Perfecting their power pop ock since the mid-'90s, New Jersey's Saves the Day call it like it is. They refrain from characteristic pogo-pouncing anthems for their own quirky post-punk and energetic live shows, influencing a new school of emo/punk bands along the way. The first incarnation of Saves the Day happened when singer/songwriter Chris Conley was only 13, and the band was first called Indifference and later, Seffler. A name change to their current moniker, taken from a lyric from the Farside song "Hero," came with the recording of their first demo. Conley (vocals), Eben D'Amico (bass), Ted Alexander (guitar), David Soloway (guitar), and Bryan Newman (drums) made their debut with 1997's Can't Slow Down on Equal Vision Records, though D'Amico didn't join the lineup until after this album. Recorded during winter break of their high-school senior year, the record featured production work from Steve Evetts (Sepultura, Dillinger Escape Plan, Sick of It All).

Through Being Cool followed two years later, gaining a wider fan base and critical success among select punk markets with its greater pop sensibility. However, Saves the Day changed things up for 2001's Stay What You Are. Their third installment, and first release for Vagrant Records, Stay What You Are brought Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith, Toadies) to the mixing boards for a more structured punk ock effort. The album sold more than 200,000 copies, landed on the Billboard charts, and produced two heavily rotated MTV2 videos for "At Your Funeral" and "Freakish." Lots of touring followed; they headlined 2001's Vagrant tour with labelmates Dashboard Confessional, and scored opening slots for Weezer and the Pop Disaster Tour with Green Day and blink-182.