The Quad

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Entertainment

Philadelphia's own The Starting Line are finishing up their remaining shows until they take a break. Guitarist Matt Watts described their final tour as, "the most fun we've had."

There have been criers, especially during their song "Somebody's Gonna Miss Us" which is a testament to the affect the band has had on kids. The Quad recently sat down with The Starting Line's guitarist, Matt Watts, to discuss the band's evolution throughout the years, the differences between college shows and club show, as well as what the future holds for each member of The Starting Line after Bamboozle.

The Starting Line began in 1999 when bassist and lead vocalist Ken Vasoli was only 14 years old. Guitarist Matt Watts e-mailed Ken to see whether he'd be interested in "jamming." Vasoli was and he found himself with Matt Watts as well as guitarist Mike Golla and drummer Tom Gryskewicz. The band, then known as Sunday Drive, began writting music and playing shows.

We The People records approached the band in 2000 to release an album. However, before that album was released, Drive-Thru records signed the band to a deal in 2001. Shortly after their deal with Drive-Thru, they released their first EP "With Hopes of Starting Over."

The band drew comparisons with Blink 182, Green Day, and New Found Glory. Their full length, "Say It Like You Mean It," was released on July 16, 2002.

The same style which was teased in their EP continued on their full length. The band continued to. Perhaps one of the most special things about The Starting Line is how their music evolved.

Watts described the evolution of their music as simply "natural and organic."

The Starting Line released "Based on a True Story" in 2005 and Direction in 2007, both albums showcased this evolution. The band shed the Blink 182, Green Day, and New Found Glory comparisons and came into their own.

The Starting Line announced their plans for hiatus on AbsolutePunk.net.

After touring for close to ten years, the band decided they were ready to focus on new musical projects.

The new projects include Vasoli's Person L. Brian Schmutz will join Vasoli in Person L. Watts described the band's music as "indie."

Another new project is Watts and Gryskewicz's The Seventy Six. Watts described their new band as "pop-R&B" and said their music is "Jackson 5 meets Maroon 5."

The most "bittersweet" aspect, as Watts described it, of the hiatus is the knowledge that The Starting Line will not be releasing a new album.

Continued...

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