Saves the Day is an American band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1994.[6] The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, bassist Manuel Carrero and drummer Durijah Lang.
After forming under the name Sefler in 1994, Saves the Day released their debut studio album, Can't Slow Down, in 1998. It was followed by Through Being Cool (1999), which featured their first single, "Shoulder to the Wheel". Stay What You Are was released in 2001, peaking at number 100 on the Billboard 200. It spawned two successful music videos on MTV2, for the singles "At Your Funeral" and "Freakish", and has since sold 200,000 copies.[6] After the success of Stay What You Are, Saves the Day signed to Dreamworks Records, who co-released their next studio album, In Reverie, with Vagrant Records. The band stated that the label had "completely abandoned it three days after it was released", with the album peaking at number 27 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top Independent Albums chart.[7]
The band recorded their fifth studio album, Sound the Alarm, in 2005, without a label. They eventually re-signed with Vagrant and released the album in 2006.[6] It was announced that Sound the Alarm was part one of a three part concept. The next album in the trilogy was released in 2007, titled Under the Boards. The final album in the series is planned to be released in 2009, titled Daybreak.
History
Formation and first releases
Saves the Day originally performed in the New Jersey area under the name Sefler as a four-piece band. The band changed their name in late 1997. Their name comes from a Farside lyric. Of the original lineup, only Chris Conley remains today. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes over the years and has only recorded two consecutive albums (Through Being Cool and Stay What You Are) with the same lineup, with Conley as the only permanent fixture.
The band's first proper release, Can't Slow Down, was recorded and released through Equal Vision Records in 1998 while the members were still in high school.
Using the band's own resources, they released a 5-song acoustic EP, I'm Sorry I'm Leaving EP in early 1999. Later that year, they released their second full-length with Equal Vision, Through Being Cool, which saw the band further refining their melodic sound. The band began drawing attention from some of the larger independent labels, eventually signing with Vagrant Records.
Stay What You Are and commercial exposure
In 2001, the band began moving away from their roots with the release of Stay What You Are. The album had a poppier feel with more intricate guitar work and arrangements rather than the previous power chord-based sound. The band scored a major hit with a video for the song "At Your Funeral," and made appearances on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. The band also released a video for "Freakish", featuring Muppet-esque puppets, in April 2002. Shortly after the album's release, guitarist Ted Alexander left the band and Conley took over guitar duties. The album was original drummer Bryan Newman's last recording with the band, who also left shortly after the album's release.
Major label signing for In Reverie
With the success of Stay What You Are, the band signed with major label Dreamworks Records, who would co-release their next album with Vagrant, who still had the band under contract. The 2003 release of In Reverie saw the band further experimented with their sound and feature less macabre lyrics than their past albums. The drastic change in sound was divisive among fans, and the album received little support from Dreamworks. The song "Anywhere with You" was released as a single, but went largely unnoticed.[citation needed] Conley later said the following about the album's release in an interview with Skratch Magazine:
"[Dreamworks] completely abandoned it three days after it was released, saying that we made the wrong record. Then they were sold a month later. They were worthless."[8]
Shortly after the album's release, Dreamworks was absorbed by Interscope Records, who would eventually drop the band from its roster.
Ups and Downs: Early Recordings and B-Sides
The band fulfilled their contractual obligations with Vagrant with the 2004 release of Ups and Downs: Early Recordings and B-Sides, which was a collection of b-sides and also included the I'm Sorry I'm Leaving EP. It also featured a song from the band's early days under the name Sefler. The album was dedicated to former bassist Sean McGrath, who died in 2004 at age 28 after a two year battle with intestinal cancer. McGrath recorded with the band on Can't Slow Down and left during the writing of Through Being Cool. The band was relatively inactive in 2004, during which time they set up their own studio, the Electric Ladybug.
Three-part concept: Sound the Alarm, Under the Boards and Daybreak
In early 2005, the band began writing their follow-up to In Reverie without a label. During the writing process, longtime bassist Eben D'amico left the band. He was replaced by Glassjaw bassist Manuel Carrero. Conley offered frequent updates on the recording process via the band's website, at one point describing the new album's sound as "The Beatles from Hell"[9]. The band finished the new album, titled Sound the Alarm in October 2005, still without a label to release it.
The band announced in January 2006 that they had re-signed with Vagrant, who would release Sound the Alarm in April. The album marked a return to the band's darker lyrics and drew more from their influences than In Reverie had. During the Sound the Alarm recording sessions, the band also recorded an EP of acoustic versions of several songs from past albums, which was sold on tour throughout 2006 as Bug Sessions Volume One. The band toured extensively throughout 2006 and early 2007 in support of the album.
In February 2007, they announced that 13 demos had already been recorded for a new album, which would be titled Under the Boards. It was also revealed that this would be the second of a three-part concept involving ''Sound the Alarm, Under the Boards and the yet to be released Daybreak.[10] Lead singer, Chris Conley said that "Sound the Alarm is an expression of discontent. Under the Boards is reflection and remorse. Daybreak is acceptance."[10]
In March 2007, after more than four years with the band, drummer Pete Parada left Saves the Day to join The Offspring.[11] Carrero's Glassjaw bandmate Durijah Lang took over drum duties, and recorded on Under the Boards. Under the Boards was released on October 30, 2007, through Vagrant Records.
Chris Conley said in an interview that the next Bug Sessions would be a collection of live songs recorded on their 30-date acoustic tour. Volumes 2 and 3 of the once-tour-exclusive EPs were originally only sold on tour, but are now on the iTunes Music Store. After a string of shows on the east coast in late October 2008, Saves the Day planned to enter the studio to begin work on their next studio album, Daybreak. Daybreak is set to be released sometime in 2009.
It was announced in March 2009 that longstanding member David Soloway, would no longer be playing with Saves the Day. He will continue to play bass for his side project, Two Tongues, along with Chris Conley.
David Soloway's replacement was announced in April 2009 as Arun Bali.[12]
Band members
Current members
- Chris Conley – lead vocals, guitars (1994–present)
- Manuel Carrero – bass (2005–present)
- Durijah Lang – drums, percussion (2007–present)
- Arun Bali – guitars (2009-present)
Former members
- David Soloway – guitars (1998–2009)
- Bryan Newman – drums, percussion (1997–2002)
- Eben D'Amico – bass/vocals(1999–2005)
- Pete Parada – drums, percussion (2002–2007)
- Sean McGrath – bass (1998–1999)
- Ted Alexander – guitars (1998–2002)
- Anthony Anastasio (1997)
- Justin A Gaylord III (1997)
Discography
Studio albums
EPs
- 1999: I'm Sorry I'm Leaving
- 2006: Bug Sessions Volume One
- 2008: Bug Sessions Volume Two
- 2008: Bug Sessions Volume Three
Compilations
Singles
- 1998: "The Choke"
- 2000: "Shoulder to the Wheel"
- 2002: "At Your Funeral"
- 2002: "Freakish"
- 2003: "Anywhere with You"
- 2006: "Eulogy"
- 2006: "The End"
- 2007: "Can't Stay the Same"
References
External links
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Saves the Day |
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Chris Conley · Manuel Carrero · Arun Bali · Durijah Lang
Eben D'Amico · Ted Alexander · Bryan Newman · Anthony Anastasio · Sean McGrath · David Soloway · Justin Gaylord · Pete Parada |
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| Compilations |
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| Singles |
"Shoulder to the Wheel" · "At Your Funeral" · "Freakish" · "Anywhere with You" · "Eulogy" · "The End" · "Can't Stay the Same"
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