The Starting Line is an American pop punk band that was formed in 1999 in C… Read Full Bio ↴The Starting Line is an American pop punk band that was formed in 1999 in Churchville, Pennsylvania. The band consists of Kenny Vasoli (vocals, bass), Matt Watts (guitar), Mike Golla (guitar), Brian Schmutz (keyboards, vocals) and Tom Gryskiewicz (drums). Having four studio albums under their belt, the group are best known for their 2007 rock radio hit "Island" as well as their popular 2002 single "The Best of Me". In 2008, the band began a hiatus, which ended several months later but the group has only toured intermittently since then.

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

Artistic License
The Starting Line Lyrics

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I have the sweetest of sights, you've got to know it
It's turned me sideways
I had some fire in my eyes once you got me going
It's seeping south and out my mouth

Rest easy tonight 'cause I'm starting to write it down
Somehow saying the things that your ears won't believe
Is all for the principle

I had the flattest of sights, that's all I'm showing
I took those walls off
I am from left to the right, ripped, round, and roaring
From safe and sound to proud and loud

Rest easy tonight 'cause I'm starting to write it down
Somehow saying the things that your ears won't believe
Is all for the principle

Rest easy tonight, yeah, 'cause I'm starting to, I'm starting to
Rest easy tonight 'cause I'm starting to write it down
Somehow saying the things that your ears won't believe
I'll try not to scream if you're trying to sleep

It's all based on the principle
Yeah, based on the principle

Overall Meaning

The Starting Line's song "Artistic License" is a powerful reflection on the transformative power of art and the personal sacrifices that come with pursuing one's creative endeavor. The first verse suggests that the singer has found profound inspiration, something that continually propels them forward, but it's something that is difficult to articulate in words. The internal fire, the passion that drives the singer's music, is so intense that it's leaking out of them, escaping their mouth in ways that they cannot control. However, despite the challenges they face in expressing themselves, the singer is determined to commit their vision to paper, even if others may not understand or believe in it the same way.

The second verse explores the potential for personal transformation through artistic expression. The singer acknowledges that they started with a flat, uninspiring vision, but once they removed the constraints holding them back, they found themselves bursting with energy and confidence, able to embrace every aspect of their creative self. The idea of embracing "ripped, round, and roaring" and moving from "safe and sound to proud and loud" suggests a radical transformation, a deep connection between self-expression and self-acceptance. Even as the singer acknowledges that their music may be too intense for some, they are determined to express themselves creatively, and they are motivated by principle above all else.

Overall, "Artistic License" is a powerful affirmation of the importance of art, of the transformative power of great music, and of the personal growth that comes with expressing oneself freely. The song reminds us that art is not just about entertainment; it's about challenging ourselves, pushing boundaries, and creating something new in the world.

Line by Line Meaning

I have the sweetest of sights, you've got to know it
I have a beautiful vision that you must see for yourself.

It's turned me sideways
It has completely changed my perspective.

I had some fire in my eyes once you got me going
I was fueled by passion when you inspired me.

It's seeping south and out my mouth
My excitement and creativity is flowing freely.

Rest easy tonight 'cause I'm starting to write it down
Don't worry, I am putting my thoughts on paper.

Somehow saying the things that your ears won't believe
Expressing my most profound beliefs, even if they seem impossible.

Is all for the principle
I am doing this for the greater good.

I had the flattest of sights, that's all I'm showing
My vision was dull until now.

I took those walls off
I broke down my own barriers.

I am from left to the right, ripped, round, and roaring
I am confident and passionate about my ideas.

From safe and sound to proud and loud
I have transformed from timid to bold.