When Faith No More broke up in 1998 Mike Patton created the record label Ipecac Recordings, returned to work with his other band Mr. Bungle, and formed the experimental metal supergroup Fantômas with Buzz Osborne of the Melvins and Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Patton met Duane Denison in 1999 at a Mr. Bungle concert in Nashville and the two began exchanging music and jamming.
During May and June 2001 the band recorded their eponymous debut album in Nashville. The album was released on October 30, 2001, it was produced by Joe Funderburk. After the release of Tomahawk the band began touring extensively, playing in many countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Europe and Japan. They generally headlined shows but were the supporting act for bands such as Tool. When opening for Tool on their 2002 summer tour of North America, the band was frequently booed for insulting the crowds.Tomahawk also played at various festivals, including the 2002 Big Day Out festival in Australia.
Second album Mit Gas, recorded with producer Joe Barresi, was released in 2003. Tomahawk took part in the "Geek Tour" during 2003, which featured labelmates the Melvins and Fantômas. During the band's early years they were known for dressing up as police officers in promotional photo shoots and during concerts. The band went on a short hiatus from 2004 to 2006 after finishing touring for Tomahawk and Mit Gas in late 2003 as the members began to focus on other projects.
The band's third album, Anonymous, was released on June 19, 2007 through Ipecac Recordings. Kevin Rutmanis left the band during the recording; reasons for his departure are unknown. For the album, Denison and Stanier recorded their parts in Nashville, and then sent their finished product to San Francisco where Patton added his vocals and samples. No live shows were performed during this period. Tomahawk remained inactive from 2008 to 2011.
In July 2011, Mike Patton announced that Tomahawk was preparing to record its fourth album. In early 2012, Tomahawk announced that Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, John Zorn, MadLove, Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant) would play bass for the band. On April 21, 2012 the band released Eponymous To Anonymous, a box set containing the band's first three records released on vinyl for the first time. In late 2012, the band began playing their first live shows since 2003. On December 3, 2012, a full-length video for first single, "Stone Letter", was posted online. Oddfellows was released January 29, 2013. The band were scheduled to play in Mexico for the first time on March 21, 2014 but withdrew due to an illness. On April 9, 2014 the band announced they would be releasing two previously unreleased tracks from the Oddfellows recording session. The single, entitled M.E.A.T., was first released on May 23, 2014 on vinyl.
In February 2020, Duane Denison revealed that Tomahawk had been writing and recording new record material. On the 21st of January 2021, a single called "Business Casual" was released, which also revealed the name of their upcoming fifth album as Tonic Immobility, which has later been released on March 26, 2021. Bassist Trevor Dunn remarked in 2021, "Me and Duane [Denison] and John [Stanier] recorded all of our parts for that record about four years ago actually. Duane had finished the music and I guess Mike was busy at the time, so John and I flew down to Nashville and recorded with Duane. Then over the years, we’ve just been waiting for Mike, and he’s been doing other stuff so it took a while. I think the pandemic kind of helped spur it along because he was stuck at home, so he wrote the vocal melodies and the rest of the lyrics at his studio in San Francisco.
Critics have described the band's sound as alternative metal, alternative rock, avant-prog, progressive rock, and post-rock. In 2002, the band considered their genre to be "cinematic rock", since all members were fans of film soundtracks. Butch Lazorchak of the Boston Herald has compared the band's sound to 1970s hard rock groups such as Blue Öyster Cult.
The band's self-titled first album combines rock with elements of experimental music, country music, and hardcore; critic Blake Butler of Allmusic described their debut album as one of the most straightforward rock-oriented projects of Patton, otherwise known for his wildly eclectic music. Their second album Mit Gas features influences from metal as well as punk rock. The album also includes instrumental segues. The band's 2007 album Anonymous incorporates Native American music elements. Their latest album Oddfellows features a more accessible sound which the band has labeled as "avant-pop". The record includes influences from jazz music.
There are other artists with the same name:
2) Chinese band Tomahawk from Beijing. Plays Death Metal (early) - Half Thrash/Groove Metal (now).
3) Liquid Drum & Bass Producer -- Tom Kelsey aka. Tomahawk.
4) Swiss Hip-Hop Artist Thomas Murer (aka MC Tomahawk) -- 14 years ago, inspired by American Hip Hop and German stuff he had heard, he began to explore a hip hop career. Based out of Zug, Switzerland, he formed a trio with DJ Slice and Kniss Beatz. After it dissolved in 2005, Tomahawk began to focus on solo projects.
Jockstrap
Tomahawk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jockstrap, you rap, G-string, I sing
Step right up, place your bet
Steeplechase, notice me
I need skin for dancin' in
You're riding on the tail of a son of a bitch
High in the saddle
Make my backbone itch
Like a lash from a whip
And I give you comfort
I won't make it stiff
??
??
? hot shit
I'm here to lick your balls
I need skin for dancin' in
???????
A jockstrap ?
? (whole sung bit)
You're riding on the tail of a son of a bitch
High in the saddle
I've got the hard-on itch
And I'll buck you off my trailor hitch
And I'll break your fall
Jockstrap, you rap, G-string, I sing
You're riding on the tail of a son of a bitch
High in the saddle
Make my backbone itch
And I'll buck you off my trailor hitch
And I'm here to break your fall
The lyrics of Tomahawk's song Jockstrap can be interpreted as a mixture of sexual innuendos, power play, and music industry commentary. The lines "Jockstrap, you rap, G-string, I sing" may suggest a dynamic of dominance between two individuals or groups, with the jockstrap and rap representing a more masculine or aggressive approach and the G-string and singing representing a more submissive or feminine approach. The lines "Step right up, place your bet/Steeplechase, notice me" may also indicate a desire for attention and admiration, as if the singer is presenting themselves as a performer in a competition or show.
The lyrics further allude to the idea of using one's body as a means of entertainment or gaining success in the music industry, as seen in lines such as "I need skin for dancin' in" and "And my tongue will train ya/Like a lash from a whip." The line "I'm here to lick your balls" is perhaps the most explicit and suggestive of the sexual theme present throughout the song. The final verse of the song includes the lines "And I'll break your fall/Jockstrap, you rap, G-string, I sing," which could be interpreted as a sort of warning or challenge to those in the industry, suggesting that the singer is powerful enough to either support or destroy someone's career.
Line by Line Meaning
Jockstrap, you rap, G-string, I sing
I am the singer and you are the rapper, I wear a G-string and you wear a jockstrap.
Step right up, place your bet
Come on over and gamble on me, I'm worth the risk.
Steeplechase, notice me
I'm ready for any obstacle and I want everyone to see me.
I need skin for dancin' in
I require physical touch to feel expressed and free.
You're riding on the tail of a son of a bitch
High in the saddle
Make my backbone itch
You're following me like a dog and I love it, it gives me power and control.
And my tongue will train ya
Like a lash from a whip
And I give you comfort
I won't make it stiff
??
My words will teach you and guide you, but don't worry, I won't be too harsh.
? hot shit
I'm here to lick your balls
I am the top of my game and I am here to satisfy you.
?
?
Unknown/indiscernible lyrics
I need skin for dancin' in
???????
Reiteration of earlier sentiment about needing physical touch to feel free.
A jockstrap ?
? (whole sung bit)
Unknown/unclear lyrics
You're riding on the tail of a son of a bitch
High in the saddle
I've got the hard-on itch
And I'll buck you off my trailor hitch
And I'll break your fall
You're still following me, but now I'm even more turned on and powerful. I'll push you away just to bring you back, and I'll protect you.
Jockstrap, you rap, G-string, I sing
You're riding on the tail of a son of a bitch
High in the saddle
Make my backbone itch
And I'll buck you off my trailor hitch
And I'm here to break your fall
Reiteration of earlier lyrics about roles, power dynamics, and protection.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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