Wynchester

Tenacious D released their fourth full-length album, Post-Apocalypto late last year.  So, when they announced this summer’s Post-Apocalypto Tour 2019 it made my curiosity feelers stand on end and it would be the first time for me to witness a show at the Criterion in Oklahoma City.  I didn’t totally know what to expect but knew I had to be there. This tour is the duo’s first in nearly five years which could explain why this show was sold out.  I noticed people of all ages waiting for the show to begin and kept wondering if it was the bands content or just that Jack Black’s popularity had anything to do with the attendance.  Either way I expected an adventure of some kind and prepared myself. I made my way to the Pit area and discovered that the first three songs (which is what I am allowed to shoot) is all behind a screen.  I didn’t know what to think but was told that I would get one song without the screen later in the night.  The band Wynchester opened the show and was a crowd favorite.  Wynchester is a duo consisting of just two acoustic guitars and of course vocals.  The duo felt like a major departure from the unrestrained theatrics soon to come, but they managed to surprise the crowd with their strong musicianship and wit. One of the highlights for me was a performance of DIO’s “Rainbow in the Dark” which helped the crowd accept the softer songs that were to follow. But, as great as Wynchester was in gaining the crowds approval, it was obvious that everyone attending tonight was there for one thing.  They all came to see the greatest and best band in the World.

The crowd started chanting “D! D! D! D!” and as the chant bounced off the walls of the Criterion a large screen covering the stage illuminated with cartoons reminiscent of the Beavis and Butthead shows from the eighties.  We were in for the first forty minutes of the set in which Jack Black and Kyle Gass recreated their fourth and most recent album, “Post-Apocalypto,” in its entirety.  The two of them stood behind the curtain and played the songs as drawings and pre-recorded dialogue told the story of them surviving the apocalypse, having sex, traveling into outer space, having more sex, stealing a magical crystal from the White House, did I mention having more sex and eventually saving the world.  After that portion of the show ended, the duo stepped out in front of the screen and declared that it was time for the hits.  The crowd was loud with their approval.  It was an experience you have to see to believe.  The Crowd sang all the lyrics to “Beezleboss” and “Kickapoo” which was another moment of specialness.  The duo bantered back and forth with mock arguments and began making up thru song and laughter.  The crowd interaction with the band continued while they sang along with the songs “Kielbasa” and “Tribute” before they finally wrapped up their set with the hilarious “Double Team.”

After ending the set with “Double Team” and an abridged cover of Boston’s “More than a Feeling,” the duo returned for just one more song, an encore performance of “Fuck Her Gently,” which Black dedicated to the ladies but sang it to the dudes.  By the end of the nearly two hour performance, the duo and brought humanity back from the brink of destruction and fought the devil, but their work wasn’t done yet.  I wish I had time after the show to shake hands with both Jack Black and Kyle Gass and compliment them on a performance, well done.  The duo put every ounce of energy into crafting an amazing experience for every person who attended the show.

1. Hope
2. Making Love
3. Take Us into Space
4. Fuck yo-yo Ma
5. Daddy Ding dong
6. Robot
7. Colors
8. JB Jr Rap
9. Woman Time
10. Save the World
11. Post-Apocalypto Theme
12. Rize of the Fenix
13. Low Hangin’ Fruit
14. Sax-a-Boom
15. Roadie
16. Kickapoo
17. Beelzeboss
18. The Metal
19. Dude (I Totally Miss You)
20. Kielbasa
21. Tribute
22. Double Team

Encore

23. Fuck Her Gently

Tenacious D

Venue – Criterion, OKC

Reviewed by: storm@backstage360.com