Tenacious D Crack Up Riot Fest

Tim Wenger | September 3, 2015

words by Tim Wenger

photos by Dave Wruck

For a few moments there, I thought we had all been duped. Were they really going to be that boring? That predictable? Jack Black and Kyle Gass, along with their backup musicians, took the stage as the notorious comedy rockers Tenacious D on the final night of Riot Fest and opened up with what is possibly their most well-known song, “Tribute.” They segued into a few more songs, without any of the witty banter or ironic anecdotes delivered in that Black is famous for delivering in his hilarious theatrical manner, leaving me wondering when we’d get to see the theatrics and quirky one liners that Black has made the band famous for.

It came, though, and hit as hard as expected. After announcing that the band had fulfilled it’s ‘contractual obligations’ by playing older material (such as Tribute), Black led the show into a solid three to five minutes of smooth jazz, claiming that the band had grown past their old work and that this was their focus now.

The crowd erupted in laughter. I did find myself thinking that I wouldn’t be surprised if Black kept this going for about 45 minutes and then walked off the stage. The irony would just be too much.

That didn’t happen, though, and as the mile high pot smoke clouded the view of the stage, the band continued blasting through their well-known comedic classicsand finished the set with “Fuck Her Gently” as the crowd sang along, at a whisper when necessary, enjoying what for most will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.