Stop Missing Shows

Chris Conley in San Jose

978 users on tonedeaf are tracking Chris Conley

Never miss another Chris Conley show near San Jose.

Chris Conley
August Hall — San Francisco, CA

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)

San Jose's rock scene runs deep—it's a city that respects songwriters and musicians who actually have something to say. The area's tradition of supporting thoughtful alternative and indie rock means Conley's introspective approach to songwriting should resonate here. The city crowds tend to be attentive listeners, not just background noise.

Stay in Willow Glen, where tree-lined streets and local galleries give you something to do before the show. Hit Adega for Portuguese cuisine that actually justifies the price, then walk off dinner around the neighborhood's vintage shops. If you've got afternoon time, the San José Museum of Art is legitimately worth an hour—it's small enough to not feel like a chore, and their contemporary collection is better curated than you'd expect. Grab coffee at Chromatic before heading to the venue. The area's low-key enough that you won't feel like you're in a tourist trap, but established enough that everything works.

Stop missing shows.

tonedeaf. reads your music library and emails you when artists you actually listen to have shows near San Jose. No app. No ads. No noise.

Sign Up Free