Armed with a new hit single (“Island”) making the rounds on MTV and MTV2, and a new album, Direction, receiving more critical praise than their previous efforts, Philadelphia pop-punkers The Starting Line are hitting the road for a much anticipated tour.

Formed when lead singer/lyricist Kenny Vasoli was just 15-years-old, The Starting Line has already run the gamut of fast selling albums, jumps to major labels, falls from grace, fan criticism of everything from music to hair, and now…a re-invention.

Fresh off of this summer’s Vans Warped Tour, The Starting Line is ready to bring their bevy of new songs to their fans with 24 US shows which promise to showcase quality live music and a ton of energy. TSL has always excelled at the frenetic optimism bred by live shows and their new music should translate well.

They are joining fast-track-to-fame mavens Paramore, and San Francisco Bay area punk outfit Set Your Goals, who have been described as “New Found Glory after 8 cans of Redbull,” by Alternative Press.

When new band The Almost join the tour in Ventura, California, it is sure to make for a memorable concert. Fronted by Underoath drummer Aaron Gillespie, and often heralded by Vasoli and The Starting Line, The Almost is a melodic trip centered more on hard rock than punk. Gillespie’s first album out from under the Underoath umbrella, Southern Weather, is a memorable debut with killer tracks which beg to be heard live (“Say This Sooner,” “Drive There Now,” and the title track).

Dates are below, but take my advice and check this tour out. My only regret is the lack of dates in the South East. No love again for poor North Carolina.

10/23/2007   Starland Ballroom             Sayerville , NJ    Paramore, TSL, SYG

10/25/2007   Utica Memorial Auditorium  Utica , NY         Paramore, TSL, SYG 

10/26/2007   Phoenix Concert Theatre   Toronto , ON      Paramore, TSL, SYG

10/27/2007   Clutch Cargos                 Pontiac , MI        Paramore, TSL, SYG 

10/29/2007   Newport Music Hall          Columbus , OH     Paramore, TSL, SYG

10/30/2007   Congress Theater           Chicago , IL         Paramore, TSL, SYG

11/01/2007   The Rave                      Milwaukee , WI     Paramore, TSL, SYG 

11/02/2007   The Myth                      Maplewood , MN   Paramore, TSL, SYG 

11/03/2007   The Beaumont                Kansas City, MO   Paramore, TSL, SYG

11/04/2007   The Fillmore Auditorium    Denver , CO         Paramore, TSL, SYG 

11/06/2007   House of Blues               Las Vegas , NV     Paramore, TSL, SYG

11/08/2007   The Warfield                  San Fran , CA      Paramore, TSL, SYG 

11/10/2007   Majestic Theatre            Ventura , CA        Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/11/2007   Soma                           San Diego , CA     Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/15/2007   Marquee Theatre           Tempe , AZ          Paramore, TSL

11/17/2007   Palladium Ballroom          Dallas , TX           Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/18/2007   Stubb's BBQ                  Austin , TX          Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/19/2007   Meridian                       Houston , TX        Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/21/2007   Nashville War Memorial    Nashville , TN       Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/23/2007   Rams Head Live!            Baltimore , MD      Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/24/2007   Worcester Palladium       Worcester , MA     Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/25/2007   The Town Ballroom         Buffalo , NY         Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/27/2007   Electric Factory             Philadelphia , PA   Paramore, TSL, The Almost 

11/28/2007   Roseland                      New York , NY      Paramore, TSL, The Almost