The looks on their faces said it all. The fans at the Long Beach Arena were here to see Weezer, and there was many a puzzled look as Tenacious D hit the stage and started into their act. "Are these guys for real?" one of the kids near us asked another. Two guys with acoustic guitars, neither of which looks like a rock star, rocking out to some of the most bizarre lyrics and seeming quite serious about what they were doing, complete with NERF stage effects and a backdrop with the image of some satanic creature on it. The kids just weren't sure what to make of it.
And where most bands fall apart and end up looking stupid trying to talk between songs, for these two each interlude is an attempt at sketch comedy.
At one point, Black emerged with a child's toy saxophone. He proceeded
to break into a grand composition that soon had the entire crowd clapping along with him.
It was almost surreal - The D would be easy to dismiss if not for the fact that their set is so well balanced - it's not all comedy act and it's not all music. They have found some nice middle ground that allows them to show off their musicianship and their ability to trade barbs and jokes. The music is deftly constructed, even when the subject matter is absolutely absurd, such as is the case with the epic "Fuck Her Gently." It's almost too much, but it's done so well that it's fun. |
Converting Some 
Jack Black,
lead singer of Tenacious D and certified movie star, and Kyle Gass, who fills sort of the
quiet role but also plays a mean guitar, are sort of enigmas. It's obvious that they're
really talented musicians and both guys can sing and harmonize, but the songs are about a
variety of bizarre subjects. The songs range in subject from the perfect threesome
("Sex Supreme," which of course involves the two of them) to an ode to the
greatest song ever ("Tribute"), which also happens to be the song itself. If
that doesn't make your brain explode, there's plenty more. There's "Wonderboy,"
in which Wonderboy and Nastyman, who are really Black and Gass, achieve greatness and get
away from "the mucky-muck."
Quickly, the
initial confusion over who and what The D are all about fades away, and the young fans,
who came to realize that Black is the star of the hit movies Shallow Hal and High
Fidelity, were won over and get into it. Considering that these guys only have one
album, Tenacious D (Epic), three episodes of their short-lived HBO series and some
minor touring to their credit, their stage presence and show construction is simply
impressive. They didn't lose anybody and if the number of fans buying shirts later is any
indication, they made many new fans.
Black's
face was set and intense, as though this was his masterpiece, and there he was, playing a
battery-powered push-button toy for thousands of kids…and they loved it…and it
actually sounded good.