Four months after parting ways with Charlie Hitchcock, Particle returned to the stage Friday with a new lineup and a pair of guest guitarists. Confirming numerous rumors, Particle 2.0 is now a five-piece band featuring guitarist/vocalists Scott Metzger and Ben Combe as well as original members Eric Gould (bass), Steve Molitz (keys) and Darren Pujalet (drums). For its high-profile comeback, Particle also invited a number of guests to the stage at Hollywoods The Fonda including. Joe Satriani, Robby Krieger, Blackalicious, and DJ Logic.

Well known to many readers, Scott Metzger also plays guitar in Rana and has clocked in time with Tom Marshalls Amfibian project. Metzger first hooked up with Particle aboard the traveling Xingolati cruise last October and struck up a conversation with Gould after a chance jam session with DJ Logic. Also falling into the chance category is Massachusetts-native Ben Combe. After studying at the Berklee School of Music, Combe relocated to Arizona where he played with the band Badshoe. At a friends insistence, Combe blindly submitted a demo to Particle and scored his initial rehearsal.
In addition to debuting new numbers like Give, the quintet offered fresh versions of older Particle staples such as Triple Threat and Simulator. Particle also rearranged a number of its new guitarists tunes including Combes The Sweeper and Losing It, as well as Metzgers Smile and Its So Hard (Believe Me). In the cover department, the group closed out its set with a version of The Verves Lucky Man and Steve Wonders Superstition. After a one-off appearance at San Franciscos Great American Music Hall tomorrow, Particle will kickoff its 40-city tour on March 15 at Houstons Meridian. The group also plans to release a DVD of its recent comeback show in the coming months.