch Vig and Steve Marker to produce local bands. The studio produced bands such as Killdozer, The Smashing Pumpkins, L7, Tad Juster, and Nirvana. After initial production and remix successes, the building became the focus of operations for Vig and Marker's own group, Garbage, who released their debut album in 1995.
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band originated from Chicago's hardcore punk scene, with which all members were involved at one point. The group was formed by Wentz and Trohman as a pop punk side project of the members' respective hardcore bands, and Stump joined shortly thereafter. The group went through a succession of drummers before landing Hurley and recording the group's debut album, Take This to Your Grave (2003). The album became an underground success and helped the band gain a dedicated fanbase through heavy touring, as well as some moderate commercial success. Take This to Your Grave has commonly been cited as an influential blueprint for pop punk music in the 2000s.
Motion City Soundtrack was an American rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1997. The band's line-up consisted of vocalist and guitarist Justin Pierre, lead guitarist Joshua Cain, keyboardist Jesse Johnson, bassist Matthew Taylor, and drummer Tony Thaxton. Over the course of their nearly twenty-year career, the group toured heavily and released six studio albums, the majority on independent label Epitaph Records. The band's sound, at times described as pop punk or emo, made notable use of the Moog synthesizer. Pierre mainly handled the band's lyrics, which often touched on themes of anxiety, alienation, and relationships.
In 2004, Split Habit won the Ernie Ball Warped Tour Battle of the bands and headed to Los Angeles for a sold out showcase at LA's key club. The band had had recent successes licensing their music and were featured on Smallville , Laguna Beach , Supernatural and many other programs.
In July 2006, Split Habit played their last show at Chicago's Warped Tour at the First Midwest Amphitheater in Tinley Park. It was a sweet ending to almost ten years of touring and recording.
In 2011, the band briefly reunited to record "Dancefloor"; however, the song remains unreleased.
Tsunami Bomb is an American punk rock band from Petaluma, California. They were formed in 1998 by bassist/vocalist Dominic Davi, who was joined by keyboardist Oobliette Sparks and vocalist Kristin McRory and a number of revolving fill-in musicians, including drummer Gabe Lindeman who would later officially join the band full-time in 1999. McRory would leave the band at the end of 1998 and Dominic recruited vocalist Emily Whitehurst aka "Agent M" and guitarist Brian Plink in 1999. Tsunami Bomb was a Warped Tour staple through the early 2000s with a fiercely loyal fan base and released two studio albums, one extended play, and three seven-inch singles.
Clouds Taste Metallic is the seventh studio album by American rock band The Flaming Lips, released on September 19, 1995 by Warner Bros. Records. It was the last album to feature guitarist Ronald Jones. The album's recording is heavily featured in the Fearless Freaks documentary.
Matchbook Romance is an American emo band from Poughkeepsie, New York and was formed in 1997.
They are signed to Epitaph Records. They released two full-length albums and one EP. Their EP, West for Wishing, released in 2003 was their first recorded album during their time on Epitaph; their full-length debut album, Stories and Alibis, was recorded in the same year.
The Dirtbombs are an American garage rock band based in Detroit, Michigan, notable for blending diverse influences such as punk rock and soul while featuring a dual bass guitar, dual drum and guitar lineup. The Dirtbombs were formed by Mick Collins as a side project and started recording songs by 1995.
Lovehammers is a Chicago-based, Alternative rock band. Their sound is best described as a combination of Pop-punk with Grunge influences.
Just Surrender is an American rock band from Dover Plains, New York, formerly known as A Second Chance. Just Surrender was formed by three high school friends from Dover High School in Dover Plains, NY, Jason "Jay" Maffucci, Andy Meunier, and Steve Miller. Vocalist/guitarist Dan Simons, formerly of "The Record Collection," joined the original three members; the group was a four-piece until 2008. The band is known for the up-beat mood in their music, and for not having a lead vocalist, but rather having two vocalists who "share the spotlight." The group has since released three studio albums and one EP.
The Restarts are an English street punk band based in London.
Oh! Calcutta! is the fifth full-length album by the Chicago punk rock band The Lawrence Arms, released in 2006 by Fat Wreck Chords. It is the band's third studio album to be released on Fat Wreck Chords. In comparison with their previous album The Greatest Story Ever Told, Oh! Calcutta! is considerably faster-paced and more aggressive. It also finds Chris McCaughan and Brendan Kelly sharing vocal duties in an almost duet style, while on previous albums the two had split most of the lead vocals between songs. Brendan Kelly has stated that this is his favorite Lawrence Arms album.
Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend is the debut mini-LP and the second extended play (EP) by American rock band Fall Out Boy. Recorded in two days around February to September 2002 on a low budget, the rushed schedule left the band discontent and ceasing to call it their debut album. Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend was released in 2003 through Uprising Records against the band's wishes. In 2005, Uprising released a remastered reissue as Evening Out with Your Girlfriend, without the band's involvement, following the band's very successful major label debut From Under the Cork Tree. It eventually sold over 127,000 copies in the United States by August 2008, according to Billboard. The photograph on the cover of this album was shot by Adeet Deshmukh in Chicago's Pick Me Up Café located at 3408 N. Clark Street. The girl who is pictured on the cover is a waitress at said café, and her name is Lavinia, as noted in the booklet of the album.
Counterfit was an American rock band from San Diego, California, formed in September 1999 and disbanded in November 2004. They released two EPs and one album on San Diego label Alphabet Records and San Francisco-based Negative Progression Records. Over the band's lifespan they toured the United States extensively. Their music is best described as fitting into the indie rock, post-hardcore, and emo genres.
Warped Tour Bootleg Series is a live EP by rock band My Chemical Romance released in 2005.
Kill Your Idols was a hardcore punk band from Long Island/New York City, New York. The band was active from 1995 through 2007. They were signed to SideOneDummy Records.
Eyes Set to Kill is an American post-hardcore/metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The Rodriguez sisters, lead guitarist Alexia and bassist Anissa, along with vocalist Lindsey Vogt started the band in 2003. Lindsey Vogt departed the band in mid-2007 due to issues with management. Lindsey would go on to form a solo project known as "The Taro Sound", and eventually form the band "The Attraction." After Lindsey's departure, Alexia assumed her position as lead vocalist as well as guitarist. Anissa left in late 2016.
Not Without a Heart Once Nourished by Sticks and Stones Within Blood Ill-Tempered Misanthropy Pure Gold Can Stay is a split EP by pop punk band New Found Glory and hardcore punk band Shai Hulud. This limited edition EP was only available at shows on the "Not Without a Fight" tour with New Found Glory, Bayside, Set Your Goals, and Shai Hulud. This tour spanned from March 25, 2009 to May 10, 2009. However, the EP was not available until the March 26 show in San Diego. Shai Hulud's song featured on this release originally appeared on the band's album, Misanthropy Pure. New Found Glory contributed their song, "Truck Stop Blues" to the release, featured on their last album, Not Without a Fight, produced by Mark Hoppus from Blink-182.
The Wonder Years is an American pop punk band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania that formed in July 2005. Since their inception, they have released six full-length albums, two EPs, and several splits/compilations. The group is currently signed to Hopeless Records. Their name originates from a paper that lead vocalist, Dan 'Soupy' Campbell, read that was written by one of his after-school educators titled "The Wonder Years."
Meriwether is an American alternative rock band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, formed in 2003. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Andrew Reilley, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Bob Reilley, bassist and backing vocalist Skip Angelle, and drummer Josiah Menard.
Farewell to Freeway is a Canadian metalcore band from Guelph, Ontario currently signed to Victory Records.
Citizen is a rock band from Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. The band consists of five members: Mat Kerekes (vocals), Nick Hamm, Jake Duhaime (drums), Ryland Oehlers, & Eric Hamm (bass). They are currently signed to Run For Cover Records.
Forever Came Calling is an American pop punk band from Twentynine Palms, California.
Mindset Evolution is an American hard rock band from Peoria, Illinois founded in 2005. The group released 3 albums independently prior to the success of the self-titled 2012 EP that gained the attention of Prospect Park who signed the band that year. In 2013 they released their first national effort Brave Bold & Broken. The current members are Rob Ulrich (Vocals), Josh Bodeen, Zakk Burke (Drums) Brendan Summers, and Tim Chapai (guitar)
