By Renee Clark Quade

The Starting Line’s return to Buffalo on August 24 felt like a long-awaited reunion. Playing at Electric City, a sleek new venue in the Theater District, the band proved they can command a room with both nostalgia and new energy.

They opened with “Almost There, Going Nowhere,” backed by dark, moody lighting and a stage lined with tall lightbulb stands that glowed and shifted colors throughout the night. At one point, Ken Vasoli leaned into one of them with his bass, letting the light cast across his face to cheers from the crowd. From there, the band ran into “Up and Go” and “Surprise, Surprise” before dropping “Sense of Humor,” a new track from their upcoming album Eternal Youth, due out September 26.

Ken carried most of the banter, and it was clear he hadn’t lost his playful edge. He joked that the Buffalo crowd needed an island getaway before kicking into “Island.” When he said he wants drummer Tom Gryskiewicz to quit his job so the band can do this forever, the audience instantly broke into a chant of “quit your job.”

The most memorable moment came when Ken tackled “Drama Summer” solo. Mid-song, he blanked on the lyrics, stopped, and asked if he could start over. He laughed about quitting weed and admitted it was harder to remember the words sober, handling it with honesty and charm that made the moment even more endearing.

Throughout the set, he took time to thank fans for sticking with The Starting Line for so long and even wished a happy 20th birthday to their album Based on a True Story. The band never left the stage for an encore, choosing instead to drive straight through a 22-song set that showcased just how much fun they’re having again.

If anything, you could sense they were still settling into life back on tour. It wasn’t a distraction, and it didn’t take away from the night. What came through instead was the joy of four friends back on stage, playing their hearts out. The crowd matched that energy, singing every word. The night carried plenty of nostalgia, but there was also excitement for what’s ahead. With Eternal Youth on the way, it feels like this band is truly here to stay.

Oso Oso and Macseal opened the show with sets that made sure the room was buzzing by the time The Starting Line walked out. Both bands impressed, but Oso Oso stood out with an extra punch of energy and crowd interaction that got people moving early.

See photos of the Starting Line below:

The Starting Line setlist:
Almost There, Going Nowhere
Up And Go
Surprise, Surprise
Luck
Are You Alone
Sense of Humor
Hello Houston
21
Making Love to the Camera
Inspired by the $
Direction
Decisions, Decisions
Way With Words
Circulate
Birds
Island
The Drama Summer (Acoustic)
Ready
Artistic License
Left Coast Envy
Leaving
The Best of Me