Averi was founded in 1998 on the campus of Suffolk University in Boston, MA by Matt Lydon and Michael Currier. After inviting Chad Perrone into the group, Averi was born. "At Wits End" was the band's debut EP. Featuring five funk and sax heavy tunes, "At Wits End" became very popular within the local scene and helped the band gain support from producer Mike Denneen (Aimee Mann, Fountains of Wayne, Howie Day) for their debut LP, "Direction of Motion". With the addition of Chris Tilden and Stuart Berk, "Direction of Motion" had a distinctive pop sound. The album sold thousands of copies without any label representation. The band went out on the road in support of the album playing colleges up and down the east coast of the US and numerous clubs around Boston.