THE SOUND OF ANIMALS FIGHTING LIGHT UP THE ROXY WITH RAW ENERGY AND EMOTION
A few Mondays ago, experimental rock supergroup The Sound of Animals Fighting took over The Roxy in Los Angeles for an unforgettable night of music and emotion. They were joined by shoegaze powerhouses Hard Chiller and This Will Destroy You, each delivering a performance that set the stage perfectly for the main event.
Hard Chiller opened the night with a sound that immediately grabbed the room. The band, formed by Steve Choi of RX Bandits and The Sound of Animals Fighting, along with Joe Vannucchi of From Indian Lakes, built a wall of sound that was heavy, textured, and hypnotic. Their Deftones-inspired style felt familiar yet fresh, blending melody and distortion to keep the crowd completely locked in.
Next up was Texas-based instrumental group This Will Destroy You. Bathed in a sea of blue light, they filled the room with lush, cinematic soundscapes. Every note felt deliberate and emotional, pulling the audience into their world. Their set was both powerful and meditative, with guitars swelling, drums crashing, and heads nodding in quiet reverence.
Then came The Sound of Animals Fighting. From the moment Anthony Green stepped on stage, the energy shifted into something electric. Holding a red light bulb and swinging it through the air, Green launched into the opening song with raw, unfiltered intensity. He leaned into the crowd, shouting every word as fans screamed them back just as loud. The connection between band and audience was immediate and decisive.
Midway through the set, Matthew Kelly joined to perform “Wolf,” gliding across the stage with his signature fluid movements that had the crowd cheering with every step. Rich Balling, known as the band’s Nightingale, delivered his trademark spoken word vocals, blending haunting poetry into the mix.
As the night drew to a close, members of the band stepped off the stage and into the crowd for the encore, performing surrounded by fans. The Roxy became something intimate and communal, no barrier and no distance, just pure shared energy. Voices rose together as the show ended, leaving everyone drenched in sweat, sound, and emotion.
It was more than just another night at The Roxy. It was a reminder of why The Sound of Animals Fighting inspire such a devoted following, and proof that experimental rock doesn’t need to follow rules to make you feel something real.
