banner Tenacious D at The Academy on 17-12-13 (1 of 1)

Tenacious D at The Academy, 17th of December 2013

One of the funniest scenes in Tenacious D’s debut film The Pick of Destiny (which is better than reviews would suggest) involves a fantasy sequence where Jack Black and Kyle Gass come on stage to play Master Exploder. Beginning with the two of them on acoustic guitars, the scene escalates into a classic rock gig with impossible guitar solos and liberal use of smoke machines until Jack Black makes an audience member’s head explode using only the power of his voice.

The D didn’t play Master Exploder at the Academy on this Tuesday night and fortunately nobody literally had their mind blown. This reflects the more toned-down and intimate nature of this gig. When they played the O2 last year they had the full rock-band set up. Tonight we are treated to JB and Rage Kage rifling through their songs with two acoustic guitars and not much else distraction.

This set-up probably suits them more. A lot of their songs are parodies of rock excess and the outsider perspective is maybe funnier when they aren’t themselves fronting an arena rock band. They still act like rock stars though. When they come on stage, they survey the crowd like victorious generals and every gesture and head movement is exaggerated for full diva effect.

They are of course a comedy band but their songs are given a lot of room to breathe here tonight. Early on they bang through Classico, a showcase for Gass’ virtuoso guitar skills, and newer songs like Low Hangin’ Fruit stand up just as well. There is still an element of showmanship as well.

When Kyle quits the band after three songs, everyone present is aware that this is merely a set-up for Black to sing (Dude) I Totally Miss You and then Friendship when Gass has returned. Still the audience boos like a pantomime crowd when Gass leaves and cheers heroically once he returns.

Tenacious D is a duo but the focus is always on Jack Black. He didn’t become a Hollywood star by accident and he radiates star quality throughout. It doesn’t hurt that he is a genuinely impressive singer live and his voice fills the room easily.

There are plenty of nods to their heroes throughout just so you know they have a serious appreciation for rock history. The riff from Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll leads into the D’s Rock is DeadDio is naturally dedicated to the  deceased Ronnie James Dio and a snippet of his former band’s War Pigs comes up at one point.

The band flies through the set at a quick pace, joined occasionally by their roadie for back-up vocals on the epic Roadie and a man inexplicably dressed as a Sasquatch for handclapping assistance. When Black gives the roadie a chance to show off with a guitar solo towards the end, he immediately demands the guitar back: “No, he’s better than me!”.

This was clearly a gig for the fans. The majority of the crowd seemed to be intimately aware of all the songs the D went through on the night, to the point where their biggest hits Tribute and Wonderboy get a similar reaction to the deeper cuts. Black and Gass delivered a fairly simple set that nonetheless was filled with great songs, musicianship and a fair few laughs. Not mindblowing but a confirmation that this is a band whose musicianship and songwriting can back up their jokes.

Tenacious D Photo Gallery

Photos: Owen Humphreys