Nevergreen's music is a sneak attack. It packs the power and punch of a rock band within its pop veneer and slick hints of reggae groove. Singer Sara Passamonte, her brother Justin "J" Passamonte (drums), Eric Pedersen (bass), and guitarists Dylan Emerson and Mike Ortolaza, came together in 2005 out of the remnants of Deadly Nevergreen, a metal outfit that's a far cry from the band's current sweet grooves. Nevergreen learned to crawl as a cover band before taking the leap into the beautiful uncertainty of originals. There is already one EP to the band's credit, and a few more in the chamber.

Nevergreen will move you without hurting you. Like a generous hit off your favorite bubbler, you get all the good stuff, with the remaining clutter that bogs down a lot of other bands left floating in the bong water.

We recently chatted up the Passamonte siblings for their thoughts on the band. An edited transcript of the conversation follows.

CITY: How did Nevergreen come to be the band it is today?

Justin Passamonte: We were doing the cover-band thing. We tried that a bit following our heavy-metal band, Deadly Nevergreen, then when we got into some lighter stuff we realized we needed to go back to writing our own music and doing originals.

But how did you fall into the reggae groove

Justin: When we were doing covers we did a lot of rock/reggae material - Sublime, Marley. And we figured if we're doing the original thing, may as well make it something we like, and that people can dance to and groove along with.

So it felt natural?

Sara Passamonte: Yeah.

Justin: In our old metal group, with two guitar players, we did a lot of technical stuff that wasn't standard metal. We had a lot of things going on. We would go into reggae breakdowns way back then, and with my drumming style I really latched onto that groove. So it came pretty naturally, I'd say. And that whole style that we've come to has that aggression, has that rock, so it's steered away from the exact reggae stuff you're used to hearing.

Does the rock/reggae ever divide your audience?

Sara: We have songs that are for the people that are looking for the roots reggae, breakdowns where people can slow it down a little bit and dance. Then there are the rest of our songs for those who want something a little more complex.

How does Nevergreen write?

Justin: With many micro ideas. They get brought to the table, Sara usually throws her spin on them, works on the melodies and verses and whatnot. Sometimes I'll have a hook in mind and we'll just adapt everyone else to it. It's very collaborative.

So Sara is the principle lyricist?

Sara: I write the majority of the lyrics, but I still ask for input, especially when somebody comes up with the riff or somebody comes up with an idea for a song. I don't want to come out of nowhere with the subject matter.

When did the line-up and mix and groove first click for the band? When did you know you were onto something?

Justin: Probably six months ago. At a couple shows we were playing, we could literally feel ourselves getting tighter. I can't compare that feeling to anything. And the more songs we write, the more we're developing our sound. I can't compare it to anyone in the area.

So the choice to be original paid off?

Sara: It was hard at first, [since we were] able to play at a lot more venues as a cover band. And we were like, "Do we want this to be where we can actually make some money and get some solid gigs booked? Or do we want to do something we really like doing, and maybe limit where we can play but really make an impact on the people that come to those shows?"

Sounds like you've made the right choice.

Justin: Watching the fans react, and having them come up to us and say they love our music... Hand's down, nothing that compares to that.

When can we see a follow up to "Light Show"?

Justin: We have enough for a full-length, but we'll probably release [the songs] in groups of four.

Why?

Justin: You almost don't want to waste 12 songs all at once.

Sara: Keep it fresh. I think people are more likely to pay $4 for four tracks as opposed to buying a full length for $10 to $12. I mean, everybody's got $4 in their pocket at a show.

Justin: And it makes us look like we've got all these releases.

Nevergreen

Part of March Rising, with Downbeat Keys, E3, etc.

Saturday, March 6

Montage Music Hall, 50 Chestnut St.

7 p.m. | $8 | 232-1520