Electric City Packs Out for Tomahawk’s Long-Awaited Return

Electric City was SOLD OUT and humming with anticipation on July 31. Tomahawk hadn’t toured since 2013, and the crowd made that wait feel real—longtime fans who had held on for thirteen years mixed with newer faces drawn by the reputation. The air carried the particular electricity of a proper reunion, the kind that only builds when a band has been gone long enough for people to wonder if it would ever happen again.

The Melvins opened and immediately claimed the room. Buzz Osborne, Dale Crover, Steven McDonald, and Coady Willis delivered a set that was heavy, precise, and full of the band’s signature unease. They kicked things off with a brief, almost mocking take on “The Star-Spangled Banner” before sliding into “Working the Ditch” and “Never Say You’re Sorry,” establishing a dense, physical groove that never let up. The Rolling Stones cover “Sway” stretched into something darker and more menacing than the original, while “Evil New War God” and “Civilized Worm” hit with mid-tempo force that shook the floor.

“It’s Shoved” and “A History of Bad Men” kept the intensity high, and “The Bit” drew one of the stronger responses of the set as the dual-drum attack locked in. “Blood Witch” and “Hag Me” pushed the volume and dissonance further, setting up the classic closing run of “Honey Bucket” into “Night Goat.” That final song became the clear highlight when Tomahawk’s Trevor Dunn walked onstage. Dunn and Osborne share history in Fantômas, and the extra low end thickened the already crushing riff into something even more imposing. The crossover moment landed hard—the crowd responded with sustained cheers, treating the guest appearance like the event it was.

Melvins setlist:

1. The Star-Spangled Banner
2. Working the Ditch
3. Never Say You’re Sorry
4. Sway (Rolling Stones cover)
5. Evil New War God
6. Civilized Worm
7. It’s Shoved
8. A History of Bad Men
9. The Bit
10. Blood Witch
11. Hag Me
12. Honey Bucket
13. Night Goat (with Trevor Dunn)

When Tomahawk took the stage the reaction was immediate and loud. Thirteen years is a long time, and the band answered it with a tight, focused, and visibly joyful performance. Mike Patton was in strong voice—precise, flexible, and fully present. He looked like he was having a genuine blast, smiling between songs and moving with the music rather than simply powering through it. At one point he spotted the youngest fan in the room, a six-year-old, and gave the kid a warm, specific shout-out that drew laughs and applause. It was a small gesture that humanized the night and showed how far the band’s reach still extends.

The set mixed newer material from Tonic Immobility (songs that had never been played live before this tour) with older favorites, and the balance worked. “Flashback” opened with that familiar nervous energy, Patton’s voice cutting cleanly over Duane Denison’s angular guitar. Tracks like “SHHH!,” “Predators and Scavengers,” “Business Casual,” “Doomsday Fatigue,” and “Fatback” felt lived-in rather than tentative. The band had clearly put in the work; the arrangements were sharp and the dynamics tight.

Older songs carried extra weight after the long absence. “Capt. Midnight,” “Rape This Day,” and “Birdsong” from Mit Gas got the floor moving, while “South Paw” and “I.O.U.” from Oddfellows brought some of the biggest sing-along moments of the night. John Stanier’s drumming remained powerful and exact, Trevor Dunn’s bass locked everything down, and Denison’s wiry guitar lines stayed the unpredictable center of the sound.

The encore sequence sealed it. The Duane Eddy cover “Stalkin’” offered a brief, smiling breath before the band ramped back up with “Sidewinder” and “Laredo.” They closed with “God Hates a Coward,” Patton introducing it with the old spoken bit about the band approving the message. The final surge of noise from the floor felt earned.

Tomahawk setlist:

1. Flashback
2. SHHH!
3. Predators and Scavengers
4. Business Casual
5. Doomsday Fatigue
6. Capt. Midnight
7. Rape This Day
8. Birdsong
9. White Hats / Black Hats
10. Fatback
11. South Paw
12. I.O.U.
13. Mayday
14. Point and Click

Encore: 15. Stalkin’ (Duane Eddy cover) 16. Sidewinder 17. Laredo 18. God Hates a Coward

For a band that had been dormant more than a decade, Tomahawk sounded fully present—tight, inventive, and clearly enjoying the return. Paired with a strong Melvins set capped by Dunn’s guest turn on “Night Goat,” the night felt less like a routine tour stop and more like a proper homecoming. Buffalo got the long-awaited show it had been waiting for, and both bands delivered.