a trip’s what i need

“Half-convinced the singer of Vacationer is Kenny from The Starting Line.” I received this text from a friend who was at Spotify House last month during SXSW. It turns out she was totally right. M|H had featured Vacationer last year on the Summer Jams mixtape, completely unaware that it was fronted by Kenny Vasoli. Having been in love with The Starting Line for a number of years, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see Vasoli’s new, beachy project when they opened for The Naked and Famous on April 14, 2012 at the Majestic Theater in Madison, Wisconsin.

As “the Eastern seaboard’s foremost relaxation specialists”, Vacationer is about more than just the music – it’s about the vibe as well. Vasoli kicked things off by telling the crowd, “this is like a big cuddle in music form.” While the band may have intended for the crowd to chill out, the audience had a different idea. Madisonians are a dance-y people; when we like what we hear, we’re going to move. Remarked Vasoli, “this may be our danciest show yet,” and, “we’re going to pick up the pace because you guys are great dancers and we want to take advantage of that.”

Playing a good portion of their debut album, Gone, singer Vasoli radiated joy throughout. From the bass thump of the earnest “Great Love” to the sweet longing of “Be With You” the message was love, love, love – and dancing. “The window to dance to our music is closing but that’s okay because the next one’s a banger. It’s called ‘Trip’.” While yielding more of a blissed-out sway than a body-shaking dip, it was high point of the band’s set.

For tour dates, a free download, or to book a trip of your own, visit Vacationer’s website.

Click either photo to see more shots from the show.

songbook: leaving

In M|H’s weekend feature, songbook, I’ll be looking at some of my favorite songs. Some I haven’t listened to in years, some I keep in regular rotation, but all having in some way informed my life, my taste, and and how I view music.

The Starting Line – Leaving

“2-12-99 – at the stroke of midnight.” Any pop-punk fans worth their salt will know exactly when to yell that phrase, fist in the air. The Starting Line seems to be one of those bands that everyone who had even a passing interest in the genre listened to at some point. TSL was an immediate favorite of mine, and I can still listen to Say It Like You Mean It without cringing. When I started college in the fall of 2002, the album was still fairly new and in heavy rotation.

One of the first things I did after starting college was join the Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee. While walking around campus the week before classes started, I saw posters for a free Hey Mercedes show everywhere. I had seen an ad for the music committee in an activities packet I received during freshman orientation (“talk to Brendan – the one with the hair” read the ad, a nod to the student director’s pompadour), but it was really the realization that they booked bands I liked that truly sold me.

As part of my training, I had to cover a show with an experienced member of the committee. The show I picked was The Starting Line with Motion City Soundtrack and Truth in Fiction on October 5th, 2002. That day I learned how to load in, run the lights, pay the band, and other production fundamentals, but of course the best part for nerdy little 18-year-old music-fan self was meeting the bands. I had met bands before while buying merch or after shows to take a picture, but it was nice to get to actually have a conversation with them and not have to worry about coming off as a groupie.

The singer of The Starting Line, Kenny Vasoli, and I hit it off, bonding over being from Pennsylvania, being 18, and being away from home. We were pals for the night, the first of my many (often one night only) rock-and-roll friendships. We didn’t exchange any info, but we did meet again. The following May I went to the Y100 FEZtival in Camden, New Jersey, just across the river from Philadelphia. After The Starting Line’s set I ran into Kenny, and we chatted for a bit about tour and how nice it was to be home.

Fast forward almost nine years to last night. Kenny’s new band, Vacationer, was opening for The Naked and Famous. It was wonderful seeing him so happy, and after the band’s set I stopped by the merch table to say hello. While Kenny no longer remembered me, he did remember the show where we met (“With Motion City?! I have a tape from that show!”) and is still as easy to talk to as ever. After saying hello I couldn’t stop smiling – Kenny will always be wrapped up in the rush of happy memories from my first steps into the music business.