Seeing double in a nightclub is not too uncommon - ask anyone who has ever knocked back one too many drinks. But, in the case of a new band in Hong Kong, you really are seeing double - JJ's latest resident band AOC is fronted by twins, a marketing gimmick not lost on the group.
'We'll tell people we're in AOC, they say 'oh I haven't heard about you'. I'll say we've got some twins in the group, and then it's 'oh yeah, the twins'. It's an identity,' said keyboard player Nate 'Almighty' Johnson.
The Jackson twins - Scharod 'Danger Zone' and Scharodrick 'Preach' - are often called upon to settle wagers made by audience members doubting they really are twins, although with matching haircuts and outfits it is almost impossible to tell the pair apart. They have been performing together since childhood. They had no choice, they said, once their parents discovered their sons' vocal abilities.
Although their personalities are different, these identical twins, born three minutes apart, find that the brotherly bond helps them out on stage.
'On stage our personalities are the same,' said Preach. 'We don't have to communicate and we end up doing the same thing.' Which perhaps helps with the choreography. This Atlanta-based outfit is a show band; from co-ordinated outfits to dance steps right out of a boy-band video. Musically the members emphasise that they can do everything, but their forte is R & B. With the gospel-influenced Jackson twins and smoother soul from Terrence 'Toyy' Murphy, the vocals are stronger than most you're likely to hear from other bands around town. The result is a repertoire that includes Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, R & B soul duo K-Ci and JoJo and pop a la the Backstreet Boys.
Keeping the repertoire as balanced as possible is something they have learnt in Asia. Since their first stint in the region - Japan eight years ago - AOC have made stops in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, among others.
During that time they have also collaborated with a variety of Asian artists, including Leslie Lewis, known for his work with critically acclaimed Indian outfit Colonial Cousins, and popular Filipino singer Francis M.
