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.
Pop 1
Tomahawk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cross the barricade
The police lines evaporate
What will I do with all this empty space
Seas part for my parade ?
Traffic stops to give me the right of way
How will I fill all this empty space
Just hold my breath and dive in
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
The hole is so big and the gap is so wide
Now you're humpin' me
With hip-hop beats every night
Put a cloud up over all I've done
And now I'm coming back
?
Hit the ball before they're gonna forget
No matter who I am
And see how low I can go
This beat could win me a grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
This beat could win me a Grammy
In the hole all alone
I want a sympathy vote
I'll take a promenade
I'll take the scenic route
And I can't put a band aid over the ?
No matter who I am, I fucking am, just can't
Because I'm over remembering her
And her romeo
I wish I didn't know
This beat could win me a Grammy
Voices and memories
Like wind in dried grass
What will I do with all this broken glass
7 years of good luck
This beat could win me a grammy
The Tomahawk song "POP 1" seems to describe the feelings of a musician who, despite being successful enough to have the fans cheering for him and the police clearing the way for his parade, is somewhat confused and lost in the face of his success. The empty space that should have been filled with happiness and purpose feels wider and more intimidating than ever before, and the vocalist seems to be looking for something that he cannot quite describe. The phrase "This beat could win me a Grammy" is repeated several times in the song, which might suggest that the musician is seeking validation and recognition not just from his fans but from the industry as a whole.
The second part of the song is more introspective and deals with personal struggles and the difficulty of moving on from a past relationship. The "hole all alone" and "broken glass" might represent a broken heart and shattered dreams, and the "voices and memories" that come up like "wind in dried grass" suggest that the singer is haunted by the past. However, despite the pain and uncertainty, the musician is still hoping to make it big and win a Grammy, as if getting an award would be the ultimate validation and the key to fill the empty space.
Line by Line Meaning
Something's wrong today
The singer feels that there is something off or not right about the current day.
I cross the barricade
The singer is breaking past barriers or obstacles that are in their way.
The police lines evaporate
The police are no longer stopping or blocking the singer's path.
What will I do with all this empty space
The artist is questioning how they will fill the void or emptiness that is ahead of them.
Seas part for my parade?
The artist feels as though they are being given special treatment or attention, as if a path is being cleared for them to have a parade.
Traffic stops to give me the right of way
The singer is noticing that others are stopping what they are doing to let the singer go ahead of them.
How will I fill all this empty space
The singer is continuing to question what they will do to fill the emptiness or void that is ahead of them.
Just hold my breath and dive in
The artist is expressing that they are ready to take on the challenge or obstacle ahead of them, even if they have to dive in headfirst.
This beat could win me a Grammy
The artist believes that the musical beat they are creating could win them a Grammy award.
The hole is so big and the gap is so wide
There is a large gap or void that the artist is trying to fill or overcome.
Now you're humpin' me
The singer is experiencing some kind of physical contact or intimacy with another person.
With hip-hop beats every night
The artist is using hip-hop beats in their music on a regular basis.
Put a cloud up over all I've done
The singer feels as though their achievements are being overshadowed or clouded by something else.
And now I'm coming back
The singer is returning to try and overcome the obstacle or gap that is ahead of them.
Hit the ball before they're gonna forget
The singer is referring to taking action before others forget about them or their work.
No matter who I am
The artist is noting that their status or identity does not matter.
And see how low I can go
The artist is willing to see how low they can go in order to overcome the obstacle or gap ahead of them.
In the hole all alone
The singer is feeling trapped or isolated in the void that is ahead of them.
I want a sympathy vote
The singer is expressing a desire for empathy or compassion from others.
I'll take a promenade
The artist will take a relaxed stroll or walk in order to clear their mind and overcome the obstacle.
I'll take the scenic route
The artist will try a different, perhaps more enjoyable or pleasant, approach in order to overcome the obstacle.
And I can't put a band aid over the ?
The artist is unable to mask or cover up the issue or problem that is ahead of them.
No matter who I am, I fucking am, just can't
The singer is acknowledging that they cannot escape who they are, no matter how they feel.
Because I'm over remembering her and her romeo
The artist is no longer dwelling on a past love and their romantic partner.
Voices and memories, like wind in dried grass
The singer is haunted by memories and voices that come and go like the wind in dry grass.
What will I do with all this broken glass
The singer is questioning how they will handle or cope with the broken pieces or aftermath of the obstacle they are trying to overcome.
7 years of good luck
The singer is referring to the traditional belief that breaking a mirror results in seven years of bad luck, but they are looking at the positive side and talking about seven years of good luck.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Duane Denison, John Stanier, Kevin Rutmanis, Michael Patton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind