For most music fans, this is well-covered territory and, by now, they are no doubt aware of what happens next. Usually, after their new corporate handlers fumble the record, said band is further neglected, and either breaks up or disappears completely. Sure, they might get back together for an episode of Behind The Music, but for the most part, that’s where this particular story comes to its tragic, but typical end. Thankfully, modern rockers the Starting Line have learned that it doesn’t always have to turn out this way
Following the lead of one their musical heroes, Jimmy Eat World, the suburban Pennsylvania quartet have survived such a music industry foul up to record Direction, the most triumphant album of their career. “This new record is definitely something we are all very proud of,” says bassist and lead singer Kenny Vasoli, who originally formed the Starting Line, along with guitarists Matt Watts, Mike Golla, and drummer Tom Gryskewicz, some eight years ago. “Just the thought of what could happen with this is making us really excited. We really hope that it can reach all sorts of new people.”
With infectious songs like “What You Want” and instantly memorable tracks like “Island,” Direction unquestionably sounds like the type of record that could introduce the Starting Line to a whole new audience. But, as Vasoli and his bandmates will readily admit, getting to this place has hardly been easy. The road that has lead the Starting Line to Direction has rarely been a smooth one, as it stretches back to the spring of 2005, a rocky period in which the band were preparing to release their second album, Based On A True Story.
At that point, the band had already enjoyed a rather enviable amount of success. They had sold nearly 300,000 copies of their 2002 debut, Say It Like You Mean It, and had even scored a surprise hit with “The Best Of Me,” a pop-punk anthem that was embraced by MTV. After spending a year on the road in support of the album, the Starting Line had made a sizeable name for themselves and it wasn’t before long that they made the move from their first home, indie label Drive-Thru Records, to the bigger budgets of major label Geffen Records. But that switch didn’t quite go as planned. At the time, the Starting Line’s career was beginning to arch: In the months following Based On A True Story’s release, they were asked to headline the 2005 Warped Tour and, when that rapped, they went on to play the biggest headlining shows of their career.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ARI MICHELSON
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