Animal is an instrumental rock band based in Brooklyn, NY. Formed in the summer of 2004, the group began in San Francisco. Moving between New York City and San Francisco, Animal began to develop a unique brand of math rock. In the fall of 2005, Animal was signed to Unfun Records, an independent music label from Berkeley, CA. Recently affiliated with the Lumberjack Mordam distribution group.

In the summer of 2006 Animal toured the West Coast of the U.S. with Archaeopteryx, also of Brooklyn, NY. The groups went from Seattle, WA down to San Diego, CA. In August, Animal toured as they drove back to New York City. Animal has played with numerous other notable bands in the independent music world, including the Two Gallants, Knot Feedere (ex Don Caballero), Dirty Projectors, Paradise Islands (ex Erase Errata) and others.

The group consists of Patrick Higgins on guitar (ex/ Mayfair, Inner Struggle) and Alexander Perrelli on drums (ex/ Sidekicks, Miso Militia). Working within the constraints of the duo format, Animal has extended and elaborated on the traditional possibilities of the two-person band. Using complex layering, looping, phasing and improvisation, coupled with frenetic drumming and fluid time signatures, Animal's music recalls many elements of free jazz and the avant garde while still commiting itself to the post-rock and post-hardcore aesthetic. Some of the bands' influences are Hella, Don Caballero, Battles, Ruins, Lightning Bolt, and a compendium of experimental music composers.

What some others have said:

"Improvisational, intellectual post-rock two piece from New York. Key Markets in metropolitan cities, San Francisco and New York. All recording and effects performed and processed live, bridging the gap between recordings and live performances. Summer '06 Tour with Archaeopteryx includes a nationwide performances from New York to San Francisco. For fans of Lightning Bolt, Hella, and Don Caballero."
-interpunk.com

"Animal are a 2-piece currently living in New York. It bums me out to say the New York part because they frickin' rule and want to see them again! Multiple times, if possible. When you hear it you will understand what I'm talking about. You'll probably hear people referencing Hella when they discuss this band. That will be an oversimplification. Yes, I thought about Hella when seeing them, but I also got a distinct experimental/noise/jazz feel from them. This band has a distinct personality in its music that doesn't make them easy to peg. Besides, be careful what you read into reviews. Opinions are like assholes. I highly recommend you check their website out and see them [live]... I've been your test-monkey. Just frickin' click it and check'it. They rule."

-Lars, pbase.com/pistolswing

"...enjoyed Animal very much too. my first time seeing them. i met them a while back and after hearing their mp3 (follow link to their web page on the right), i wished there had been more experimental rock bands at Columbia when i was there (Fenster Hall, raise the roof!). anyway, they're a duo: Patrick is guitar, Alex on the drums. Patrick builds up these big tapestries with tons of loops; his jazzish techniques are pretty bad-ass and he uses tapping and a whole lotta other snazzy ways of playing the guitar that just sound good. Alex is busy as shit but also tight and when they kick into a groove it's pretty righteous. i look forward to hearing more of this stuff. if i haven't done my job, Battles is a point of reference."
-Hank Shteamer, Time Out NY

"The Animal LP is composed around a central group of melodic and harmonic motifs, which are explored, transformed, and pulled apart throughout each of the tracks. Despite the composition of specific motifs and patterns, Animal uses an improvisational method in the arrangement and realization of each piece. The duo have created a sound that uses both subtle and drastic shifts in tone, tempo, and intensity, while maintaining an aggressive edge and drive. The LP has over an hour of intricate guitar tapestries and frenetic drumming, off-set with thickets of noise. The record was recorded by Paul at Capture Sound Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in April of 2005. Mastering by Brandon Abhorrance at Thrashmasters.com in Santa Cruz, CA."
-amazon.com

"Animal play intricate, noisy, beautiful music that will make you take your pants off and think about your mother's best friend from high school. enjoy[ed] this record... Rating: 5 of 5 Stars!"
-Customer Review from unfunrecords.com

"At last here is the long awaited Avant-Crazy Animal explosion. The self titled album, LP out on UNFUN is the combined efforts of Patrick and Alexander, both destroying the minds of NY gangsters and NYU dropouts with their improvisational fury. The two piece features a barrage of guitars from Pat, and Hella-esque ranting drum beats by Alexander. All proceeds of this album will benefit the bands conquest of the Americas as they plan their Summer 2006 tour. Tracks on this album range from conceptually frustratingly, to intensely trippy. Not for the weak or immature musical taste."
-Johnny of Un-Fun Records

Discography

March 2006-- Animal "LP", full-length release by Unfun Records<br>
March 2007-- "Horror Orr" EP split record with Archaeopteryx, Unfun Records

Concert History


Summer Tour 2006 (w/ Archaeopteryx):<br>
June 17 @ Brad's Reptile Farm (bradstock!) in Corvallis, OR<br>
July 15 @ The Missouri Lounge in Berkeley, CA... San Pablo Ave at Parker St.<br>
July 17 @ SS Marie Antoinette in Seattle, WA<br>
July 18 @ Le Voyeur in Olympia, WA w/ Paradise Island<br>
July 19 @ Food Hole in Portland, OR w/ Night Wounds<br>
July 23 @ Che Cafe in San Diego, CA<br>
July 24 @ The Smell in Los Angeles, CA w/ Night Wounds<br>
August 11 @ The Everday House in Colorado Springs, CO w/ Tenebre, Runfastscared, and others.<br>

West Coast:
January 7, 2005 @ Hannah's art show in SF (21st and Bryant) w/ Readyville, and others.<br>
June 10, 2005 @ Brainwash Cafe in San Francisco (1122 Folsom) w/ Tides, Make-Self Machine...<br>
June 26, 2005 @ Balazo Gallery in San Francisco (18th and Mission) w/ Make-Self Machine, and Nervosa<br>
July 4, 2005 @ Oregon House in Berkeley, CA... Oregon St. w/ Navies, Neon Affection.<br>
July 16-17, 2005 @ Music Festival of Corvallis, Oregon... <br>
July 22, 2005 @ Balazo Gallery in San Francisco (18th and Mission) w/ Tenebre, Tides, and The Autumn Project <br>
January 3, 2006 @ 2527 Channing at College, Berkeley CA. w. Old Testament Heroes. <br>
January 7, 2006 in Berkeley @ "Fort Oregon" on Oregon St at MLK w/ Tera Melos and Tenebre, others.<br>
June 9, 2006 @ Balazo Gallery in San Francisco, CA w/ Morning Benders, The Lock, Best Friends<br>
August 2, 2006 @ 43rd and Telegraph in Oakland, CA w/ Two Gallants. <br>
August 6, 2006 @ La Raza Park, 26th and Potrero in San Francisco w/ Two Gallants and Graycion.<br>

East Coast:
October 8, 2005 in Brooklyn, NYC: 157 Manhattan Ave. between Meserole and Scholes. Apartment 1F.<br>
October 20, 2005 @ Cake Shop: 152 Ludlow St., New York City. w/ Birthday Boyz, Battletorn, The Fugue, Creeping Nobodies. <br>
October 31, 2005 @ Apocalypse: 189 East 3rd St. between Ave. A and B... New York City. <br>
November 4, 2005 @ 265 McKibbin lofts (cross street is Bushwick), Brooklyn. w/ Ladies and Everyone, Sever the Hands<br>
December 16, 2005 in Brooklyn, New York @ 19 Thames, cross street is Morgan. <br>
February 24, 2006 @ 59 Jefferson St. (apartment 302) in Bushwick, Brooklyn. w/ Birthday Boyz, Old Testament Heroes. <br>
March 12, 2006 @ North Six in Brooklyn, NY. w/ Capsule, Dear Tonight, In First Person. <br>
March 14, 2006 @ Cake Shop: 152 Ludlow St., NYC. w/ SIDS (members of Deerhunter) and Archeoptryx.<br>
April 14, 2006 @ North Six in Brooklyn, NY w/ Souvenirs Young America, Bunny Rabbits, Unipigeon. <br>
September 22, 2006 @ the Smog of Bard College, Hudson NY w/ meneguar and many, many others <br>
October 1, 2006 @ 643 Morgan Ave #1, at Nassaue Ave w/ Archaeopteryx, Old Testament Heroes<br>
December 15, 2006 @ "Charm City Art Space" in Baltimore, Maryland. w/ knot feeder (ex- don cab), yukon, stay fucked, archaeopteryx and calabi yau.<br>
January 13, 2007 @ Cake Shop w/ Yukon, Stay Fucked, Clan of the Cave Bear, and more. <br>
January 19, 2007 @ Glasslands w/ Little Women, Child Abuse, Birthday Boyz and Stay Fucked...<br>
January 20, 2007 @ Sarah Lawrence College w/ Zs<br>

External Links:

http://www.animal-band.com<br>
http://unfunrecors.com