I stopped by New Haven to check out The Starting Line. The band played before a packed crowd in the very intimate Toad’s Place. Hitting the stage around 9:30 p.m., the group jumped into its explosive 15-song set.
Five songs from the set list were taken from the band’s newest album release, “Direction,” which may be one of the most impressive of all. FUSA might get clued in by this article and consider The Starting Line as this year’s fall act.
I was given the opportunity to sit down and have a one-on-one chat with Kenny Vasoli, The Starting Line’s singer, bass player and songwriter.
The Mirror: “Directions” was a great follow up to the 2005 “Based on a True Story.” Were you satisfied with the album and the fan reaction?
Kevin Vasoli: Yeah, I mean, I still think fans are kinda slowly catching on to it. But we are eager to see how they respond when we play the songs on our upcoming tour. I’m really happy with how the record came out. It was definitely exactly the record we were setting out to make this time.
TM: What bands out there do you really hate with a passion?
KV: Oh man, ha-ha. You know what, I don’t think I’m gonna get in any trouble for saying this. But a band that I used to kind of like, and now I cannot f***ing stand any more, is the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s not like they make like the worst music ever, it’s just that I can’t take anymore of it. I feel like he [Anthony Kiedis] doesn’t write lyrics anymore, he just makes random sounds. And I love Flea, and the drummer’s awesome too, but I just cant stand their music anymore.
TM: I didn’t really understand the hype around their CD “Stadium Arcadian.”
KV: Oh yeah. When we were out recording our album in LA, all we would hear when we popped on KROQ was the stupid Red Hot Chili Peppers.
TM: Yeah, I hope you don’t get too much shit for saying that.
KV: I know. I think I just ruined my chances of a Red Hot Chili Peppers and Starting Line tour.
TM: You currently have your own side project now called Person L. Do you have any future plans for that, such as a CD or tour?
KV: I’ve actually been working on a record for Person L since December of last year. But it’s actually been a slow-going process because I’ve been out on the road so much and just so busy this year. But I brought recording equipment out on the road, and I’m gonna do my best to finish some of it out here. My ultimate goal is to have it completely tracked by the end of the year and have it released sometime next year. I plan on having a tour coming a little later next year.
TM: You have been touring for the last six years or so. Is touring still all about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll?
KV: Ha-ha, actually just drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.
TM: Ha-ha, no sex?
KV: We are a pretty mild band when it comes to that kind of stuff. I’ve had a serious girlfriend for three of those five years, so I’ve kept it under wraps. No groupies for me.
TM: Any funny tour stories?
KV: Nah, nothing so crazy lately. This year on Warped Tour we got pretty wasted on the bus and ended up having a bus mosh to some Hatebreed. We just started jumping all over each other, throwing it down. Yeah, I guess you kinda had to be there to think it was funny, but yeah it was a brutal bus mosh.
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