Members of the band Averi are (left to right) Chris Tilden (bass), Michael Currier (sax, keys, vocals), Chad Perrone (lead vocals, guitar), Matt Lydon (drums) and Stuart Berk (guitar). (Globe Staff Photo / Dina Rudick)

Averi made the savvy move of forming while its core members lived in a 300-person dorm at Suffolk University, whose residents supplied the nascent pop-rockers with a built-in audience of enthusiastic college kids. Now the group, without the benefit of a record label or media coverage, plays to packed (and estrogen-heavy) crowds in the main room at the Paradise based on the sheer appeal of the group's hook-filled anthems and heart-on-sleeve ballads.

"Word of mouth," says front man and songwriter Chad Perrone, explaining Averi's ascent in the Boston music scene. "People who've been there from the beginning want to support this band and spread the word."

Averi's sophomore album, "Drawn to Revolving Doors," hits stores Feb. 8, and the band's CD-release party is Feb. 26 at the Paradise. Produced by Scott Riebling (Letters to Cleo, American Hi-Fi, the Sheila Divine), the disc is nothing if not radio-ready. Perrone (above, center) says the group's sound has evolved naturally from its mellow roots to something edgier and more substantial.

"When we first started there were a lot of Dave Matthews references," he says. "I played acoustic guitar. But when we sat down with Mike Denneen, who produced the first record [2002's "Direction of Motion"] we realized lots of the songs called for more of a rock feel, and we've definitely honed our sound in that direction."

Labels are beginning to express interest, and Averi hopes to beef up its national tour schedule in 2005.

"If we get a record deal, awesome," says Perrone. "If we plug away, doing the whole grass-roots thing, touring independently, then awesome. We've sung 'God Bless America' at a Red Sox game and that's a big piece of success."

LENGTH OF TIME PLAYING TOGETHER: Six years. MUSICAL INFLUENCES: "Toad the Wet Sprocket, old Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, all the '80s pop stuff my mother had on easy-listening radio," Perrone says. WHO THEY THINK THEY SOUND LIKE: "I hate to say matchbox twenty, but matchbox twenty." THEY'LL KNOW THEY'VE MADE IT WHEN: "My goal is to make a living and play for people who want to listen. I won't say no to stardom." QUIRKY FACT ABOUT THE BAND: "We play a lot of foosball. We have a pretty elaborate rehearsal space, and usually we start off by playing foosball. Then we conclude with foosball. Sometimes no rehearsing takes place."

- JOAN ANDERMAN