For the genre with a reputation for being poe-faced and humourless, there is an awful lot of comedy metal about. Steel Panther cater for those who still find tits and blatant sexism funny. Evil Scarecrow have made a career of combining metal with Mighty Boosh level surrealism and Raised by Owls manage to be simultaneously hilarious and impenetrable to anybody who doesn't know their Benediction from their Bolthrower. But like a gargantuan skyscraper looming over the whole scene is the behemoth that is Tenacious D. 

Formed 30 years ago they have evolved way beyond being a folly for a Hollywood A-lister’s downtime. Whilst tonight's crowd is an interesting and almost juxtapositional mix of metalheads and the jocks and trendies who bullied them at school, it is obvious that everyone is here for the D, as opposed to just wanting to be within the same postcode as Jack Black. The level of audience literacy about their back catalogue means that even though they toss out their two biggest numbers early doors (‘Wonderboy’ and ‘Tribute’) the set does not feel at all top-heavy or disjointed. Every track is sung back to the band as if it is their biggest number and with the same lustful exuberance that would be used for the tracks that they are parodying. In the process of lovingly sending up Heavy Rock’s numerous clichés, Tenacious D have managed to become a rock ‘n roll sensation themselves.

On the face of it, tonight's show is a cascade of skits laced together to create a ninety-minute singular entity. There are numerous highly rehearsed comic moments; such as the appearance of the personification of “the metal”, Kyle dramatically quitting and then rejoining the band and the demonic possession of their guitarist. Above and beyond the minuscule snatch of ‘How Soon is Now’, there is a distinct lack of spontaneity (it is glaringly obvious that Jack is inserting the word Manchester in the exact place he has put a dozen other cities' names before it). However, the sheer weight of boundless entertainment offsets this and Kyle and Jack's obvious delirious enjoyment of the whole endeavour makes the carefully scripted banter accessible and enticing.

At the heart of the enjoyment is personality and musical prowess. Jack Black absolutely burns off the stage. He injects every preordained hilarious interlude with Herculean levels of enthusiasm. He may now look like Aslan the hobo years, but he exudes a juvenile energy that connects with every single inhabitant of the AO Arena. After ‘Low Hangin’ Fruit’ he decrees that his flowing (and greying) locks are preventing him from seeing the masses gathered before him and he requests a scrunchie. An avalanche of hair fasteners ascend from the stalls, but instead he chooses one from his personal roadie and sweeps back his mane into what he calls the Steven Seagal look. On celluloid, he is very much a physical actor, and that physicality oozes out this evening as he bounds around the stage in a flurry of high kicks and silly walks that would make John Cleese jealous.

But personality alone doesn't make a rock show. As anybody who recalls Jack Black's fantastic rendition of ‘Let's Get It On’ at the end of High Fidelity will testify, he has one hell of a pair of pipes on him. His voice is astonishing this evening. He screams, he bellows, he croons, and he swoons. He does so with both panache and humility. For all his showboating, this is not an ego trip. It is obvious that in his head this is what he enjoys doing, and voicing karate-chopping muggles is simply something he abides in order to make the rent.

The musicianship on display is also absolutely incredible. Collective tongues are permanently inserted into their cheeks, but they balance the japes and jestery with a serious amount of musical talent. Given that the vast majority of songs are performed on two beaten-up acoustic guitars, the set rocks with barbaric gratuity. They gently rib the absurdity of rock excesses, but do so with utter devotion. Dio may well be about consigning the now sadly deceased Rock God to a home but is done with love and reverence.

In a world that feels increasingly hostile, there is an insatiable and welcome warmth about this evening. This is two lifelong friends having the time of their lives lovingly lampooning the music they love. But Jack and Kyle aren't laughing at us, they are laughing and cavorting with us, we are very much in on the joke. This is not a millionaire actor lauding it in front of the subjects. Tenacious D are a band of the people, the only difference is they've got more synchronised jokes than us. 

Check the “In The Flesh” page for more photos!
Tenacious D