Though popular mainstream groups such as Deep Blue Something, Days of the New, and Tantric usually produce great music, many of the best songs in today’s alternative scene often come from relatively unknown bands.
For years, my favorite of those unknown artists was a singer named Sean Michael Dargan—whom I first saw perform at the American University campus in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 1996. His unique mix of rock, folk, and jazz is quite compelling, and I have been known to play his two CDs, Dance on the Windows, and Sean Michael Dargan for hours on end.
Recently, however, I was intrigued by the music of the alternative band Averi when I heard them play at the 100 Days Until Graduation Celebration on February 2. I was so impressed by their performance that I bought their CD, Direction of Motion, at the concert for the inexpensive price of $10.
Averi expertly combines catchy lyrics and a fresh, invigorating sound to create hugely addicting music; since I purchased their CD, I have played it constantly—more than 30 times at last count.
Averi’s name comes from the jazz musician Shug Avery in The Color Purple, a classic novel about African-American life in the Deep South. The band’s diverse influences include modern rock artists U2, Live, Lenny Kravitz, and the Matthew Good Band—not to be confused with the Dave Matthews Band—among others.
The Boston-based group is comprised of lead singer/guitarist Chad Perrone, saxophone and flute player Mike Courier, drummer Matt Lydon, and guitarist Chris Tilden.
The opening song on Direction of Motion, “Discovering the Truth about Oz,” features an impressive use of dynamics and energized, poetic lyrics that really hit home for me, like “The years bring out the things I try to hide” and the “Innocence was swept out from under us.” These words emotively capture the feelings behind adverse situations and paint a very realistic picture of life’s fleeting nature.
Equally gripping for me is the song “Waiting for a Ghost,” which beautifully portrays the highs of true love. The pure, stirring blend of the saxophone and guitar in “Waiting for a Ghost” leads to a comforting sound whose power can uplift even the saddest of souls. I found strength in the words “that we’ll go out on top and never land,” which reminded me of my own struggle at times to come out on top.
“The Bones Underneath” is my favorite tune on Direction of Motion because of its flawless integration of a saxophone, flute, vocals, and guitar. Other listeners have apparently felt similar sentiments toward “The Bones Underneath,” as the song spent three months at number one on the independent alternative list.
Although “Discovering the Truth about Oz,” “Waiting for a Ghost,” and “The Bones Underneath” are the best songs on Direction of Motion in my opinion, there is not a single song on the album that I do not really enjoy; Averi did an excellent job of producing a well-rounded, smoothly flowing CD.
Rewarding Averi’s effots thewebsite www.alternativeaddiction.com rewarded Averi’s efforts for Direction of Motion by naming them Unsigned Band of the Year for 2002.
I encourage you to listen to samples of Averi’s songs on their website, www.averimusic.com, to see if you enjoy their music. You will undoubtedly find yourself hooked and wanting for more from Direction of Motion. It is well worth the $10.
