Rock, reggae and metal influence Paragon's evolving sound

Music is always taking on new forms and evolving. Sometimes it works; in other instances, not so much. I'm not going to name names or anything, cough, Limp Bizkit, cough.

Fortunately, Paragon, based in Geneva and St. Charles, knows a thing or two about merging different artistic backgrounds.

Paragon's vocalist/guitarist, Nate Emetti, knows his way around different musical styles, and not just because his band blends rock and reggae. He was once in a metal band and other bandmates came from a more experimental rock background.

"I'm in another band, a reggae band, and I was in a metal band back in the day, and the guitar player (Kiel Tredrea) was in a rock band back in the day, too," Emetti says.

Emmetti and Tredrea, along with bass guitarist Andy Frelbab and drummer Frank Suda, blended those genres when the four friends formed Paragon in 2007. Paragon will be playing Friday, Feb. 20, at Mad Maggie's in Elgin with A Birdsong Valentine and Supersixty.

"We've just all been buddies. Me and the guitar player have been friends for years and we were both in separate bands at one point. We've all just been friends and just decided to jam one day," Emetti said.

Since then, Paragon, which Emetti describes as "modern reggae with rock," has been playing venues in and around the suburbs, including opening for the former lead singer of Stabbing Westward's new band, The Dreaming.

Emetti describes the band's live sound as "clean and powerful." The band members are finishing recording a debut album they will self-release in the spring. With their music, Paragon is trying to produce songs about life experiences that people can relate to.

It is easy to see how the band has been influenced by other groups such as Sublime and 311 on tracks like "Walken," (which is not about Christopher Walken). Other tracks are a little heavier and lean toward rock more than reggae with influences from bands like Taproot, Faith No More and The Deftones on songs such as "Last Call," about the dreaded end to a night at a bar, and "Freight Train," about sticking to your guns and following the path that you're on.

While Paragon is fairly new to the suburban music scene (though its members are not), the band has a following and is playing upcoming shows at venues like T F Boonies in Geneva, Doug's Rockhouse in Aurora, Shark City in Glendale Heights and Chord on Blues in St. Charles.

With a debut album on the horizon, Paragon is quickly establishing itself as one of the freshest new acts to hit the suburbs in an always-evolving musical landscape.

Paragon, A Birdsong Valentine, Supersixty

9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

Mad Maggie's

51 S Grove Ave., Elgin

(847) 531-5883