The Sound of Animals Fighting is an experimental rock sideproject and supergroup put together by Rich Balling, anchored by Circa Survive's Anthony Green and members of Rx Bandits. They released a trilogy of records between the years 2004 and 2008, and performed only four live shows, following their second release in 2006.

The Sound of Animals Fighting is The Nightingale, The Walrus, The Lynx, and The Skunk. Many friends and musicians have stopped by to collaborate, hang out, and record on songs throughout the band's short history, namely on the second album, Lover, the Lord Has Left Us.

Tiger and the Duke

Lover, the Lord Has Left Us...

The group performed only one small run of shows in Southern California and Las Vegas from August 24 to August 27, 2006. Matt Embree (Rx Bandits), Anthony Green (Circa Survive), Craig Owens (Chiodos, Cinematic Sunrise, Isles & Glaciers), 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."

A partial list of performers at the shows include Matt Embree, Steve Choi, Chris Tsagakis, Joe Troy, Ryan Baker, Chris Sheets (Rx Bandits), Anthony Green, Craig Owens, Rich Balling, Brad Bell, Rich Zahniser, and Keith Goodwin. 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.

The Nightingale posted the following message on the fifth of September, regarding the four shows and the future of the band.

The anticipated, four shows have come and gone, and you all were part of the success!

Wow . . . to think we all had our doubts about how to organize everyone and everything. Planes arrived on the 21st and the band met for the first time. There was an instant vibe . . . the same vibe that threaded the studio work together so well was ever-present. Practice went on the next two days and we banged it out. Big thanks to the family: not just the musicians but to the Golden Bear Group (Charlie Adams and Nate Israel), our tour manager Sal Torres, our beloved soundman Pavan, and Hollis Marcus, Charlene Rogers. Thanks to the painters Norton Wisdom and Aaron Nagel for incorporating their talents as well.

So what now? Well, we continue to make music while thriving on your support and enthusiasm. The reaction that we have all got about the shows has really been special and made it all worth it. Will the east coast ever get their four shows? Will the UK.? Probably not, but then again, the magic we felt over this last weekend was strong, and wouldn't be a bad thing to feel again. I guess it will depend on how we all wake up each morning between now and . . .

Let us not forget the ultimate reason these shows even happened: all of you that find joy in listening to the music we create. We did it so that at least a portion of you would be able to witness us give thanks to your support and see the songs come alive at least once.

A final thank you to Kyle Homme, Lizzie Small, Josie Zuill, Scott and the DVD crew, Matt Galle, Dave Shapiro, Greg and Tom and all at Equal Vision Records, Bryan Sheffield, House Of Blues, Kelli, Multi-Media Tyler, Josh, Jeff, Everytime I Light, Sound Matrix, and everyone else that helped make the one party, two practices, and four shows happen.

The Nightingale

At around 8:00 on Monday October 15, 2007, The Nightingale stated in a bulletin and blog on the group's Myspace page that there would be a new album released on Epitaph Records in the future. His exact quote was:

"Friends and Fans, After one album, a reissue of our first EP, and a live DVD (three very special releases to us), we bring you the latest newsflash: our third album will be released on the pioneering and long-established Epitaph Records. We were extremely blessed to have had the opportunities provided for us by Equal Vision Records for the aforementioned releases, and could not have been happier there. The label and staff remain friends, and we will continue to work closely with them to make sure our merchandise is available to all of you. This third record coming out on Epitaph simply gives us a chance to reach new channels and new faces, which, ultimately, will work in everyone's favor, as you and we continue to grow, while simultaneously maintaining the independent ethics so important to us. Thank you for your ongoing support, and, as always, believe nothing you hear unless it comes straight from us. We are excited for the ongoing future of this incredibly cathartic project."

Although there were many guest artist appearances on Lover, the Lord Has Left Us..., The Ocean and the Sun album will be similar to the first EP, Tiger and the Duke, with the lynx, the walrus, the skunk, and the nightingale focusing on the album entirely.

The band announced via myspace bulletin on January 5 that the new album has been "tamed" and should be finished by the beginning of February.

"Just a quick report from the studio... To say we are excited about the new album would be an understatement. I don't think any of us, as usual, had any idea what this would sound like going into the process, since we head in without much but a few random ideas. For awhile, the album was in the form of an uncontrolable beast, but we still did not know how to capture and tame the beast into an actual record. Yesterday, we had a killer session and the beast has been captured and identified. We should be wrapping up this album within the next 30 days=ish. I hope you all are as excited as we are. Can't wait for you to hear things...."

They then posted a bulletin on April 11 saying that tracking is complete and that they are now mixing the album.

"We have completed tracking and have begun mixing. Cover art is done, title is here, will be revealed soon...super psyched....The new album is titled 'The Ocean and the Sun'".

On May 7, the band posted a cryptic video on the top of their MySpace page.

Another bulletin was posted on myspace on May 20 saying:

"the new album, as of yesterday, is finished and mastered."

A second cryptic video has recently been posted on the band's MySpace page. It appears to mean that the new album will be released on 9/9/08.

A third video has been posted stating that the song, The Heraldic Beak Of The Manufacturer's Medallion, from the Ocean and the Sun will be available on TSOAF's myspace on the twenty-ninth of July.

Vocal credits include Embree making his first vocal appearance on "Blessings..." and Green returning for the title track, "Another Leather Lung," and "The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion," and Balling returning on "I, the Swan," "Cellophane," and "On the Occasion.." The Wolf? aka Matthew Kelly, rounds out the credits with an appearance 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 (also on spoken word duty on Lover) appears on spoken word duty on Ahab and Mark Bush appears on trumpet during "Cellophane."

The band issued a series of 400 masks, 100 of each of 4 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.

The band on March 8th, 2009 posted a blog on myspace describing two music videos in the making for "I, the Swan" and "Another Leather Lung." Both music videos have since been made available on youtube.

Studio albums

• Tiger and the Duke (2005)
• Lover, the Lord Has Left Us... (2006)
• The Ocean and the Sun (2008)

DVD

• We Must Become the Change We Want to See (2007)

• Official Site
• MySpace
• purevolume
• Equal Vision Records
• Review on The Ocean and the sun on Punk76.com
• The Sound Of Animals Fighting interview on Rockmidgets.com