With a pair of stellar (and quite raved about) performances in two days, CSRA hard rock band Twice Removed has landed hard on the area music scene leaving jaws on the ground and fans of heavy music wanting more.  Much more.

Continuing a partnership that began in 2003 with the band Ragdoll, vocalist Chris Robinson, guitarist Dean Massaro, drummer Bobby Henderson, and purcussionist/sampler Jonathan “Fugi” Richards have returned with new bassist Brent “Brick” Bragg under the name Twice Removed and it would appear that the time away has done little to soften the edges.  If anything, the break as well as addition of Bragg has made this long aquainted group of musicians more lethal.

Following a highly talked about Thursday night gig at Coyote’s for the first night of the Metro Spirit/Rock Bottom Band Aide contest, Twice Removed hit downtown Augusta the very next evening to rock out new venue Hoe Downs and while all the elements that originally made their previous incarnation a great band are still in place, Twice Removed is a whole other animal all together.  While the band is undoubtedly a product of modern hard rock influences,  many of the classic rock qualities that arise in many a southern band can be found as well particularly when it comes to drums, some of the guitar, and a good bit of the vocals.  Twice Removed is far from a bunch of guys chomping away on a drop D chord topped with impossible to understand growling.  Yes, a large part of the music is aggressive but at the same time filled with infectious grooves, addictive hooks, and powerful vocals. 

From the beginning of their opening set at Hoe Downs last night, Twice Removed were direct and to the point.  Some may have TRIED to sit or stand still but even the stiffest of indivuals soon found themselves bobbing their heads and just as soon as it looked as if a break had arrived, the band would be well into the next tune running through their set with all the precision of a well maintained muscle car.  Songs such as Winner, and For Example are perhaps as good as anything ever to come out of the CSRA yet just as soon as I thought that maybe I had heard it all…Twice Removed ripped out a lethal version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller  that made Alian Ant Farm’s take on Smooth Criminal sound like a nursery rhyme.  

The other side of  Twice Removed is the energy with which the band presents its music.     Bragg and Massaro worked the audience while Robinson somehow managed to draw listeners in with solely his vocals and intense facial expressions.  In the rear Henderson feversihly pounded away while Richards swayed and feigned exhaustion back and forth between a set of congas and his turntable.  As I looked around I was made aware that even trips to the restroom were rushed so as to try and miss as little as possible.

It is obvious (as not just to myself) that Twice Removed is about as complete an area band as there is.  Even as someone who rarely listens to such music, I found myself highly enjoying the band’s performance. After seeing the band live I can understand why.  Twice Removed not only has many heavy elements but overtones of melody topped with catchy vocal lines as well, neither of which take away from the power in Twice Removed’s songs.  Such a combination has been attempted by many a band with less than impressive results.  Twice Removed has managed to succeed on all points.

With a small amounts of dates under their collective belts it will be interesting to see how far Twice Removed goes, not just in the CSRA but surrounding cities as well.  I would venture to say, if the band continues to move forward without losing their attention ot musical detail they will certainly become one of the areas top hard rock bands.

Stoney