There is something delightfully disruptive knowing that Tenacious D are interrupting 5 nights of re-arranged sold out Take That shows with a full to capacity show of their own tonight in Manchester. And we’re not talking top-tier-closed-capacity-reduced-sold-out. Proper, full sold out.
20,000+ people, most of which somewhere between the ages of 32-38 if we were to hedge a bet, have rocked up to the AO Arena tonight and have real potential to break its pints sold record, if they can find the time to lift the cup to their lips between constant chants of “D D D D D”.
Tenacious D are an endearing example of everlasting teenage influence. Probably the best example. They say that the things you really love as a teenager never really leave you and you retain a love, if not a fondness for them for the rest of your life. Never has this rung truer in our ears than with the duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass.
As soon as they stride onto the stage with their smug expressions the crowd know they are in the presence of rock gods. The show opens fittingly with Kickapoo, essentially an origin story for Jables and the perfect reintroduction to everything Tenacious D is about. Rocking out, the devil, creating legendary stories of mythical proportions, cussing, rebelling and following your dreams under the direction of Dio.
A smile spreads across the face of Jack Black as he nods in recognition of the crowds participation at the end of the song. “Manchester…it’s good to be back. I remember the first time we played Manchester. You never forget your first time.” Low Hangin’ Fruit showcases the duo’s love for a song heavy with metaphor before it’s time for a diva moment. Black beckons a roadie on stage to tie his hair up and fetch him water as his comically berates them, a storyline that continues throughout the night as said roadie appears repeatedly to Black’s hissy-fit demands only to then be called “best roadie in the world“.
Setting up Rise of the Fenix Black questions how many of the crowd who claimed to have seen the Pick of Destiny actually saw it in cinemas “No one was there!”. Probably something to do with cinemas being non-smoking Jables… comforts of home and all that.
The brace of newer tunes are then followed by two bonafide classics from that self-titled masterpiece. Wonderboy has the crowd releasing their inner Jack Blacks before Tribute takes it to another level. We’ve never heard a crowd snort in sync before tonight. Or put on such strange little voices in the presence of total strangers (“be you angles”) but here we are. Self-consciousness ceases to exist when the D are on stage which is a beautiful thing.
Tribute is the result of the perfect storm Tenacious D found themselves in the middle of in 2001. It was the golden age of rock music videos. Kerrang and Scuzz occupied the TV’s of every alternative young teen in the country and the great Liam Lynch has at the helm for Tribute. The internet and iTunes made lyrics easy to find and memorise. Tenacious D songs would be sang at house parties or in sixth form common rooms, the more inappropriate the better. We could go the next 60 years without hearing that song and STILL know it word for word come 2084. Ironically the tribute to the greatest song in the world, has genuinely become one of the greatest ever rock songs.
The duo’s hilarious antics and banter between songs is what sets show apart from other heavy rock concerts and we couldn’t be in safer hands with Jack Black. Dewey Finn / Mr Schneebly to so many of us. It’s hard not to see flashes of his iconic School of Rock character appear on stage which further cements the place he has in our heart. Whether they’re shaking their asses as the crowd, mooning each other, prancing away from a giant metal robot or embarrassing the pyro guy (Biffy Pyro) everything is done to raise a smile or force a giggle. There’s not enough of that in the world, there never could be enough of that. They may praise the devil, but they’re doing gods work.
After a sax-a-boom off and ode to the roadies a dramatic band break up occurs, “Not since the Oasis brothers has there been such a row!“. Kyle storms of stage leaving JB to caress us with Dude (I Totally Miss You) before we’re treated to a cover of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game, accompanied by a ridiculous video of Black and Gass frolicking half-naked on a beach that will stay long in the memory, for all the right reasons. It’s just outright FUN. That is the best way to describe this band and the show they put on.
The band are known to get a little inappropriate a times (albeit in good spirits) but tonight they have undoubtedly found their people as the audience enthusiastically join in with the sing-along to the set closer, Fuck Her Gently, illuminating the arena with phone lights as if it’s the greatest love ballad ever performed live.
The partnership between Jack Black and Kyle Gass is undeniably legendary. Black’s signature stage presence and Gass‘ subtle humour create an irresistible dynamic, the audience are in the palm of their devious devil hands. Some of tonight’s show felt finely tuned and some of it felt incredibly spontaneous. Somewhere between the two is where the beastly genius of Tenacious D lays. A nod must also be given to their song writing prowess, with hooks, riffs and rhythms that rival those of any other rock band out there, in fact some bands would kill to rock as hard as Tenacious D and their spicy meatballs. Long live The D!
Photo gallery by Vicky Pea.
Go Places Do Things 