AWmusic

Since breaking onto the scene in 2000, The Starting Line has relentlessly touted and toured their infectious brand of pop punk around North America, until the announcement of their hiatus, slash, break-up, slash, need to spend some time apart, in 2008. As either a going away present to a very loyal fan base, or a hint that this is one of those, not permanent type break ups, TSL has offered up Sombody’s Gonna Miss Us, a live concert CD/DVD recorded at their very “last” show at the 2008 Bamboozle Fest.

Live albums can be hit or miss. If the crowd lacks any interest, or the band’s having an off night, or if the bands live show just doesn’t translate well to home listening. In the case of Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us, TSL has orchestrated a hit. The hometown crowd, who had backed the band for almost a decade, was into every song, and they were almost treated to every song in TSL’s catalog, even reaching back to 2001’s With Hopes Of Starting Over EP, for fan favorite Greg’s Last Day, and playing the always awesome Best Of Me and The Ride.

Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us lays out the road map of TSL’s career from their early days to the later, more experimental songs from the bands last proper studio release, 2007’s Direction. Throughout the set the reasons why the band chose to take a hiatus become as clear as the reasons the band are likely to be back together and go about doing what they do so well. Older songs, while still packing the emotional punch they always did, when sung by a younger Kenny Vasoli, who was only 16 years old when the band got started, take on a different sound on Sombody’s Gonna Miss Us when sung by a Vasoli who is eight years older and wiser. As the set delves into songs like Bedroom Talk from 2005’s Based On A True Story, as well as Direction and Something Left To Give from Direction, Vasoli’s voice finds the pitch that those songs were meant for, and it is easy to see why he felt the need to make a different brand of music with his new project Person L

As much as you can see the reasons for the hiatus, you can also see why it’s likely that The Starting Line are not done making music together. The songs are tight and sound incredible live, and the crowd is, as they are at many a TSL show, into it, singing every word. Vasoli hints at the likely rekindlement on the disc making mention of the fans only having to wait till 2011. It’s not the only mention of The Starting Line possibly reuniting as Vasoli joked when playing an acoustic set at the release party for Sombody’s Gonna Miss Us, saying, “If you are really good this year then Santa is going to bring you something.”

Here’s hoping that the future does hold some new music from one of the last decades best pop punk bands, but in the meantime, Sombody’s Gonna Miss Us, holds up as a great live album and a way to fill the void while the band figure out what the next step is and when they’re gonna take it.

The Starting Line – Gregs Last Day
The Starting Line – Best Of Me
The Starting Line – This Ride