Going back to the summer of '99 seems like yesterday to all of us?I guess that goes to show that time flies when you're having fun. The starting line formed as four friends just for the sole purpose of having fun, and writing music that we love to listen to. A year and a half later we're still having the times of our lives?granted some things have changed along the way, but we're still all about having fun playing rock and roll.
When we first started playing together, there was a certain chemistry that we wanted to pursue further. So, every week we would lock ourselves in our practice space and write songs that we felt really passionate about. After practicing for about a month, we felt it was time for us to start playing some shows, which somehow went surprisingly well. We began playing any show we could, just to get "out there", and still continue to do that till this day.
Around our one-year anniversary, we hooked up with We the People Records and knew from the second we met that we wanted to work with them. We went into the studio and recorded 12 tracks, which we were all excited about. The release date of the record was set for the winter of 2001, but due to a new label coming into the picture things changed. We gladly signed over to Drive Thru Records in April 2001, being that they're perhaps the coolest people and label ever. Being on Drive Thru also gave us the opportunity to tour full time, which is something that we've only dreamt of. So, we were all super excited to trade in our school bags and work clothes to go on tour. The Starting Line will always be on tour as of summer 2001, so please check out our tour dates page to see when we'll be hitting up your town. We love making new friends as well, so please come say hello and hang out for a little bit.
On The Starting Line's aptly titled debut, Say It Like You Mean It, the Pennsylvania-based quartet begins where the best bands leave off-with a fully realized sound all its own. That's a rare accomplishment in itself, made all the more remarkable by the group's relatively young age. Guitarist Matt Watts is the band's "old person" at 23, while drummer Tom Gryskiewicz is 22, guitarist Mike Golla is 21, and vocalist-bassist Ken Vasoli is 18. At a time when chart tops are overridden with grown men trying to pose as kids by wearing shorts and baseball caps, The Starting Line's members are roughly the same age as their audience--and they wear pants. Despite a relatively short chronology--three years--the band possesses a sweet-and-sour sound informed by a wealth of experience seemingly beyond its years. Matt and Mike's angular, melodic guitar counterpoint... Tom's propulsive drumming... Ken's poignant vocals and rock-solid bass action... It all equates to a great arrival--and The Starting Line has only just begun.
