Through time and space: an evening with saves the day and the stories they tell
Saves the Day delivered an unforgettable performance at the House of Blues in Boston on November 17, 2024, as part of their co-headlining tour with Senses Fail. The night was a heartfelt celebration of the 25th anniversary of their legendary album, Through Being Cool—a record that has shaped a generation and continues to resonate deeply with many. (Here’s the setlist.)
Around 6 PM that evening, I was escorted upstairs to the VIP area, where I was set to meet the band. My heart pounded so intensely that I could feel it in every fiber of my being—a rare and electrifying sensation I’ve only experienced a handful of times in my life. The moment I entered their collective presence, a wave of peace washed over me.
I’ve met many musicians over the years, but this felt profoundly different. There’s something extraordinary about music that has lived inside your bones and cells for more than half your life—it transforms you. And I felt that transformation most profoundly around Chris Conley.
Chris, the heart and soul of Saves the Day, has been with the band since its inception. Meeting him was an other-worldly experience. His presence radiates a rare blend of depth, kindness, and a multifaceted energy that is impossible to ignore. Being in his orbit felt like encountering the very essence of what makes this music so timeless and transformative.
I also got chatting with Arun Bali (guitar) for a couple minutes and this dude has some contagious energy. He embodies a gentle and trusting essence yet ruthlessly shreds that guitar.
Anyway, I digress, I showed the guys my Shoulder to the Wheel tank that my clothing company, Cosmic Outlaw, made for the show. They dug it.
The vibe of the show was intimate yet high-energy, a reflection of the shared love between the band and their fans. It felt like a celebration of early 2000s emo and post-hardcore, resonating with the crowd’s enduring passion for these genre-defining act.
Through Being Cool, released on November 2, 1999, is Saves The Day’s breakthrough second album and a cornerstone of the emo and pop-punk genres. Hearing the album, 25 years later, was an out of body experience. It felt like being transported back to a time when emotional rawness and catharsis were everything—when the boundaries between punk, pop, and emotion blurred into something uniquely powerful. LISTEN AND WATCH HERE.
I stepped into a time machine and was instantly transported to a place where everything felt light and effortless, a time before life became complicated and the weight of the world set in. It was a moment frozen in innocence, before the heaviness of adulthood and the reality of struggle took hold.The guys walked out on stage and the feeling of that simpler time began to resurface. The sound of the amp being plugged in, on the first track , All Star Me, came over the crowd. I was done for.It was on. I entered some kind of trance after that. I could go into great depth about what hearing each track live did to my mind and body but I won’t bore you. It’s like being on drugs, without the drugs.
At the time of its release, Through Being Cool was a revelation. It captured the angst, the energy, and the youthful defiance of a generation teetering on the edge of the 21st century. For many, it was a soundtrack to their teenage years, a companion through high school heartbreaks, confusion, and dreams of something bigger. And now, looking back with the perspective of 25 years, the album still holds an undeniable power, not just in its influence, but in its raw emotional honesty and musical vitality. If I could live inside of an album. This is it.
I have some clips of the show on my YouTube Channel here. :)
*****A note for the haters: Chris got into some shit a few years ago, sparking intense public scrutiny. Art has often emerged from the depths of human pain, and many of the world’s most profound creators are deeply sensitive individuals navigating their struggles. Chris is no exception—a deeply sensitive artist whose music has resonated with countless fans precisely because it comes from a place of raw vulnerability. He also gives off Big Pisces Energy. :)
What sets him apart is the way he’s continued to confront these challenges in the unforgiving spotlight. Watching him go through it was heartbreaking; you could feel his suffering woven into the music. Yet, despite it all, he persevered, offering fans not only his art, his heart, but also a reminder of the complexities of being human. For those quick to condemn Saves the Day, perhaps it’s worth pausing to acknowledge our shared imperfections and the grace that allows us all to grow. Also, let’s remember there’s always two sides to every story.I’m so sick of cancel culture.*****