In 2001 they hit the scene with an EP entitled With Hopes of Starting Over. Perhaps the title is a little more poetic now-a-days for the Philadelphia quartet The Starting Line.
Fans flocked to them early and have stuck by their sides, propelling their 2002 full-length debut, Say It Like You Mean It, to sell over 300,000 copies and spawn the pop-punk anthem “Best of Me.” Signing on with Geffen records, they released the follow-up Based On a True Story and were sent reeling when it received little label support and didn’t rush off of the shelves.
Now with Virgin Records, The Starting Line (Kenny Vasoli, Matt Watts, Mike Golla, and Tom Gryskewicz) is on the cusp of a make-it or break-it year. Their new album, Direction, drops on July 31st and I had a chance to talk with lead singer and bass player Kenny Vasoli about how they got where they are and where they want to go.
Well, I should start by saying that I had the opportunity to interview you about four years ago and you ended up being really sick that afternoon, so I sat down with Matt and Mike.
No way!
Indeed, so I’m glad to be talking to you now. So, big summer for you guys – new album, Warped Tour, videos. How are you feeling about the finished product of Direction?
I’m really happy with it. I’m kinda just anxious for it to get out there now. We’ve been working on it for so long that it’s old news to me.
I know that you had a bit of a disappointing relationship with Geffen Records. How are you liking being with Virgin now? Is that more the kind of partnership you’d been hoping for?
Oh, absolutely! Resigning with Virgin really saved our band. I was pretty low after what happened with Geffen. They were cool enough to realize what the situation was and give us our freedom. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Geffen now.
Nice to have that resolution.
Definitely.
Well let me say, I was able to listen to the new album recently and, as a long time fan, I really love it. It’s fantastic.
Thank you very much!
The title track is a bit harder sound than you’ve had on your past albums. It seems to have some of the more mature elements of Based On a True Story with some of the patented The Starting Line hooks. Can you talk about how you guys got to that point for this album?
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