New Jersey's Saves the Day was a benchmark of late-'90s, mall-friendly pop-punk emo. Frontman Chris Conley sang the same kinda songs about girls with the same eunuch-nasal vocals as all the band's nationwide suburban peers. But he also slipped in an extra little darkness. His take on teenage white male ennui (see also: sexual frustration) left a vinegar aftertaste despite ostensibly sweet ingredients.
As always, those boys started getting a little fuzz on their upper lip. And, honestly, they fell off our radar, because the announcement that they'll be performing this November alongside Jersey pop-punk peers Bayside was a surprise -- local stop is at Revolution. Saves the Day is not only still a band but it also has a new full-length, titled Daybreak, coming out this fall.
So Saves the Day is on its way. But, like we were saying, you better not expect some sweet little emo boys. What if we've got on our hands here is bona fide poop-in-the-diaper emo men. What follows is the band's evolution over the years.
When we first met Saves the Day, its members were plucky suburbanites whose visor-wearing demographic smiled while singing along to songs about being allergic to their own virginity. Check out vocalist Chris Conley's supercrucial, spunky, young-at-heart mic twirl. These boys were born to whine, but get 'em a pair of hooters to honk in the back of their Dad's car and they'll be shouting carpe diem!
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In 2001, they made the jump to Vagrant and were ushered into melancholy young adulthood, perfectly exhibited in their emo-ly existential video for "At Your Funeral." Check out vocalist Chris Conley's supercrucial jaw.
Right before we lost track of it, Saves the Day had morphed into a horrific parody of itself that was long overdue for merciful euthanization. Check out vocalist Chris Conley's bright-pink 'do for a perfect example of how NOT to age gracefully in emo.
Saves the Day, with Bayside. Tuesday, November 8, at Revolution, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Visit jointherevolution.net.
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