Concert Review: The Sound of Animals Fighting at The Wiltern on Jan 7

Photo by Liza Kushnir

As I walked into The Wiltern, I undoubtedly knew that I was at a rock concert. Not only because of the sea of people in black clothing, sprinkled in with a few self-made steampunk outfits, but because you could feel the attendees preparing to let loose. As concert-goers gathered into the space from grabbing a drink in between sets, I could hear chatter throughout the venue about how excited they were to see The Sound Of Animals Fighting.

Photo by Liza Kushnir

The Sound Of Animals Fighting is an American rock group consisting of Anthony Green (Vocals), Matt Embree (Guitar), Keith Goodwin (Vocals), Steve Choi (Guitar), Jonathan Hischke (Bass), Chris Tsagakis (Drums), Matthew Kraig Kelly (Vocals) and Rich Balling (Vocals). A month ago, their EP, APESHIT, hit streaming platforms and social media, the first time they put out music in the last 15 years. Their current sound echoes their past albums, which primarily lie in the post-hardcore genre, but it is clear from the vast layers that went into every song on their project that they have taken the last decade to explore new interests and evolve as a band. 

Photo by Liza Kushnir

As the house lights went to black, fans began to scream, welcoming the bands’ comeback to music and expressing their excitement to hear the new EP live. From the start, it was obvious that this wouldn’t be your typical concert. Opening with “Wolf,” the band made the decision to slow it down and only utilize minimal Fuschia lighting, making it a very dramatic way to kick off the show. They followed that with the title track, “Apeshit,” which was a pleasant contrast due to its energetic and slightly aggressive nature. You could feel the palpable level of excitement building as the audience moved to the rhythm of the beat.

Photo by Liza Kushnir

Anthony Green commanded the attention of the entire venue when all of the lights went out except for a small lightbulb he was holding in his hands. Rich Balling also embraced the concept of using a prop, as evident when he pulled out a copy of Peter Pan on stage. There was a moment when one of the members began chuckling while pointing to the audience. With a quick glance, it turned out fans were holding plush Muppet dolls signed by the band members, presumably a blast from the past. As the performance went on it felt like each song was a chapter within a book; together it summed up and showcased the direction The Sound Of Animals Fighting is in the process of pursuing. What makes this band stand out from others is their versatility by utilizing three vocalists. Each one brings something special to the table, and because they constantly rotate between being on and off stage, it keeps the show uniquely dynamic. Overall, I hope now that the band is back and hitting the ground running that more Southern California dates are on the horizon. 

Photo by Liza Kushnir

Photo by Liza Kushnir

Photo by Liza Kushnir

Liza Kushnir - Instagram

Contributing writer and photographer Liza Kushnir is a multimedia professional based in Los Angeles with a passion for music and film. She attributes her love of music to attending shows from a young age and sees the arts on a global scale thanks to growing up in different countries throughout her life.