Saves The Day originally performed in the New Jersey area under the name Sefler as a five-piece band. The name change came sometime around late 1997. Of the original lineup, only Chris Conley remains today. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes over the years and has only recorded two consecutive albums (Through Being Cool and Stay What You Are) with the same lineup, with Conley and guitarist David Soloway the only permanent fixtures. The band in its original form drew heavily from influential melodic hardcore bands, with their early sound often likened to that of fellow New Jersey group Lifetime. The band's first proper release, Can't Slow Down, was recorded and released through Equal Vision Records in 1998 while the members were still in high school. Using the band's own resources, they released a 5-song acoustic EP, I'm Sorry I'm Leaving EP in early 1999. Later that year, they released their second full-length with Equal Vision, Through Being Cool, which saw the band further refining their melodic hardcore sound. The band began drawing attention from some of the larger independent labels, eventually signing with Vagrant Records.