The Starting Line Proves Eternal Youth at The Novo
I vividly remember being eight years old and seeing the music video for The Starting Line’s “The Best of Me” on YouTube in 2002. I instantly became a fan. Their catchy guitars and infectious choruses ripped through my ears, and as I grew through my teenage years, the band grew with me. Over the years, their lyrical topics matured, and frontman Kenny Vasoli’s voice became noticeably deeper with each release.
When the band eventually went on hiatus in 2008, I felt a hole in my heart and assumed I’d never get a chance to see them live. After a few reunions throughout the 2010s, The Starting Line finally came back together more permanently, almost 17 years later, and released their new album, Eternal Youth. It felt like the perfect moment to finally catch a show.
I attended their Los Angeles date at The Novo, and it took me back to that nostalgic early-2000s headspace where life felt hopeful. The Starting Line opened the set with “I See How It Is” from Eternal Youth, an appropriate starter that signals a new era in Kenny’s life as he’s expecting a child soon. The lyrics describe how he clearly sees the love between him and someone special, which still feels relatable after all these years.
Throughout the set, the band cycled through its catalog. With four full-length albums and two EPs, there was plenty of room to give each era some love. A majority of the setlist pulled from their debut, Say It Like You Mean It, including “Leaving” and “Almost There, Going Nowhere.” Many of the songs on that album deal with teenage angst, especially around the opposite gender and the rollercoaster that comes with young love. While the band has grown up since then, those songs felt as sunny and sentimental as ever, especially in contrast with the more mature sound of Eternal Youth.
Songs they played from Eternal Youth, like “Blame,” showcase Kenny accepting responsibility and taking the blame for his actions. “Sense of Humor” finds him hoping to never lose his ability to reflect on the absurdities of life with a sense of humor, despite everything the band has gone through.
The Starting Line also played three songs each from Direction and Based on a True Story. From the former, “21” is a straightforward, catchy romp about contemplating life after being in a drunken haze, and “Island” interlaces beautiful piano keys with lyrics about leaving everyone behind and starting a new life in an unknown place.
“Making Love to the Camera” from Based on a True Story is about their vow to stay true to themselves as they garnered more fame after the success of their debut, and it felt emblematic of where they’re at now, over two decades later. You can tell the band is happy being back together and making music again. Conversely, “Surprise, Surprise” is an irresistibly fun song about a cheating partner and how he’ll only be a friend again once they’re both in hell. While Kenny is well past that time in his life, it still has one of the catchiest hooks the band has ever created.
The only minor disappointment I had with the setlist, on a personal note, was that they didn’t play “Bedroom,” the lead single from Based on a True Story, and my favorite song of theirs. The only reason I can think of for its omission is its sexually explicit lyrics about losing one’s virginity. Either way, the show closed with “The Best of Me,” and as expected, the crowd erupted as nostalgic memories came flooding back.
After all these years, I’m glad I finally got to see one of my favorite childhood bands, and this time, with a much more grown-up lens than when I was eight. It can be jarring to the people you grew up with on TV and online change over time, but The Starting Line still carries the same charge they had at the start, and their Eternal Youth album proves it.
