Tober Omi began in 2005 under the name "Pennies and Swingsets," playing around Dallas, predominately in the Exposition Park area. After some deliberation, the band decided to change their name to "Formicah" until they were asked to, once again, change the name by the good people at DuPont for fear of giving the company that brought you cancer causing spray-on adhesive a bad name. The group decided on Tober Omi (Latin for circus owner) for its connotations to the up and down, side to side motions, and unexpected turns of a carnival ride that are prevalent in most of the songs.

Paul Nichols and Zack Heath met at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and began drinking together, finding common ground in their musical interests. Chris Gardner met Paul through a mutual friend and the two decided to work on some projects together. When it was decided that the sound they desired could not be achieved without an actual drummer, Paul enlisted the help of long-time friend and outside of the box talent Zack.

Chris, with no formal technical training, goes about adding texture to the driving rhythms Paul and Zack create by adding the ugliest and most unusual noises he can muster with his instrument and layering that with cryptic and at times unnerving lyrical content. Live, the band is a true spectacle. They jump, they scream incoherently, they beat their chests and stomp their feet while creating a sound that can only be described as a circus funeral procession gone horribly wrong.

Information from the band's site

Musicians

• Chris Gardner: guitar, lead vocals, vocals
• Paul Nichols: bass
• Zack Heath: drums

Influences

Tom Waits, Keizers Orchestra, Man Man, Shelac, Slint, Pavement, Gang of Four, Captain Beefheart, Devo, Don Byron, Deerhoof, Talking Heads, Pixies, Mr. Bungle, Nick Cave, the Unicorns, Les Savy Fav, The Detachment Kit, Need New Body, LIARS

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