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The Starting Line (TSL) is a four-piece pop punk band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. They formed in 1999 as Sunday Drive and are signed to Virgin Records, and were previously signed to Drive-Thru and Geffen Records. In March 2008, the band announced that they are going on break for about three years in order for Vasoli to explore Person L, Matt and Tom to explore The 76, and Mike to spend time with his two daughters. In 1999, the band that would become The Starting Line was initiated in Churchville, Pennsylvania via an AOL instant message from 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 titled Four Songs. Their first official release was a three-way split with The Jimmy Tuesday Band and The Commercials contributing three songs each, 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.
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Pop, Pop Punk, Emo, Punk
Tom Gryskewicz, Kenny Vasoli, Matt Watts, Mike Golla, Brian Schmutz
the starting line were top tier, as always, the venue was alright. nice and intimate-ish, but the sound wasn’t the best.
The Masquerade Atlanta, GAThey played an insane amount of songs and sounded so. Damn. Good. One of the best concerts I've been to.
House of Blues Anaheim Anaheim, CAThe Starting Line never lets you down. Their performances and energy are always consistent, and create an amazing experience!
The Fillmore Silver Spring, MDSuch an amazing show! 25 song set list! These guys blow me away every time I see them!
The Novo Los Angeles, CAI was only sad they didn’t play 21! So many amazing songs, so little time.
House Of Independents Asbury Park, NJYes, The Starting Line is currently on tour. If you're interested in attending an upcoming The Starting Line concert, make sure to grab your tickets in advance. The The Starting Line tour is scheduled for 5 dates across 4 cities. Get information on all upcoming tour dates and tickets for 2026-2027 with Hypebot.
The Starting Line is scheduled to play 5 shows between 2026-2027. Buy concert tickets to a nearby show through Hypebot.
The Starting Line's tour starts Apr 11, 2026 and ends on Nov 14, 2026. They will play 4 cities; their most recent concert was held in Atlantic City at Atlantic City Convention Center and their next upcoming concert will be in Orlando at Camping World Stadium.
As part of the The Starting Line tour, The Starting Line is scheduled to play across the following venues and cities:
