Tomahawk are a four piece rock and roll supergroup. Unlike other
supergroups like, say, Audioslave, they don't have anyone REALLY famous
in them. In order of celebrity, the band is composed of:
Mike
Patton - vocals (Faith No More, Fantomas, Mr Bungle) John Stainer -
drums (Helmet) Duane Dennison - guitars and Mike Nesmith-like
leadership (Jesus Lizard, Hank Williams III) Kevin Rutmanis - bass
(Melvins, The Cows)
Tomahawk was founded by Denison and Patton
in early 2000. After 10 years of touring and recording with The Jesus
Lizard, Denison was living in Nashville, Tennessee where his skill and
versatility had landed him a job as lead guitarist with Hank Williams
III. After witnessing a Mr Bungle show in Nashville, Denison was
introduced to Patton, whose list of lead vocal jobs includes bands from
Mr Bungle to the late Faith No More and an estimated kabillion others
inbetween. The two professed an interest in each other's work and soon
tapes were being exchanged in the mail.....
The dynamic duo
soon realized that in order to achieve their rock vision, others were
needed. Denison enlisted John Stanier, an old friend whose swing and
power on the drums he'd long admired. Stanier, aka DJ Big Bad John,
quickly accepted the offer and soon tapes were exchanged in the mail...
Not to be outdone, Patton enlisted bassist (and former halfway
house employee) Kevin Rutmanis, whose low frequency rumblings had
powered the Cows and Melvins across vast stretches of space and time.
With the lineup now complete, rehearsals were expeditiously carried
out.
Tomahawk released their self-titled debut album in Autumn
2001 on Ipecac, the label part owned by Mike. The kids loved it, so did
journalists. Cool! Buoyed by success, the band headed out on the road,
firstly in the States where they toured with the likes of Tool. Then to
Europe, where they played a number of continental festivals followed by
a tour of the UK. The UK tour was memorable for the appearance of a
little chap at Tomahawk's London Astoria show.
Not ones to rest
on their laurels, Tomahawk wrote a new set of songs and went into the
studio again. This time they were aided and abeted by the Roman
warrior, Joe Barresi. The work is entitled "Mit Gas" and it will be
released, again through Ipecac, in May 2003.
this album is so so so strange its unbelivable. its the equivalent to
walking down a dark country lane with a shadow jumping through the
trees. i bought the album because i loved the musical insanity of
fantomas with this album the weirdness has being stepped up a level.
when you listen to this album you know you are letting go of normal
musics hand and are being bundled off into the back of a van where your
eardrums are transportad to a lunatic asylum. by all rights this album
just shouldnt work at all but it does, it works magnificentley.
mike
patton is as ever the most vocally versatile man on the planet. a
strangely magnetic album from a supergroup of intense talent.
mit gas is a work of genius.
roll on their third album.
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