After a 13-year hiatus, Tomahawk teamed with the sludge-metal pioneering Melvins to turn Detroit’s Fillmore Theater into a spectacle of pure sonic chaos.
The two iconic bands were in the Motor City as part of their A Huge Waste of Your Time and Money Tour. Fortunately, the name didn’t dissuade fans in the slightest, with a long line wrapping around the venue well before the doors were set to open.
A heavily distorted version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” played as Melvins took to the stage. Starting with their 2024 track “Working the Ditch,” the godfathers of grunge made their way through a wide range of their catalog without giving the crowd a moment to catch their breath. Vocalist/guitarist Buzz Osborne’s guitar was pure sludge and menace on “Civilized Worm” and “It’s Shoved.” Early in the set, bassist Steven McDonald held down the low end while stepping up to the mic for an unexpected cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sway,” and making it sound like it belonged to the Melvins all along.
While the vast majority of the crowd were well beyond their moshing years, “The Bit” and the fan-favorite “Honey Bucket” definitely had heads banging. Then Trevor Dunn – Osborne’s Fantômas bandmate and a member of Tomahawk‘s own lineup – walked out for “Night Goat,” trading riffs with McDonald in an extended two-bass jam that made for an incredible way to hand off the stage.
After a short break, Mike Patton’s Tomahawk brought the energy right back to where Melvins had left off. Despite being away from touring for so long, the muscle memory was strong, and they didn’t ease into things by any means. Fittingly, “Flashback” was the song that opened the set. This was the first song from their 2001 self-titled album, kicking off the night. The track also created a tightened coil of tension thanks to the ticking clock effect of Duane Dennison’s guitar and Patton’s snarling vocals, which set the stage for the explosions about to come.
The tightened coil was immediately released on the next song, “SHHH!” from their 2021 album Tonic Immobility. Dennison’s guitar continued with a similar clock-like sound until switching to heavy riffs and slamming drums that released the pressure. Tomahawk continued with the same album for a while, with “Business Casual” turning the drudgery of corporate life into a sneering singalong that had the crowd chanting along.
After providing fans with a healthy dose of songs from all four of their studio albums, the encore showed fans something a little different before a classic closer. The first song after a short break was a cover of Duane Eddy’s “Stalkin’,” which was almost as if Tomahawk turned into a heavy rockabilly band. Then, after waiting all night, fans got to see one of the songs they waited 13 years for. Closing with “God Hates a Coward,” Patton was at his most raw and unhinged, singing through a voice-distortion box that looked something like an oxygen mask.
If this is Tomahawk shaking off more than a decade of rust, then they should stay rusty.
Both Tomahawk and the Melvins are touring together through mid-August. Hopefully, the next tour won’t take another 13 years.
TOMAHAWK
Website Facebook X
