Review: Tenacious D

Tenacious D fans unable to secure tickets to Tuesday's sold-out concert at the Uptown Theater might howl in a combination of delight and dismay upon learning that a twenty-foot phallus served as the backdrop for the comedic rock duo.  The overtly vulgar display might have offended the uninitiated, but the act's deeply devoted fans smiled throughout Tenacious D's one-hour-and-forty-five-minute performance.

Very few entertainers generate as much maniacal passion in their fans as Tenacious D.  The obsessive enthusiasm exhibited by many members of the audience of about 2,500 caused them to resemble substance-abusing versions of the Trekkies infatuated by Star Trek.  A significant portion of Tenacious D's appeal derives from Jack Black.  His demeanor as the leader of Tenacious D is a natural extension of the manic characters the actor portrays in popular movies including "High Fidelity," "Shallow Hal" and "School of Rock."

Black and Kyle Gass, who plays the straight man to Black's animated grandstanding, have issued three albums in 11 years.  Unlike opening act the Sights, a Detroit-based band dedicated to reviving rowdy garage rock, Tenacious D cover a variety of styles.  The band played affectionate parodies of heavy metal, amusing spoofs of sensitive love songs and ridiculous pastiches of rock operas.  A mean-spirited but deft lampoon of self-indulgent jazz musicians was augmented by Tenacious D's excellent three-piece backing band.

Undeterred by the stifling heat inside the venue, fans reacted to every selection with crazed zeal.  In truth, only a portion of the material merited such boisterous responses. The lusty "Low Hangin' Fruit" and the lowbrow gag "Deth Starr" contained musical merit and genuine hilarity.  The skit that preceded the self-referential "Dude (I Totally Miss You)" and "Kyle Quit the Band" was also amusing.  "Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown)" was even better.  Aside from its sacrilegious concept, alarming profanity and scatological humor, the song was good clean fun.

While it wasn't a transcendent experience, the scandalously raunchy concert was undeniably entertaining. 

"I don't think you can deny that we've rocked you extremely hard this evening," Black asserted. 

The concert reached its, ahem, climax when the salacious stage prop spewed white confetti at the conclusion of the lewd "Double Team."  The 14-year-boy lurking inside every Tenacious D fan cheered mightily at the irredeemably juvenile display.

Setlist: Rize of the Fenix; Low Hangin' Fruit; Senorita; Deth Starr; Roadie; Throw Down; 39; Jazz; Kielbasa; Kickapoo; Dude (I Totally Miss You); Kyle Quit the Band; Friendship; The Metal; Wonderboy; Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown); The Who medley; Tribute; Double Team; Baby; The Road; F*** Her Gently.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Bewlay]

Go, Bill Brownlee! Can't call him a one-trick pony when it comes to reviewing shows, covering music.

[Marcos]

Do they coordinate their tour with Kei$ha so they can share the phallic prop?

[Art]

snooze

[pellboy]

They're okay in small doses, but the whole parody thing wears out quick for me and I would never want to do a whole show. Live comedy OR live music, I try not to mix the two.

[wadkc]

Incredible! I don't know what show Bill saw, maybe the sweat was pouring down from his brow but it was one for the ages.

Hey Bill! The fenix (penis) was actually the cover of the latest album "Rise of the Fenix", go to the CD and take a gander, hence why it was there in the first place.

How many bands can you say come out and start the concert by playing 5 songs from their new album. None except The D. They were spot on and probably my favs of the night, if I had to choose.

Small doses? I usually last 60 minutes in most shows unless I'm deeply entrenched by the band. This I could have used another hour.

The musicianship was fantastic, a great tight band that can play anything. Jack Black's voice was and is a perfect tool. He could be in an Opera, a scat jazz thing, a heavy metal band, a Broadway show, etc... It's a perfect voice and he showed it off.

I don't think you would have to be a fan or like comedy to enjoy the show. It's way more than that. Too bad you all weren't there to enjoy.

[913KCKKID]

The Beastie Boys introduced the huge penis prop when they played the Uptown back in 1985-ish.

[NEW]

Nope. The Stones introduced it on their 1975 US Tour. It inflated on stage during "Starf%*$er"

[wadkc]

Van Halen had a version also but this one spewed paper sperm with cartoon pictures of KG and JB on them!

[jjskck]

Nuh-uh, John Philip Sousa INVENTED the phallus as stage prop. Man, you should have seen it stand at attention along with the Marine Corps band during "Semper Fidelis" at the Polo Grounds circa 1890! President Harrison couldn't keep a straight face LOLOLOL

[Gill]

Such a great idea! I am so intimidated taking photos in restaurants, but I'd love to play! Let's see where this weekend takes me.;

[scot savage]

hey star, why aren't you reveiwing real shows like chicago and doobie bros,or the bob weir trio, or reo styx and ted.

[Matt]

Yeah, star...why aren't you reviewing the same washed up classic rock bands that play KC every year and always get reviewed?

[pellboy]

I believe they did review Weir, Robinson & Greene Trio and have reviewed the state fair acts on the regular. Do we really need a review on the recent REO/Styx/NightRanger/38 Special/Foreigner/Bad Co./Head East show?

Here, I'll help you out...capacity crowd, sweltering evening, band hits w/ one "new" song from an album released 4 years ago that nobody bought, rinse & repeat with following acts, "all-star" jam at the conclusion. Enthused crowd goes home and posts the 40 party pics they took on their respective facebook pages.

[joe]

Well Done PB...

[Geordan]

Funny that The Doobie Brothers are mentioned here. I saw them once back in 1982 at Starlight and remember buying one of those now hideous Jersey tees with the sleeves that came down to your elbow that stated that it was the band's 'Farewell Tour.' Unsure whether it was Michael McDonald's last tour with the band, but it was billed as a final tour, yet here is a version of the band 30 years on, still touring under The Doobie moniker.

Nice perspective there, Pellboy. Cynical, yet true. I don't know...I don't go to many of those Classic Rock triple-bills that fill Starlight each summer, but am always a little curious about the turnout and which band did the better job that night. It's probably the band with the most original members left, although many of the older bands only have one original member left. But I like concert reviews, personally. If you actually went to one of these Classic Rock shows and don't find a review here, give us your own opinion of the show.

[Bubba]

I've seen GWAR several times in Lawrence. Their lead vocalist often wears a strap-on like devise that's designed to be a fire-hydrant like phallus. Boy, talk about your performance art.

[Musicgal]

Pellboy, don't leave out the classic rock power ballad. They all have one.

[pellboy]

FTR, was just having fun at the expense of those types of shows. Heck, I'll still play a CD on occasion, crank one of their overplayed tunes when it comes on the radio and...gasp...even attend a show if mood and price are right. In fact, I plan on attending the CarJam out at Sandstone, but for the most part, those bands rock harder and somebody like Pat Travers, rarely comes thru town.

[joe]

Pat Travers???

Was he "Boom Boom, Out go the lights!"?

[corky]

Yup.

Haven't seen him in years, but he'd be my main reason to go to CarJam.

What else is in KC that evening, anyone know?

[pellboy]

Yeah, that's the guy, joe. Last and only time I saw him was at one of the SummerJam's at Arrowhead so it's been awhile. Always liked the early records with Pat Thrall, Mars Cowling and Tommy Aldridge. Saw a fairly recent show (2010?) of his on Palladia and I thought it was actually quite good. Runs thru his "hits" but also dabbles in some blues stuff which is more in line with his recent output. I'm hoping he's the headliner (or Farner?) so we can get more than an hour-long set but what the hell, can't bitch much at that price.

[Musicgal]

Grand Funk Railroad was my first concert. Loved me some Mark Farner with his long hair. Billy Preston opened. Good times.

[Joey]

yaaaaaawwwwwn at all the posing(in the mirror?) "holier than thous" spouting their lame opinions about the obvious, wow you are all soooooo cool, NOT, and this includes the reviewer who hates anything but trendy new crap music. stick to bieber and idol and you will be happy brownlee.

[dzone]

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[wadkc]

Pell, "Putting it Straight" by Pat Travers was always a great listen for me.

[pellboy]

For sure, Putting It Straight...Heat In The Street...the live album...and even Crash and Burn, Travers had a nice little run of albums there in the late 70s.

[Bake]

I grew up there, so it's in my heart but joco is my home now. We're all the same, or I wish we'd all see it that way. I fly my Mizzou flag proudly so don't you worry about that.

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