The twin brothers behind Thing of Twins have been playing together since their teens, but their musical education started before they ever formed a band. Their father introduced them to artists like The Doors, The Beatles and Queen, while their older brother brought hip-hop, nu-metal and bands like System of a Down into their radar. Eventually, they began discovering music for themselves. Keep reading and check out the interview below:
Carlos remembers changing the radio to KROQ one day and hearing Linkin Park’s “Faint” begin almost immediately. Coming from a household where hip-hop was already in heavy rotation, Linkin Park became a bridge into a completely different world of music.
Then came Guitar Hero.
Carlos became obsessed with the game and eventually decided he wanted to learn the real instrument. Lucio followed his own path to the drums, and by high school, what started as messing around had become something more serious.
Their earliest gigs were appropriately chaotic. At just 16, their mom drove them to shows in San Pedro, where they found themselves playing in front of bar crowds before they were even old enough to legally be there.
“That was sort of the first taste of an actual bar band,” Carlos said. After that first night, the reaction was basically: “Oh fuck, this is awesome.”
Becoming Thing of Twins
Before Thing of Twins, the brothers played in a band called Ashford Falls. Eventually, the revolving door of bassists and guitarists became exhausting. Lucio pushed for the obvious solution: stop looking.
Just become a two-piece.
Carlos initially questioned whether they could create a big enough sound with only two people. Bands like The White Stripes and The Black Keys showed them the format could work, but hearing Royal Blood helped convince them they could adapt the concept to their own heavier alternative sound.
Their influences now pull from multiple directions, including System of a Down, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Green Day and Angels & Airwaves, blending elements of alternative rock, punk, nu-metal and hip-hop rather than fitting neatly into one genre.
Choosing Their Own Path
At one point, Thing of Twins were presented with an opportunity connected to a potential touring situation. The catch was that the brothers felt they would need to reshape themselves musically to fit what was expected of them.
They walked away.
Around the same time, they accepted a seemingly much smaller opportunity: a show at Alexander’s World Famous Tortas in Compton. That decision changed everything.
They met other local musicians, landed another show, expanded their network and gradually found themselves connected to a community that actually embraced what Thing of Twins already was.
“No one would really take us in. No one would give us a chance,” Carlos said of those earlier years.
The restaurant gig helped change that trajectory.
It also shaped the brothers’ philosophy about where a band should play. Thing of Twins has since performed everywhere from traditional venues to gay bars, and they told us they were even preparing to play a furry convention.
To them, that unpredictability is part of punk rock.
“People want to hear good music,” Carlos said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter where you are.”
Photos by @FatBearLA and @LoudInLA
Born With a Bandmate
Thing of Twins still has some massive goals ahead.
They want Warped Tour. They want bigger stages. They want to share bills with the artists who inspired them, and they want to make an album that lasts long after they’re gone.
Lucio praised Carlos’ ability to command a crowd, whether they’re performing for two people or thousands. Carlos returned the sentiment by describing what makes playing with his twin different from any other musical partnership.
“I was born with my bandmate.”
Follow Thing of Twins:
About C² (Christy + Chris)
Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.
Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting rap, R&B, punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
Leave a Reply