“I feel like the band is just warming up, like the last ten years have just been training and now we can really get down to business”, gleams Chris Conley – lead vocalist with New Jersey’s latest decadians Saves The Day. “It’s like we’re on page one again, we’ve finished the prologue and now the book can start”. Positive times have been difficult to come by for Conley because quite honestly, he’s been to hell and back; but with the help of those most dear, he has grappled with his demons and come out revitalised, refreshed and ready to take on the world once again and thank god because his band – completed by bassist Manuel Carrero, drummer Durijah lang both ex Glassjaw and guitarist David Soloway - feel after 10 years that they’re just packing their spotted handkerchiefs ready to head out on that first tour again.
Having nearly called it a day after some of their darkest times, they’re determined to enjoy themselves this time round and that can only mean one thing, more mind aching melodic post hardcore and punk rock for their eagerly awaiting legion of loyal supporters. With the second instalment of a life affirming trilogy of albums nearing its release, Conley is able to open the book on his past and start thinking about the future with a renewed vigour and optimism that no-one can possibly take away from him. “The new album ‘Under the Boards’ is about me and the last 3 years or so when I really hit rock bottom; things under the surface that I’d never had to deal with in my life along with a hefty weight of paranoia, denial and self destruction that was crushing me. I was a bitter and depressed guy but didn’t know why,” he quietly acknowledges. “I was such a miserable and depressed bastard that I nearly lost my band, my family and friends. So much so that I was forced into therapy where I realised it was time to face the mirror and hold myself accountable for my actions, to try and understand how I got to be where I was and the trilogy started with ‘Sound the Alarm’ back in 2005 with the bottom of the barrel; what it was like for me at my darkest time. It’s filled with insecurity and anger but this second chapter starts the transition out of the darkness if you like and at first I wind up really threatening to destroy my whole life, all my relationships and chasing away the person that I love because I did actually negatively effect everyone. I realised I was the root of all my dilemmas and at the end I’m left alone, a miserable fuck, to figure out if I’m actually gunna continue with life and choose to figure out how to do things right, or I’m just gunna give it all up. I didn’t get to that realisation until I’d actually been destructive, ruined opportunities and destroyed friendships.” Clearly hurt by his past he continues, “This latest release deals with the repercussions of the person that I was and how I damaged my chances of being a happy person. At the end I ask myself why I did this, why did I say those things; this miserable person illustrated in ‘Sound the Alarm’ was gunna lose everything if he didn’t wise up and on the very last song I decide to climb above the darkness. So it ends on an optimistic note which will be fulfilled on the final album ‘Daybreak’, which will deal with putting all the pieces of my life back together, doing some soul searching, understanding where I’ve come from and making amends, ultimately learning how to be a healthy human being again.”
They say one of the hardest parts of rehabilitation is the acknowledgement of individual errors. While Conley’s journey may well have been a result of personal choices, the desire and willingness to accept that he made a wrong turn somewhere is the key to the future of this band. “We almost broke up because of what I was. Probably the biggest wake up call for me was the band staring at me saying, ‘you’re a miserable fuckin’ prick and we don’t wanna be around you, get your act together.’ I had to face the music through a year and a half of extensive therapy, during which I actually had incredible epiphany. I realised in a clear flash that if you take experience A and add experience B, sure enough out comes C, a miserable fuck! As soon as I put 2 and 2 together and saw the equation of my life clear as day, I was more accepting of whom and how I was. I didn’t blame anyone else for anything but I did hold myself accountable. I used to be a bottle of self loathing and range and it was extremely difficult to be around me so to weather that storm must have been a nightmare. I’m fortunate to have people around me who love me unconditionally. David our guitar player is one of the reasons I’m still here; if he hadn’t stuck by me I would have really drifted off into the darkness.”
From their first proper release in 1998 on Equal Vision Records, the heavily Lifetime influenced ‘Can’t Slow Down’, to the more refined melodic tones of ‘Through Being Cool’ in 1999, STD have worked hard and come up trumps every time. Delivering slice after slice of inspirational and youthfully aggressive emo-core in the early years, to the equally stark and distinct dynamics within ‘Stay What You Are’ and ‘In Reverie’, Conley and co have grown as individuals and cruised through altered images and works of alternative expressionism that can now be viewed as development; paving the way for their ultimate creative delivery as a band pre and post ‘Sound the Alarm’, ‘Under the Boards’ and ‘Daybreak’. Conley affirms “I’m most proud of the band right now. We’ve pulled ourselves out of a dark hole and through David’s support and our old drummer Pete just being there for me, we’re able to turn a very negative experience into a very healthy expression of the challenges of life. I think that’s fantastic and if we never make music again after this trilogy, I’d still be the most proud musician ever.”
Despite being unfairly abandoned by Dreamworks/Interscope following the release of ‘In Reverie’, STD found their way to Vagrant and finally, a stable home from which to continue carving their niche as highly influential independents. On a personal level Conley has drawn from many corners of his life and indeed many artists’. If he wasn’t a musician he admits he most likely would be a nature enthusiast or a conservation crusader, adding “I also really like psychology. I went to college at NYU for one year where I just loved reading about the mind. But musically the biggest influence for me is probably The Beatles. I didn’t discover them until after we finished ‘Through Being Cool’ so before that it was punk bands like Lifetime, Jawbreaker, The Refused, Glassjaw, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Weezer. I also got into the Beach Boys and Elliott Smith having worked with his producer Rob Schnapf. He really liked the blues so I ended up getting into Howling Wolf; Robert Johnson was big for me. I was listening to him exclusively before this trilogy, particularly on the song ‘Under the Boards’. I actually really love Missy Elliott, I’m just getting off on her right now; I think she’s one of the greatest of our time. I’ve never been into hip-hop but wholly mackerel she is like Elvis to me.”
Whilst Headwarmer won’t pass judgement on his choice of favourite artist, there is an interest in Conley’s other creative talents. “I like reading about musicians, I’m obsessed with music but I also love drawing. I’ve been doing some cartoon characters – Mr Mojo and Colonel Frothington his cat. Mr Mojo is a recovering alcoholic and the Colonel is his concerned kitty. I’m gunna post them on our website because they’re quirky, but certainly not deep.” We should all keep an eye for that.
Conley is a healthy guy now, not taking anything for granted and savouring every little moment, every little aspect of life that he and his band can now enjoy. His rollercoaster of a life so far has made him very reflective and thankful. At the end of it all, perhaps it was the best thing that could have happened, hitting rock bottom – harsh as it sounds - because despite being an extremely testing time, they now have a great deal to look forward to; as do we.