Chris Conley in San Antonio

About Chris Conley

Chris Conley is the frontman of Saves the Day, the New Jersey post-hardcore band that basically defined mid-2000s emo-adjacent rock. He's been steering the ship since 1997, when the band formed in Princeton and started writing the kind of urgent, introspective songs that made people feel less alone in their bedrooms. Stays the Day peaked commercially with 2002's 'Stay What You Are,' an album that hit different for people navigating the murky waters between adolescence and adulthood. Conley's voice—slightly strained, genuinely emotional without being theatrical—became the sonic backbone of songs like 'Hands Down' and 'Alive with the Glory of Love' that still resonate hard. The band's never chased trends; they've drifted through various sounds over two decades, from post-hardcore fury to occasionally more experimental territory, but Conley keeps the project rooted in genuine emotional expression. Saves the Day still tours regularly, and their early catalog endures as a legitimately important fixture of 2000s alternative rock.

Conley's shows are communal in a low-key way. Crowds sing every word to the deep cuts, not just the singles. He's not a showman—he's present, direct, sometimes visibly moved by what's happening. The energy builds genuinely, no manufactured hype required.

Known for Cute Without the 'E' (Cut from the Team), Alive with the Glory of Love, The Great Escape, Hands Down, Absolutely (Story of a Girl)

Chris Conley in San Antonio News

• Thursday To Head the 'Full City Devolución' Tour Knotfest · Jan 22, 2026
• Thursday Announce New Tour chorus.fm · Jan 21, 2026
• THURSDAY announce “Full City Devolución” tour Lambgoat · Jan 21, 2026
• Georgia players in the Super Bowl: Mecole Hardman, Chris Conley highlight unconventional paths The New York Times · Feb 13, 2024
• ‘No words’: 49ers leave Super Bowl labeled as team that can’t win the big one San Antonio Express-News · Feb 12, 2024

Live Music in San Antonio

San Antonio's music scene skews heavily toward tex-mex, conjunto, and regional Mexican sounds, but there's a solid undercurrent of alternative and indie rock that's been steady for years. The city's never been a major alt-rock hub like Austin, but it's got enough serious listeners to support touring acts. Conley's emo-adjacent sensibility could find real traction here with people who've been following guitar-driven rock since the 2000s.

San Antonio road trip to see Chris Conley?

Stay in Southtown, where the gallery scene and restored Victorian homes give you something real to walk through between dinner reservations at Cured, which does thoughtful Italian-influenced cooking without pretension. Catch the show, then spend the next morning at Pearl Brewery itself—the district's worth an hour of wandering. The Majestic Theatre or the Tobin Center are your likely venues depending on the tour routing. Head to the McNay Art Museum if you've got afternoon time; it's one of the better regional collections in Texas and won't feel like you're wasting daylight.