The Sound of Animals Fighting
Encyclopedia
The Sound of Animals Fighting was an American rock
supergroup
founded by Rich Balling
of Rx Bandits
. They released a trilogy of records between 2004 and 2008, and performed only four live shows, following their second release in 2006. The band's live lineup consisted of 12 different musicians.
and Las Vegas
from August 24 to August 27, 2006. Matt Embree (Rx Bandits
), Anthony Green
(Circa Survive
), Craig Owens
(ex-Chiodos
), and Technology (Rx Bandits' Chris Tsagakis' side project) were the opening acts. Prior to the shows, it was difficult to envision which members would be performing at the live shows; Rx Bandits members Matt Embree, Steve Choi, Chris Tsagakis, and bassist Joe Troy were a few of the confirmed musicians. The band released a DVD documenting the shows entitled "We Must Become The Change We Want To See."
Aaron Nagel
and Norton Wisdom (see Banyan
) did live paintings on stage during the band's set. Nagel's painting was placed on eBay
on September 15, 2006, and was up for bidding until September 25, when bidding closed at $930; proceeds from the sale went to charity.
On December 29, 2009, at an Anthony Green show at the Roxy, Matt Embree joined Green on stage and performed combined versions of "Skullflower" and "Stockhausen, Es Ist Ihr Gehirn, Das Ich Suche".
Guitarist Matt Embree and drummer Chris Tsagakis played abridged versions of several songs by the group under the name "Biceratops" at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, CA on January 15, 2010.
, were members of the live lineup.
The samples that Ryan Baker supplied via laptop were female vocals and additional instruments such as turntables and horns that Rich Balling provided on record but chose not to physically play live.
in the future.
Vocal credits include Embree making his first vocal appearance on "Blessings..." and Green returning for the title track,"I, the Swan," "Another Leather Lung," and "The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion," and Balling returning on "I, the Swan," "Cellophane," and "On the Occasion.." Matthew Kelly
appears on "On the Occasion." Other vocalists include Jessica Mcwhirter (The Lings) on "On the Occasion," and Lauren Coleman on "Uzbekistan" and spoken word on the title track. Charlene Rogers appears performing spoken word on "Ahab" and Mark Bush appears playing trumpet during "Cellophane."
The band issued a series of 400 masks, 100 of each of four designs, paired with a 7" for a limited preorder of the album. This was the first and only vinyl release and novelty item sold by the band.
On July 8, 2009, the band posted a MySpace blog entry with links to official music videos for "I, the Swan" and "Another Leather Lung."
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
founded by Rich Balling
Rich Balling
Rich Balling is a former member of the Rx Bandits, leaving the band after the release of their third album, Progress.He is also the founder and one of the members of The Sound of Animals Fighting under the name "Nightingale", and the editor of the books Revolution on Canvas and Revolution on Canvas...
of Rx Bandits
Rx Bandits
RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as...
. They released a trilogy of records between 2004 and 2008, and performed only four live shows, following their second release in 2006. The band's live lineup consisted of 12 different musicians.
Tiger and the Duke
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Producer Record producer A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... , Vocals |
Rich Balling (Formerly of RX Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Lead Guitar Lead guitar Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... |
Matthew Embree (RX Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Drums Drum kit A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... |
Chris Tsagakis (RX Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Guitar Guitar The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... |
Randy "R2K" Strohmeyer (Formerly of Finch Finch (U.S. band) Finch was an American rock band from Temecula, California. The band released an EP Falling Into Place and two full-length albums, What It Is to Burn and Say Hello to Sunshine before declaring a hiatus in 2006. Finch reformed in 2007, playing a reunion show on November 23 at the Glasshouse in... ) |
| Bass Bass (instrument) Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles... |
Derek Doherty (Formerly of Finch Finch (U.S. band) Finch was an American rock band from Temecula, California. The band released an EP Falling Into Place and two full-length albums, What It Is to Burn and Say Hello to Sunshine before declaring a hiatus in 2006. Finch reformed in 2007, playing a reunion show on November 23 at the Glasshouse in... ) |
| Vocals | Anthony Green Anthony Green (musician) Anthony Green is a musician from Holland, PA. He is currently the lead singer of Circa Survive, previously in the bands Saosin, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Audience of One, Jeer at Rome, High and Driving, and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer.-Circa Survive:Anthony Green joined California rock... (Circa Survive Circa Survive Circa Survive is an American alternative rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward.... , formerly of Saosin Saosin Saosin is an American rock band originally hailing from Newport Beach, California. The band was formed in 2003 and recorded its first EP, Translating the Name, that same year with original singer Anthony Green. Green left Saosin following the band's decision to sign with a commercial label,... ) |
| Mixing Audio mixing (recorded music) In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... & Programming Programming (music) Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock... |
Chris Fudurich |
| Artwork | Marc Mcknight (Atreyu Atreyu (band) Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller... ) |
| Public Relations Public relations Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.... |
Vanessa Chibba |
| Author Author An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:... |
Chris Haynie |
| Engineer | Kyle Homme |
| Patrone | Charlie Adams |
| Engineer, Vocals | Rich Zahniser (The Hippos The Hippos The Hippos were an American rock band formed in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, and disbanded in 2000. During the band's lifetime they released 3 full-length albums... ) |
| Vocals | Alexander William Bentley (The Autumns The Autumns The Autumns are an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California, comprising Matthew Kelly , Frankie Koroshec , Dustin Morgan and Steve Elkins .-History:... ) |
| Recording, Mixing Audio mixing (recorded music) In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... |
Ryan Baker |
| Backup vocals Backing vocalist A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... |
Chase Everett Simmons |
Lover, the Lord Has Left Us...
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Producer Record producer A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... , vocals |
Rich Balling (Formerly of Rx Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Lead guitar Lead guitar Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... , backing vocals Backing vocalist A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... |
Matt Embree (Rx Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Drums Drum kit A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... |
Chris Tsagakis (Rx Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Recording, mixing Audio mixing (recorded music) In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... |
Ryan Baker |
| Vocals | Anthony Green Anthony Green (musician) Anthony Green is a musician from Holland, PA. He is currently the lead singer of Circa Survive, previously in the bands Saosin, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Audience of One, Jeer at Rome, High and Driving, and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer.-Circa Survive:Anthony Green joined California rock... (Circa Survive Circa Survive Circa Survive is an American alternative rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward.... , formerly of Saosin Saosin Saosin is an American rock band originally hailing from Newport Beach, California. The band was formed in 2003 and recorded its first EP, Translating the Name, that same year with original singer Anthony Green. Green left Saosin following the band's decision to sign with a commercial label,... ) |
| Album artwork | Stephen O'Malley Stephen O'Malley Stephen O'Malley is a musician, predominantly a guitarist, producer and composer from Seattle, Washington who has conceptualized and participated in numerous drone doom, death/doom, and experimental music groups.... (Sunn O))) Sunn O))) Sunn O))) is an American doom metal band known for its synthesis of diverse genres including drone, ambient, noise, and black metal. Supported by a varying cast of collaborators, the band has two core members: Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson .-History:Sunn O))) is named after the Sunn... ) |
| Public relations Public relations Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.... |
Kelli Alexander |
| Vocals | Craig Owens (D.R.U.G.S., formerly of Chiodos Chiodos Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their... , Cinematic Sunrise Cinematic Sunrise Cinematic Sunrise was an American rock band signed to Equal Vision Records. It consisted of Craig Owens and Bradley Bell , along with Bryan Beeler , Marcus VanKirk , Nick Martin , and Dave Shapiro .-History:... , Isles & Glaciers Isles & Glaciers Isles & Glaciers was an American rock supergroup formed in 2008. The band consisted of members from Chiodos, Emarosa, Pierce the Veil, Cinematic Sunrise, The Receiving End of Sirens, Underminded, and former members of The Sound of Animals Fighting and Boys Night Out... ) |
| Vocals | Keith Goodwin (Good Old War Good Old War Good Old War is an indie band from Philadelphia, PA featuring former members of Days Away.-Biography:Good Old War is made up of Keith Goodwin, Daniel Schwartz, and Tim Arnold. The band's name comes from the last names of the three members; Goodwin for Good, Arnold for Old, and Schwartz for War... , formerly of Days Away Days Away Days Away was a five piece progressive rock band based in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, formed in 1998.-Biography:Days Away formed in 1998 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. When first formed, the group consisted of Keith Goodwin , Matt Austin , Matt Haines , and Chris Frangicetto... ) |
| Guitar, vocals | Matthew Kelly Matthew Kelly (The Autumns) Matthew Kelly is the vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band The Autumns.Kelly's output with The Autumns began in 1997 with the EP Suicide at Strell Park and the full-length The Angel Pool.... (The Autumns The Autumns The Autumns are an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California, comprising Matthew Kelly , Frankie Koroshec , Dustin Morgan and Steve Elkins .-History:... ) |
| Guitar (live performances) | Steve Choi (Rx Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Bass (live performances) | Joe Troy (Rx Bandits Rx Bandits RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as... ) |
| Vocals, backing vocals | Chase Everett Simmons |
Touring
The group performed only one small run of shows in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
from August 24 to August 27, 2006. Matt Embree (Rx Bandits
Rx Bandits
RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as...
), Anthony Green
Anthony Green (musician)
Anthony Green is a musician from Holland, PA. He is currently the lead singer of Circa Survive, previously in the bands Saosin, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Audience of One, Jeer at Rome, High and Driving, and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer.-Circa Survive:Anthony Green joined California rock...
(Circa Survive
Circa Survive
Circa Survive is an American alternative rock band from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb of Doylestown, formed in 2004. The band consists of vocalist Anthony Green, former singer of Saosin and members of the now-defunct This Day Forward....
), Craig Owens
Craig Owens (musician)
Craigery Michael "Craig" Owens is an American musician from Davison, Michigan. He is best known as the former lead vocalist of Chiodos and has had an involvement in various side projects such as Cinematic Sunrise, and the supergroup Isles & Glaciers...
(ex-Chiodos
Chiodos
Chiodos is an American post hardcore band from Davison, Michigan. Formed in 2001, the group was originally known as "The Chiodos Bros," the band's name was a tribute to filmmakers Stephen, Charles, and Edward Chiodo, responsible for the film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Chiodos released their...
), and Technology (Rx Bandits' Chris Tsagakis' side project) were the opening acts. Prior to the shows, it was difficult to envision which members would be performing at the live shows; Rx Bandits members Matt Embree, Steve Choi, Chris Tsagakis, and bassist Joe Troy were a few of the confirmed musicians. The band released a DVD documenting the shows entitled "We Must Become The Change We Want To See."
Aaron Nagel
Aaron Nagel
Aaron Nagel is the original trumpet player for punk rock/ska core act Link 80, born and raised in Berkeley, California. He currently plays guitar in the band DESA with other former Link 80 members Ryan Noble, Adam Davis, and Barry Krippine....
and Norton Wisdom (see Banyan
Banyan (band)
Banyan is an art rock/alternative rock band with heavy jazz, funk, and punk influence, based in Los Angeles, California.The leader and co-founder is Stephen Perkins, who first played drums for Jane's Addiction , and then for Porno for Pyros. He co-founded the group with David Turin...
) did live paintings on stage during the band's set. Nagel's painting was placed on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
on September 15, 2006, and was up for bidding until September 25, when bidding closed at $930; proceeds from the sale went to charity.
On December 29, 2009, at an Anthony Green show at the Roxy, Matt Embree joined Green on stage and performed combined versions of "Skullflower" and "Stockhausen, Es Ist Ihr Gehirn, Das Ich Suche".
Guitarist Matt Embree and drummer Chris Tsagakis played abridged versions of several songs by the group under the name "Biceratops" at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, CA on January 15, 2010.
Live Lineup
The band's live lineup consisted of 12 musicians, most of whom contributed to at least one studio album. At the time, every member of Rich Balling's former band, the RX BanditsRx Bandits
RX Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.-Early years :Originally known as...
, were members of the live lineup.
- Anthony GreenAnthony Green (musician)Anthony Green is a musician from Holland, PA. He is currently the lead singer of Circa Survive, previously in the bands Saosin, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Audience of One, Jeer at Rome, High and Driving, and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer.-Circa Survive:Anthony Green joined California rock...
- Vocals - Rich BallingRich BallingRich Balling is a former member of the Rx Bandits, leaving the band after the release of their third album, Progress.He is also the founder and one of the members of The Sound of Animals Fighting under the name "Nightingale", and the editor of the books Revolution on Canvas and Revolution on Canvas...
- Vocals - Craig Owens - Vocals
- Keith Goodwin - Vocals/Guitar
- Matthew KellyMatthew Kelly (The Autumns)Matthew Kelly is the vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band The Autumns.Kelly's output with The Autumns began in 1997 with the EP Suicide at Strell Park and the full-length The Angel Pool....
- Vocals/Guitar - Matt EmbreeMatt EmbreeMatthew Embree is a singer and guitarist best known as the front-man of the Rx Bandits. Also, he plays lead guitar/vocals for The Sound of Animals Fighting, in which he is known as "The Walrus." He produced their most recent album The Ocean and the Sun....
- Guitar/Vocals - Steve Choi - Guitar/Keyboard
- Joe Troy - Bass
- Chris Tsagakis - Drums
- Chris Sheets - Percussion
- Ryan Baker - Percussion/Sampling
- Bradley BellBradley Bell (musician)Clinton Bradley David Bell , known professionally as Bradley Bell, is an American keyboardist, pianist, synthesist, and backing vocalist, best known for being the keyboardist of post-hardcore band Chiodos, and also for being the keyboardist of pop punk band Cinematic Sunrise until their demise, and...
- Keyboard
The samples that Ryan Baker supplied via laptop were female vocals and additional instruments such as turntables and horns that Rich Balling provided on record but chose not to physically play live.
The Ocean and the Sun
On October 15, 2007, Balling stated in a bulletin and blog post on the group's Myspace page that there would be a new album released on Epitaph RecordsEpitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
in the future.
Vocal credits include Embree making his first vocal appearance on "Blessings..." and Green returning for the title track,"I, the Swan," "Another Leather Lung," and "The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion," and Balling returning on "I, the Swan," "Cellophane," and "On the Occasion.." Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly (The Autumns)
Matthew Kelly is the vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band The Autumns.Kelly's output with The Autumns began in 1997 with the EP Suicide at Strell Park and the full-length The Angel Pool....
appears on "On the Occasion." Other vocalists include Jessica Mcwhirter (The Lings) on "On the Occasion," and Lauren Coleman on "Uzbekistan" and spoken word on the title track. Charlene Rogers appears performing spoken word on "Ahab" and Mark Bush appears playing trumpet during "Cellophane."
The band issued a series of 400 masks, 100 of each of four designs, paired with a 7" for a limited preorder of the album. This was the first and only vinyl release and novelty item sold by the band.
On July 8, 2009, the band posted a MySpace blog entry with links to official music videos for "I, the Swan" and "Another Leather Lung."
Studio albums
- Tiger and the DukeTiger and the DukeTiger and the Duke is the debut album by the experimental rock band The Sound of Animals Fighting. Four songs from this album were released in demo form on a 2004 EP of the same title....
(2005) - Lover, the Lord Has Left Us...Lover, the Lord Has Left Us...Lover, the Lord has Left Us... is the second album by the experimental rock band The Sound of Animals Fighting. The album was released on May 30, 2006 through Equal Vision Records but will still use Rich Balling's Stars & Satellites imprint....
(2006) - The Ocean and the SunThe Ocean and the SunThe Ocean and the Sun is the third and final album by experimental rock band, The Sound of Animals Fighting. The album features only the four core members that had appeared on both the first and second albums: the Nightingale, the Walrus, the Lynx, and The Skunk.The first song, Intro, is the...
(2008)