Rich Balling

Last updated

Rich Balling
Also known asR. Loren, Rich Loren, The Nightingale
Genres Post-hardcore, indie rock, experimental rock, shoegazing
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, producer, teacher
Instrument(s)Vocals, electronics, trombone
Years active1995–present
Labels Hydra Head, Epitaph, Equal Vision, Small Doses, Aurora Borealis, Drive-Thru, MCA

Rich Balling (also known as R. Loren or Rich Loren) is an American musician, producer, and curator. He is best known for being a former member of Rx Bandits. He is also known for his work in Pyramids, The Sound of Animals Fighting, and being the editor of two books Revolution on Canvas and its sequel Revolution on Canvas 2. [1]

Contents

Balling is currently involved in a number of projects using his first initial and middle name, R. Loren: Pyramids, Sailors With Wax Wings, and White Moth. [2]

Career

Rx Bandits

His career started with Rx Bandits, when the band was founded in 1995 and he worked at Drive-Thru Records during the early stages of the label. In 2001, after the tours on the release of their third album "Progress", Balling left the band, citing frustrations he had with certain aspects of the music industry. [3] [4]

Revolution on Canvas

After leaving Rx Bandits, Balling lectured on music and the music industry as an adjunct faculty member at California State University, Fullerton, and worked as a music buyer for Hot Topic Inc., where his interests moved into anthologizing poetry, essays, and art created by himself and other musicians who he knew while recording and touring with Rx Bandits. [5] [6] He went on to curate and edit the book Revolution on Canvas: Poetry From the Indie Music Scene, which was published by Warner Books (now Grand Central Publishing) in 2005, and received with critical acclaim. [7] [8]

In 2007, Balling went on to publish a sequel to the book, entitled Revolution on Canvas 2: Poetry From the Indie Music Scene, again through Warner Books. [9]

The Sound of Animals Fighting

In 2004, while in the process of publishing the two books, Balling continued his music career by founding the experimental rock band The Sound of Animals Fighting, and went on to release three albums. [10] In 2005, the band self-released "Tiger and the Duke", which received positive reviews in the media, and was reissued in 2007 by Equal Vision Records with new artwork by Drew Roulette (Dredg), and included bonus remixes curated by Balling from notable artists such as Portugal The Man, and Evol Intent. [11] The success of the first album led the supergroup to release two more albums. [11]

Balling became heavily influenced by the art of found poetry through his work with the Revolution on Canvas book series. In 2006, Equal Vision Records released the unorthodox "Lover, The Lord Has Left Us..." an album crafted in the found poetry style, whose theme is homage to the band's contemporaries, as evident in its song titles and lyrics, many of which were gathered from the very releases that inspired the experimental tendencies of the band. [12] The album's title was fashioned in the same way, when Balling approached Gared O’Donnell (Planes Mistaken For Stars) to donate a phrase that could be used for the album, and ironically, homage to Gared. The phrase "Lover, The Lord Has Left Us…" is the first lyric in a song that at the time had not been released by Planes Mistaken For Stars, but later appeared on their album "Mercy". [13] The album layout was done by Stephen O’Malley also known as Sunn O))). [14]

“The Ocean and the Sun" was released by Epitaph Records in 2008 with artwork by Seldon Hunt. [15]

On November 11, 2013, Balling announced The Sound of Animals Fighting would be performing the following March, seven years after their first and only other concerts. [16]

Pyramids

After the release of the third album with The Sound of Animals Fighting, Balling, having relocated from California to North Texas, moved onto his next project, Pyramids, where he would begin to record under his first initial and middle name: R. Loren, in order to forge a new musical direction free of influence from past projects. [17] Since 2008, the band has released three full-length albums on Hydra Head Records, titled "Pyramids", which contained bonus remixes by notable artists including Jesu, Blut Aus Nord, and Birchville Cat Motel, "Pyramids with Nadja" which included cameos from Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins and Chris Simpson of Mineral, and a collaboration with Horseback titled "A Throne Without A King". In addition, Pyramids released two EPs "Mamiffer/Pyramids" (Hydra Head Records) and "Pyramids With Wraiths" (Aurora Borealis), a five cassette box titled "Wvndrkmmer" (Small Doses Records), and a 12" containing remixes by Lustmord, and Ulver (Hydra Head Records). [18] [19]

Sailors With Wax Wings and White Moth

In 2010, Balling founded two more bands, again recording as R. Loren: Sailors With Wax Wings, and White Moth. These bands were large scale collaborations curated by Balling, who also performed lead vocals on both records. [20]

Sailors With Wax Wings is a collaboration between Balling and notable artists Simon Scott (Slowdive), James Blackshaw, Vern Rumsey (Unwound), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Dominick Fernow (as Prurient), Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride), Colin Marston (Krallice), Aidan Baker (Nadja), Ted Parsons (Godflesh, Swans, Prong), Hildur Gudnadottir, Jessica McWhirter, and Marissa Nadler, with cover art by David Tibet (Current 93), and Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer). All lyrics on the album come from the poetry of Stephen Crane, who Balling says appeared to him in a vision. [21]

White Moth is a collaboration between Balling and notable artists Lydia Lunch, Alec Empire (Atari Teenage Riot), Shelby Cinca (Frodus), John Gossard (Weakling, Dispirit), Sam Hillmer (Zs), Dälek, Colin Marston (Krallice), Ashley Scott Jones (Treasure Fingers), Jacob Kirkegaard, Christoph Heemann, and Charlene Rogers, with album art by Chet W. Scott (Blood of the Black Owl). [22]

Both albums were released on Angel Oven Records. [23]

Handmade Birds records

In February 2011, Balling started a boutique record label called Handmade Birds. The label began live with the release of the LP "When California Falls Into The Sea" by Evan Caminiti (Barn Owl), and a reissue of Blut Aus Nord's dark opus "Mort". [24]

Balling was quoted saying the label was a way for him to "collaborate with artists that I love, acting as a vehicle for that energy, whilst fostering a level of appreciation for art and music in my household that I feel will be healthy for my two daughters to grow up around." [25]

Within the first year, Handmade Birds put out almost 40 releases. In May 2012, the label released the debut album of Texas natives Pinkish Black, and has released albums from artists as diverse as Lycia, Merzbow, His Name Is Alive, Circle of Ouroborus, Prurient, White Ring and Locrian. [26] [27]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Front 242</span> Belgian electronic music group

Front 242 is a Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. Pioneering the style they called electronic body music, they are a profound influence on the electronic and industrial music genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rx Bandits</span> American band

Rx Bandits are a band based in Seal Beach, California, United States. 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 The Bamboozle. In the UK they have appeared at Reading/Leeds Festival & Slam Dunk Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Menche</span> American experimental musician

Daniel Menche is an American experimental musician and multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon. Since 1989 he has recorded many albums that are categorized as electro-acoustic, noise music, dark ambient music, abstract, avant-garde, experimental, field recordings, drone, minimalist music, percussion and soundtrack film music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Axelrod (musician)</span> American musician, record producer, composer and arranger

David Axelrod was an American composer, arranger, and producer. After starting out as a staff producer for record companies specializing in jazz, Axelrod became known by the mid-1960s in soul and jazz circles for his recording skills. In 1968, Axelrod embarked on a solo career and released several albums during the 1970s that showcased his characteristic sound, which combined heavily microphoned drums and baroque orchestration, and avant garde themes ranging from the environment to heightened mental awareness.

The Sound of Animals Fighting is an American rock supergroup founded by Rich Balling of Rx Bandits. In the band's initial run, 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. The band often employed the use of animal masks to conceal their identity. The group was inactive after 2009, with brief spurts of touring in 2014 and 2019, before announcing a new extended play and nationwide US tour in 2022.

<i>Progress</i> (Rx Bandits album) 2001 studio album by Rx Bandits

Progress is an album released by Rx Bandits on July 17, 2001 through Drive-Thru Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emilie Autumn</span> American musician

Emilie Autumn Liddell is an American singer-songwriter, poet, author, and violinist. Autumn's musical style is described by her as "Fairy Pop", "Fantasy Rock" or "Victoriandustrial". It is influenced by glam rock and from plays, novels, and history, particularly the Victorian era. Performing with her all-female backup dancers The Bloody Crumpets, Autumn incorporates elements of classical music, cabaret, electronica, and glam rock with theatrics, and burlesque.

<i>The Resignation</i> 2003 studio album by Rx Bandits

The Resignation is the fourth full-length release from American ska punk band Rx Bandits. It peaked at #148 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on Top Heatseekers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Marston</span> American musician and record producer

Colin Marston is an American record producer and musician residing in New York City. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music technology in 2004, and owns Menegroth The Thousand Caves Recording Studios in Woodhaven, Queens while not on tour with one of a number of bands. He is also known for his performances in Behold... The Arctopus, Dysrhythmia, Krallice, and the reunion lineup of Gorguts. Marston has produced, mastered, and mixed music for artists such as Imperial Triumphant, Cleric, Genghis Tron, Kayo Dot, Jarboe, Capillary Action, Origin, Panopticon, Altar of Plagues, Liturgy, Pyrrhon, and Orthrelm, as well as for his own bands. Marston is multi-instrumentalist; he plays guitar, bass and keyboards.

<i>...And the Battle Begun</i> 2006 studio album by Rx Bandits

...And the Battle Begun is an album by the Rx Bandits. It is the band's first album released by Matt Embree's label Mash Down Babylon. The album was released in stores on October 10, 2006, but was first made available in late June both directly from the band whilst on their 2006 summer tour and online via their website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Turner</span> American musician (born 1977)

Aaron Turner is an American musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal bands SUMAC and Isis, while also participating in several other bands and projects such as Old Man Gloom, Lotus Eaters and Split Cranium, a collaboration with Jussi Lehtisalo of Finnish band Circle who toured with Isis in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadja (band)</span> Canadian band

Nadja is a Canadian duo of Aidan Baker and Leah Buckareff. Nadja began in 2003 as a solo project for Baker to explore the heavier and noisier side of his experimental ambient music performed mainly on the electric guitar. In 2005 Buckareff joined in order to make the project more than just a studio endeavour and to allow Nadja to perform live.

Christopher Tsagakis is one of the founding members and current drummer for the band Rx Bandits. He is also a member of The Sound of Animals Fighting, with former bandmates Rich Balling and Matt Embree. Tsagakis' also has an electronic side project entitled Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Kelly (The Autumns)</span> American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and historian

Matthew Kraig Kelly is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and historian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leathermouth</span> American hardcore punk band

Leathermouth was an American hardcore punk band led by Frank Iero. The band formed in 2007, and in January 2009 released their first album XO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Embree</span> American singer and guitarist

Matthew Embree is an American singer and guitarist best known as the frontman of Rx Bandits. He also plays guitar and provides occasional vocals for The Sound of Animals Fighting, in which he is known as "The Walrus". He produced their last album The Ocean and the Sun. Since 2016, Embree has been a touring member of Dispatch (band).

Pebaluna is a folk band based in Long Beach, California. The group was founded in 2006 after the lead vocalist Lauren Coleman and Matt Embree met and began recording music. They are influenced by a combination of Blues, R&B, Folk, Country, Jazz and Indie Rock. The band consists of four members, lead vocalist Lauren Coleman, guitarist Matt Embree, drummer Jessica Lankford and bassist Jonathan Grillo.

<i>Gemini, Her Majesty</i> Album by Rx Bandits

Gemini, Her Majesty is the 7th studio album released by the Rx Bandits released on July 22, 2014 through MDB Records. The album was preceded by two singles, "Stargazer" and "Meow! Meow! Space Tiger". For this record, the band were less concerned about replicating their on-stage sound, as guitarist Steve Choi explained: "The main difference is that this time around, we didn't write with being live in mind". This album peaked #39 on the Billboard 200, but was only on chart for a week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mamiffer</span> American post-rock band

Mamiffer is an American band based in Seattle, Washington. It started out as a solo project for former Pyramids and Everlovely Lightningheart member Faith Coloccia that later saw several session musicians and collaborators, most consistently Aaron Turner of Isis fame and who would later become Coloccia's husband. Turner and Coloccia also perform in House of Low Culture together. Mamiffer has released several albums, splits and collaborations through various record labels, most prominently through Turner's now-defunct Hydra Head Records and Turner and Coloccia's own SIGE Records. The band is known for its collaborations, including albums recorded with Locrian, Circle and Daniel Menche; and working with session/guest artists from bands including members of These Arms Are Snakes, Helms Alee, Sunn O))) and Wolves in the Throne Room.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faith Coloccia</span> American artist and musician

Faith Coloccia is an American artist and musician. She is most known as being the founding member and primary songwriter for the post-rock band Mamiffer. Coloccia has also been a member of Everlovely Lightningheart, Pyramids, House of Low Culture and Split Cranium. In 2009, she co-founded the independent record label SIGE Records with her husband Aaron Turner.

References

  1. ↑ Leahey, Andrew (May 2007). "New Music Monthly". CMJ.
  2. ↑ "R Loren". Discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Rich Balling Leaves Rx Bandits". PunkNews. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Rich Leaves The Bandits". Punktastic. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Canvas Book". Concert LiveWire. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  6. ↑ Revolution on Canvas. Amazon. ISBN   0446697869.
  7. ↑ "Something Corporate, NOFX And Others Taking Back Poetry". MTV. Archived from the original on December 5, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Revolutions on Canvas-Volume 2: Poetry From the Indie Music Scene". Campus Circle. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Revolution on Canvas Volume 2". Amazon. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Sound of Animals Fighting". All Music. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "The Sound of Animals Fighting". Discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  12. ↑ "The Sound of Animals Fighting Interview". LeakMob. Archived from the original on September 5, 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Planes Mistaken For Stars – Mercy Lyrics". LyricsTime. Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Sound of Animals Fighting". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Ocean and the Sun". AllMusic. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  16. ↑ "The Sound of Animals Fighting announce shows (1st since 2006, 1st ever on east coast)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Pyramids". PitchFork. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  18. ↑ "New Pyramids With Nadja – "Another War" (Stereogum Premiere)". StereoGum. August 1, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Pyramids". Discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  20. ↑ "An Hallucinatory Experience: R Loren On Sailors With Wax Wings". The Quietus. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  21. ↑ "R. Loren of Sailors with Wax Wings and White Moth: The MetalSucks Interview". MetalSucks. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  22. ↑ "an interview with R. Loren of White Moth". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Angel Oven Records Releases". Discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  24. ↑ Lee, Cosmo (July 21, 2011). "Label Spotlight: Handmade Birds". Invisible Oranges . Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Interview: R. Loren of Local Label Handmade Birds". D Magazine. October 1, 2011. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Mysterious Denton Musician R. Loren Talks To His Blossoming Label And Newfound Local Music Affection". Central Track. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Handmade Birds". Discogs. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.