Gut Reactions (post-gig memories and other trips): Tenacious D, Spicy Meatball Tour, OVO Hydro, Glasgow. Thursday 9th May, 2024

This event was a prime example of a great show but a bad experience.

Support act Dave Hill did his best to entertain. He rode onto the stage on a BMX-style bike, attempted (and failed) to pull several wheelies, threw around nunchucks badly, and then went into his schtick, over-punctuating his material with local references while shredding an electric guitar. Some of the crowd bought into his comedic stylings, chanting "Dave, Dave, Dave" (at his behest), but I couldn't see his appeal. The songs weren't funny, and his nodding while repeating "Thank you" after every supposed joke grated. I know he's supposed to be a loser - that is the character - but I felt it was a wasted opportunity. A better support act would have served us better.

Tenacious D did their thing: passionate rock music with comedic interludes. No problem there. They delivered to the max. I loved that they gave the lighting man AND the sound guy a 'solo' and that the drummer incorporated the beat of the crowd's chant of "Here we, here we, here we fucking go' into his. The recurring bit with the Pyro guy became more amusing as it went on, with the obvious payoff at the end.

For me, it was the crowd that made the experience bad. I'll admit I was partly to blame. I ventured further forward than I should have. I knew my back was dodgy, but I hoped to get a clear view for taking photos and videos. All around, surrounded by Gen Zs, vaping was widespread, with more smoke rising from the mouths of the entitled youths than were being pumped from the stage. At least the smell wasn't too unpleasant. The lads with the mullets somehow managed to wheedle their way between me and the middle of the stage, their hairy domes obscuring my central view. We stood behind three shorter people, two girls and a guy. Then, the taller blonde's tattooed, stubble-headed boyfriend arrived with the drinks and tried to push in front of my wife. She is a concert veteran and wouldn't let him in, causing some tension as the prick failed to comprehend what the problem was. Her crossed arms acted as a constant barrier to his attempts to nuzzle behind his girlfriend. Not once did the girl consider moving in front of him.

Early on in the set, one lady with pink hair shrieked with the ferocity of someone falling from a cliff at the start of every song, demonstrating a level of hysteria previously only seen by The Beatles. It took a few glares from the surrounding crowd for her to realise her behaviour was unacceptable before she stopped. And she could stop, showing it was an affectation designed, much like her hair colour, to draw attention.

The phone light beacons, raised whenever someone went away, pissed me off. You don't need another pint during the show. If you want a drinking session, go to the pub. You've paid to see a band. If your bladder can't handle it, don't drink so much.

At the start of every song, a sea of phones rose from the throng like dandelions on a lawn. All three of the people in front of us joined in, their phones held way above their heads, blocking my view. Gen Z wasn't interested in shooting a whole song, though. Their attention spans only allowed them thirty seconds before they had to review the footage and forward it. It was so frustrating.

You might suggest it is disingenuous of me to complain when I, too, use my phone to take pictures and videos. However, I shoot from in front of my face, not obscuring anyone else's view. and I shoot the whole song. These guys didn't care who they were blocking. It was all about their needs, and to hell with everyone else. Their concert experience was different to mine. I'm sure they left happy.

Next time the D comes to town, I'll go for the seats. Standing is not so much fun anymore. On the plus side, my back survived intact.

Concert additional:

Apparently, Karen Gillan and (some of) Biffy Clyro were guests on the night. I never saw them, though. I only know this because Jack Black name-checked them during the gig.

Setlist

Overture (John King song) (by Andrew Gross and John King, from Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny's opening credits)

Kickapoo

Low Hangin' Fruit

Rize of the Fenix

Wonderboy

Tribute

Video Games

The Metal

Sax-a-Boom

Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty song) (Kyle's 'Max-a-Boom' solo)

Roadie