The Starting Line is an American pop punk band based from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 1999.

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History

In 1999, the band that would become The Starting Line was initiated in Churchville, Pennsylvania via an e-mail from guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli. It asked if the then fourteen-year-old Vasoli, who was at that time in a band called Smash Adams, was interested in "Jamming and shit", as the message title read. Only a few weeks later, Vasoli found himself rehearsing with his future bandmates Watts, guitarist Mike Golla and drummer Tom Gryskewicz. Soon, the band started touring under the name Sunday Drive, selling out home-made merchandise and a self-recorded demo cassette titled Four Songs . Their first official release was a three-way split with The Jimmy Tuesday Band and The Commercials contributing three songs each, released on KickStart Audio in 2000.

Sunday Drive was soon approached by We the People Records and asked to produce a recording session (the infamous We the People Records Sessions ). Set for a release in December 2000, the twelve songs were initially planned to become the band's debut full-length With Hopes of Starting Over on We the People Records, but they ended up serving only as demos for tracks on future releases, as the band signed with Drive-Thru Records in April 2001.^{[#endnote_wethepeople]} On Drive-Thru, they soon released their debut EP With Hopes of Starting Over . They later found out, the name Sunday Drive was already taken by a Christian rock band, so they changed their band name to The Starting Line. The band has said there is no significance behind the name, it was the only name they all could agree upon.^{[#endnote_archiveinterview]}

On July 16, 2002, almost exactly one year after the release of their EP, the full-length Say It Like You Mean It followed. The songs ranged from energetic and fast-paced to melancholy and calm, dealing with performing on stage ("Given the Chance"), feeling homesick ("Left Coast Envy") and getting even with Vasoli's ex-girlfriend Karina ("Up & Go", "Hello Houston", among others). The hit single "Best of Me" and its two music videos, as well as the second single "Leaving", received heavy radio and TV airplay, securing The Starting Line a spot on the Warped Tour. A clip of "Up & Go" was played during an episode of the short-lived television series from Fox, John Doe. The episode aired December 13th 2002, and was entitled 'The Mourner.'

Due to their desire to put out new material, the band decided to release an all-unplugged EP, recorded in three sessions over the following year. The first three songs (recorded in The Prize Fight's Bob Jones' bedroom in August 2002), the second session (recorded in Vasoli's basement in March 2003) and the last track (recorded on the band's touring bus in April 2003) became The Make Yourself at Home EP , released on November 25, 2003. The CD and the DVD version issued simultaneously, featuring an acoustic set performed live at Skate & Surf 2003 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, would be their last releases put out solely on Drive-Thru Records, as The Starting Line was signed by Geffen Records soon afterwards.

Their major label debut, Based on a True Story , came out in May 2005. Lyrically, the band dissociated themselves from the post-relationship formula that was predominant on their previous records. The otherwise very positive and cheerful album was overshadowed by several rather angry songs, written to spite the band's record label. Songs like "Inspired by the $" featured lyrics that are unmistakably directed at Geffen: "Get to the point/Get it across/To the boys at the top of the ladder I'm climbing up/I have my doubts ". Another section of the song refers to a meeting the band had with the label's executives, where The Starting Line was asked to write more radio-friendly songs in the vein of New Found Glory's Catalyst (2004) and recreate "Best of Me" ("Just stay the same way/Do it like you did it before/Remain the same shape ", followed by "If I did it again, then Lord stop me, then/God help me now, Lord help me out ").^{[#endnote_geffen2]} The album was far more successful than the band's 2002 effort and sold 42,000 copies within its first week, as opposed to its predecessor's 11,000.^{[#endnote_sales]} The release was followed by the semi-headlining Nintendo Fusion Tour with Fall Out Boy, kicking off in September 2005. The band brought with them a new addition to their live performances, keyboardist Brian Schmutz. A friend of Vasoli's, the two had short lived side-project called Statue in 2004. A few dates into the tour, The Starting Line were — at their request — released from their record deal with Geffen, and became free agents.^{[#endnote_geffen]} Vasoli describes their time with Geffen: " It was kind of like having a sort of hot girlfriend that never talks to you. You say, "Oh yeah, I 'm dating this supermodel, but she's been in France for three years and doesn't really call me... but she promises that when she gets back we're REALLY gonna start to get serious. It was always an imaginary relationship."^{[#endnote_Vasoliinterview]}

In early January 2006, the band signed with Virgin Records. The band released their third full-length album "Direction" on July 31, 2007, containing the single "Island" which was written about and for Vasoli's girlfriend of the last four years, Michelle. "Island" was the group's lone charting single, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts. ^[1] The album peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 chart, but fell off the chart four weeks later. To date, the band's highest ranking on the chart was #18 with their second album "Based on a True Story". The band completed the 2007 Warped Tour and began their nationwide headlining tour the following September.

Break

On March 5, 2008 the band announced in an e-mail and on Absolutepunk.net they would be going on a break in order for Ken and Brian to explore Person L, Matt and Tom to explore The Seventy Six, and Mike to spend time with his two daughters and explore The Traded Series. The band has been playing with the idea of coming back in 2011, but no one knows if there is any truth behind the claims. Matt Watts is currently a band manager for Red Light Management, managing the bands Fake Problems, Like Lions, New Atlantic, and Hit The Lights. They will continue The Starting Line if and when the time is right. ^[2]

On April 14, 2009, In a chat with AbsolutePunk.net, Kenny Vasoli, when asked, hinted that The Starting Line may actually be returning sooner than 2011, saying 'Its looking good, may even be earlier. I hung with Matt and Tom the other day, we all are still in love with one another.'

Touring

The Starting Line have always been known for their extensive touring. The band has toured or played shows with such bands as Brand New, The Hush Sound,Saves the Day, The Ataris, Midtown, Sum 41, No Use For A Name, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Plain White T's, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, The All-American Rejects, The Format, RX Bandits, Bayside, Four Year Strong, Steel Train, The Almost, Motion City Soundtrack, MxPx, Reel Big Fish, Panic! at The Disco, Mae, Boys Like Girls, All Time Low, Of All Days, Cartel, Set Your Goals and have played several stints on the Vans Warped Tour. The Starting Line has played shows spanning four continents - North America, Europe, Asia (Japan), and Australia.

Discography

Albums

Date of Release	Title	Label	Billboard 200
July 16, 2002	Say It Like You Mean It	Drive-Thru Records	109
May 10, 2005	Based on a True Story	Drive-Thru Records/Geffen	18
July 31, 2007	Direction	Virgin Records	30
October 6, 2009	Somebody's Gonna Miss Us live show/documentary(DVD/CD)	Image Entertainment

EPs

Title	Release Date	Label	U.S. Billboard 200 Peak
With Hopes of Starting Over	June 25, 2001	Drive-Thru Records
The Make Yourself at Home EP	November 25, 2003	Drive-Thru Records

Singles

Title	Release Date	Label	Album/EP
"Three's a Charm"	2001	Drive-Thru Records	With Hopes of Starting Over
"Best of Me"	2002	Drive-Thru Records	Say It Like You Mean It
"Leaving"	2003	Drive-Thru Records	Say It Like You Mean It
"Bedroom Talk"	2005	Drive-Thru Records/Geffen	Based on a True Story
"Island"	June 19, 2007	Virgin Records	Direction
"Something Left to Give"	2008	Virgin Records	Direction

Members

• Kenny Vasoli – vocals, bass
• Matt Watts – guitars
• Mike Golla – guitars, backing vocals
• Tom Gryskiewicz – drums
• Brian Schmutz – keyboards, backing vocals

Non-album tracks

• "Break Up Day" – released on Welcome to the Family (2001)
• "Thanks, You're the Best" – released on an eponymous three song sampler (2002)
• "I'm Real" (Jennifer Lopez cover) – released on Punk Goes Pop (2002)
• "Nights and Weekends" – released on the Japanese import of Based on a True Story (2005)
• "Big Time Sensuality" (Björk cover) – released on Punk Goes '90s (2006)
• "Pictures" – released on the Japanese import of Direction (2007)
• "Time To Run"; Currently Unreleased Track

References

1. Billboard, Allmusic
2. The Starting Line Press Conference - News Article - AbsolutePunk.net