Vasoli has lately been focusing on his side project, known as Person L. Tom has been recording with his new band, Cheap Seats, with Matt as their manager. Mike also has a side project, called The Traded Series. The origins of the group that would become The Starting Line go back to 1999, via an AOL instant message from Churchville, Pennsylvania 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 that the guys titled 'Four Songs'. Their first official release was a three-way split with The Jimmy Tuesday Band and The Commercials contributing three songs each, the work 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. On Drive-Thru, they soon released their debut EP With Hopes of Starting Over. Yet, as the name Sunday Drive was already taken by a Christian rock band, they went on as The Starting Line.
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 "The 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.
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. On this album, a lot of the songs (e.g. "Inspired By the $", "Autography" and "The B-List") were explicitly inspired by the band's disdain for their record label Geffen and its executives. 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. The release was followed by the semi-headlining Nintendo Fusion Tour with Fall Out Boy, kicking off in September 2005. A few dates into the tour, The Starting Line were — at their request — released from their record deal with Geffen, and became free agents. In early January 2006, their signing with Virgin Records was announced.
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 had been playing with the idea of coming back in 2011, but in a chat with absolutepunk.net, Kenny Vasoli said, ""it's looking good, may even be earlier. I hung with Matt and Tom the other day, we all are still in love with one another.
On November 10, 2009, The Starting Line released their first-ever live concert CD, film and documentary DVD titled "Somebody's Gonna Miss Us" via Image Entertainment on a 2-disc set. Through intimate and honest interviews with the band, friends and family fans will get a glimpse into the inner workings of the group and a career that spanned nearly a decade, five releases, and thousands of shows.
On December 29, 2009, The Starting Line had a reunion concert at the Theater of Living Arts. Starting Line guitarist Matt Watts stated on the website AbsolutePunk that "this doesn't mean that TSL are back together....It simply means that we're taking a break from our break, and wanted to play a fun show in Philadelphia and continue to focus on our lives outside of TSL"
The Starting Line added a second holiday show on December 30, 2009 in Philadelphia at the Trocadero Theater. This was added due to the fact that the first holiday show scheduled for December 29, 2009 sold out in a little over an hour and the band would like to give their local fans a better chance to see them. Towards the end of their set, Kenny Vasoli announced the band's reunion. However, the group has only toured intermittently since then.
Main Website: http://www.startinglinerock.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thestartingline
2 Given The Chance
The Starting Line Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm pacing waiting anxiously
I can't wait to hit the stage
And say hello to jersey
And when the last note rings
And when I've sung all I have to sing
Every minute I will count
What can I say
That can explain
All this time
I'm loving life
There's not a day
That I could say
All this time
I'm living out my...
The feeling is screaming out
The words of the things I think about
Hearing them coming back
From the crowds mouth is perfect
And when the curtains close
I'll realize how fast time could go
Thanks for everything
You know how much this means
What can I say
That can explain
All this time
I'm loving life
There's not a day
That I could say
All this time
I'm living out my dream
What this is to me
Is more than words could mean
I guess dreams do come true
This song itself is living proof
What this means to me
Is more than it may seem
I guess dreams do come true
This song itself is living proof
What this is to me
Is more than words could mean
I guess dreams do come true
This song itself is living proof
What can I say
That can explain
All this time
I'm loving life
There's not a day
That I could say
All this time
I'm singing out
Singing a song about
A dream that has come true
The Starting Line's song "Given The Chance" is an emotional tribute to the band's love for performing live. The opening verse portrays the eagerness and excitement of the lead singer as he awaits to take the stage and perform in Jersey. He yearns to connect with the audience and project the words and the music. As the song progresses, he describes the thrill of hearing the crowd singing back the words and the perfect connection that creates between the performer and the audience.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's love for his life and work, and how he feels fortunate to do what he loves every day. The repetition of the lines, "What can I say, that can explain all this time, I'm loving life, there's not a day that I could say, all this time, I'm living out my dream," emphasizes his gratitude for living his dream job. The bridge is one of the most significant stages of the song when he acknowledges that his fans' love and appreciation have helped turn his dreams into reality. He acknowledges the power of his song in making his dreams come true and concludes by celebrating the ultimate dream he will fulfill by performing live.
Line by Line Meaning
The minute before we play
I am anxiously waiting right before I perform on stage.
I'm pacing waiting anxiously
I'm nervously walking back and forth, impatiently anticipating the performance.
I can't wait to hit the stage
I am excited to begin the performance on stage.
And say hello to jersey
I am looking forward to greeting the crowd and starting the show in New Jersey.
And when the last note rings
After playing the final note of the song or set.
And when I've sung all I have to sing
After finishing singing all of the lyrics for the setlist.
Every minute I will count
I will cherish every moment spent performing.
Till the next show in the next town
I will look forward to the next concert in a new location.
What can I say
I am at a loss for words to describe the experience.
That can explain
Words cannot fully capture this incredible moment.
All this time
Throughout my life and career as a musician.
I'm loving life
I am truly happy in what I am doing and where I am.
There's not a day
Every day has been a dream come true so far.
That I could say
I can't think of a single day that wasn't amazing.
I'm living out my...
I am currently fulfilling my dreams and aspirations.
The feeling is screaming out
I am experiencing indescribable joy and excitement.
The words of the things I think about
The lyrics of my songs express my innermost thoughts and emotions.
Hearing them coming back
Receiving positive feedback from the audience.
From the crowds mouth is perfect
Hearing the crowd sing along to my songs is the ultimate feeling of success.
And when the curtains close
After finishing a show and leaving the stage.
I'll realize how fast time could go
I am surprised at how quickly my performance ended, as it felt like time flew by.
Thanks for everything
I express my gratitude to everyone who supported me and made this possible.
You know how much this means
I am grateful beyond words for the support and love shown to me.
What this is to me
The significance of this experience to me personally.
Is more than words could mean
I cannot accurately express in words how much this means to me.
I guess dreams do come true
This experience shows that one's dreams and aspirations can become a reality.
This song itself is living proof
The very existence of this song and its impact is a testament to this concept.
I'm singing out
I am expressing my happiness and gratitude through my music.
Singing a song about
This song itself is a reflection of my achievements and dreams coming true.
A dream that has come true
This song is about my dream of succeeding in the music industry and how it has come true.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GOLLA, GRYSKIEWICZ, VASOLI, WATTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Given the Chance
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