The Starting Line

The Starting Line, a Pennsylvania-based punk-pop outfit, first assembled in 1999 when an updated version of a familiar "vocalist wanted" notice appeared at a neighborhood record store. Guitarist Matt Watts, already active in several teenage projects, came across Ken Vasoli’s AOL profile and asked him to rehearse. Vasoli quickly assumed bass and vocal duties, rounding out the group with second guitarist Mike Golla and drummer Tom Gryskiewitz under the name Sunday Drive. Still recent high-school graduates, the members booked shows, cut demos, and promoted their material aggressively through AOL and MP3.com listings. California indie We the People noticed the online tracks and extended an offer, but Drive-Thru, a leading punk-pop label, saw promise in the youthful lineup and melodic style and stepped in to oversee the resulting recordings. The band accepted the arrangement, drawn by Drive-Thru’s strong roster—Something Corporate, Midtown, and others—plus its Geffen distribution. By 2000 the quartet had adopted the name the Starting Line and issued the With Hopes of Starting Over EP. Warped Tour appearances followed, their online presence stayed prominent, and the 2002 release of debut album Say It Like You Mean It drew enthusiastic support from young listeners. That summer they joined the Warped Tour again; the video for the heartfelt emo-pop ballad “Best of Me” received solid MTV2 play, and the Make Yourself at Home EP arrived before year’s end. In May 2005 they delivered sophomore album Based On A True Story. Additional Vans Warped Tour dates that summer brought greater visibility, yet Geffen gave the record and its single scant promotional attention. After exiting the contract, Virgin president Jason Flom attended one of their shows and signed them. In 2007 the band began work on Direction, an album devoted to concise, straightforward pop-punk songs.