Howdy Interwebbers. I’m Matt Cohen and I dig the D.

Of course, I am referring to Tenacious D – the folk-metal guitar duo made up of Jack Black (Jables) and Kyle Gass (Kage). I’ve been getting my socks rocked off’ since high school, and have been an avid follower of all things D ever since. I voraciously devour their new albums and attend as many live shows as I can, so it was to my delight and surprise that the boys had put together an epic night of comedy and music… and better yet, it was for a great cause. I snagged my ticket, patiently waited a few weeks, ventured out in the heart of Korea Town (and hunted for a good/free parking spot, WHICH I found, thank you very much) and was presented with a night of performances I would never forget.

Want to live vicariously through me? Well, besides it being a tad creepy… I’m flattered… Here’s your chance! I’m proud to present my review of “Tenacious D and Friends: Stand With Haiti”, presented in chronological order for all you fans of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder!

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Maya Rudolph: What’s funny is that I had just watched Ms. Rudolph’s infamous SNL “Nation Anthem” sketch mere hours before attending the show.

What’s also funny is getting to see it in person. Maya took the stage as “Pamela Bell” and proceeded to sheepishly walk to the center, pick up her microphone, and – well, you all know how this one goes (If you don’t know how this one goes, watch the video above). It’s been a minute since I’ve seen Rudolph in anything (I think since IDIOCRACY, which was a few years back now) and seeing her on stage reminded me she really is one of the more talented women in the funny business. I look forward to seeing more of her in the future.

Tig Notaro: Heading to the show, I had no clue if this was a comedian, a musician, a man, or a woman. I knew one thing – Tig is fun to say. Happy to report that Ms. Notaro is a) A Woman and b) A comedian… and a very funny one at that. Ms. Notaro admittedly looks a bit like she could be Mr. Notaro at first glance, and she talks about the consequences of such a misidentification. Witty, calm – Notaro has the poise and presence of an old hand at the comedy game, and her set was better then most “spotlights” I’ve seen on major TV networks in recent years. A really solid stand up set by someone who was previously unknown to me goes to show that comedy can come from anywhere, and to never overlook a “new” voice. Consider me a fan.

Will Ferrell: The big surprise of the night. Without fanfare, without hype, without notice – Will Ferrell took the stage to what was probably the biggest applause of the event (other than The D). Ferrell quickly apologized to the audience, as he had “forgotten” the scheduling of the benefit and, as such, had arrived unprepared. He then proceeded to delight and confuse the crowd with the only “routine” he could remember off the top of his head – a third grade dance routine set to the synth classic “The Popcorn Song”, by Hot Butter. Cue two minutes of “Kaufmanesque” type performance art that made you smile more then it managed to illicit belly laughs. Ferrell was a welcome if not odd addition to an already stellar line-up of entertainers, and it was pretty cool to get to see one of my favorite on-screen comedians in the flesh (albeit 20 or so feet away).

Frank Black: The frontman from the PIXIES (sometimes know as Black Francis) took to the stage for the evening’s first musical number, and I was fairly excited. I proudly put the PIXIES in my top ten all-time favorite bands, and I had not gotten the chance to see them or their illustrious leader (Miss you, Kim.) live. The set was not quite what I expected – picture a heavy, raw, oddly tempoed angry rockster – but was still quite enjoyable. I did get to hear “Where Is My Mind”, which brought up all kinds of FIGHT CLUB related memories. Definitely worth checking out, but I’d much rather hear the whole band (or what stands for the whole band at the current date and time).

Bob Odenkirk: Out of the grand list of illustrious talent assembled, Mr. Odenkirk is my number one. Allow me to clarify. Yes, I am a huge Tenacious D fan, as I am one of Patton Oswalt, Aimee Man, Brand/Segal, etc. However, if the benefit had just been Bob Odenkirk talking to himself on a stage for an hour, I would not only have attended, but would have payed a lot of money to do so. In terms of “influences” in my life, Bob Odenkirk (and David Cross) are in the top quadrant. Without MR. SHOW in the world, I most likely would be an accountant somewhere, asking people around the office, “Hey, what’s this Twitter thing I keep hearing about?” Odenkirk emerged in a mustache and horn rimmed glasses as Steve Job’s lesser known but “better” brother. Odenkirk walked us through a presentation (complete with slides) of his newest inventions. Classic Odenkirk – weird but not zany character, tons of pop culture references (His partners in business? Clint Howard and Gordon Spielberg), and a concise and well paced sketch. One of the kings of comedy doing what he does very well. My only complaint was that Odenkirk was only on stage for about seven minutes. I could watch that man do comedy for days on end and beg for more.

James Mercer: This was a benefit and all the artists were appearing out of the kindness of their hearts, so I would feel bad “maligning” anyone, but…. I don’t think I like the Shins. I had never heard of them or their frontman James Mercer before the night, and after hearing said dude perform a couple songs, I don’t think I’m missing much. Yeah, Mercer has a nice voice and can play guitar alright, but he’s so opposite my type of music. So mellow I almost fell asleep standing up. Mercer played about three acoustic songs and the ladies swooned. I had to hold on to a railing to stop from “slumbering off”. People seem to like him and the guy came out for a good cause and lent his time, so – right on. A Shins fan I suddenly am not, though.

Nick Kroll and Ben Stiller: Oh, Fabrice Fabrice. I cannot get enough of this character. From the first time I saw Nick Kroll perform as Fabrice Fabrice, I’ve been hooked – bordering on obsessed. For those unfamiliar with the character, Fabrice Fabrice is a loud, obnoxious, ridiculously dressed “Head of Craft Services” who is of somewhat questionable sexuality. His “routine” consists of regaling the crowd with some of his stories from his many years spent in the fast track world that is feature film craft services. He oftentimes invites some of the celebrities he’s worked with in the past onto stage with him for an embarrassing and ridiculously offensive interview. Tonight’s guest: Mr. Ben Stiller. I don’t want to try and paraphrase an act that began with “What up you cock-ass bitches?!?” so I’ll leave the exact details to your imagination. However, the interview included references to Michael Jackson being a woman, Stiller’s inappropriate relationship with the monkey from NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, and an invitation of oral sex, “For Haiti”. It’s not often that one of Hollywood’s biggest comedians plays the straight man, but Stiller certainly filled that role during Kroll’s savage and ridiculously funny assessment of his career. Nick Kroll is funny with or without a rhinestone belt that says “Bing Bong”, and to see him share the stage with the likes of Ben Stiller was a thrill for someone who’s been following his career since its inauspicious starts at a basement theater in New York City. And Ben Stiller is a also person who ain’t that bad.

Jason Segal: A musical interlude from the man who forgot Sarah Marshall. I’m sure you’ve all seen the film by now so you may know that Segal performs (and wrote) some original songs for the film, including a mini version of a Dracula musical entitled “A Taste For Blood”. All six plus feet of Segal took the stage to a warm welcome, though he looked a bit sad. Once seated at the keyboard he told the audience, “I’m bummed because my buddy was supposed to show up to help me tonight but he couldn’t make it”. Now, I know a bit when I see one, but I wasn’t sure just who exactly would be joining Segal on stage. Incidentally, Segal was joined by a guest on his first song of the evening – Jack Black came out to perform a duet of “Dracula’s Lament” in which Jables belted out some high notes to match Segal’s now-famous Dracula impression. Funny stuff. But, of course, this wasn’t the aforementioned buddy who had missed the show. We’d have to wait for Segal’s second number to find out who that was – and from the moment it started, it was kind of an easy guess. The opening notes of “Inside of You” rang out in the theatre, the first verse proceeded (with Segal doing a sort of fake Brand impersonation), and then the man of the hour took the stage – Russel Brand. The two joined for a spirited version of the Infant Sorrow classic and finished it all of with a uncomfortably long open mouthed kiss. Good stuff and a good reminder that GET HIM TO THE GREEK drops soon (At least it was for me).

Patton Oswalt: I am a fan of stand up comedy, but I’m not a “stand-up guy”, per say. I’ve got my favorites, and I always try to keep up to date on their newest releases/routines – and Patton Oswalt is definitely included in that pack. I have listened to Patton’s albums dozens of times and had been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to catch a live show. This wonderful night did not fail me. Patton did a full half hour of brand new stand up (I’d never heard it before) and within a few minutes I was doubled over in hysterics, trying to stay afoot. Patton is so unassuming that when the insanity leaves his mouth it not only catches you off guard, but sort of wakes you up a bit. His presence on stage is so polar to the material he’s delivering, which is conscious and brilliant. If he was Dane Cook telling the same jokes, it wouldn’t work. There’s something so instantly likable (almost lovable) about Patton that his insights, while not always the most profound statements ever, are always familiar – which, of course, is one of the ingredients for good stand up. Relatability. Familiarity. Etc. If this set is any indication of where Patton’s taking his comedy (more family material, kid stuff, less geek-oriented material), I will purchase his newest release gladly, and I relish the day when I get to see him take to the stage again.

Aimee Mann: Aimee Mann is one of my top 3 favorite solo artists, and it was a thrill and a pleasure to finally get to see her perform live (and one of the motivating factors in my attendance of the show). Ms. Mann took the stage with a skeleton crew – a bass player and a keyboardist – and began to rock the house in her own very unique and other-worldly way for a solid half hour or so. As far as female voices go, Aimee Mann’s is at the top of the heap, and her guitar skills match – to see it all live is to be caught up in a sort of rapture. Lots of talented folks in the house this evening but Aimee Mann – at least musically – is on an entire other level. I was first exposed to Aimee Mann with her work on the MAGNOLIA soundtrack (and within the film itself), and since then have been longing to catch her perform. Of all the tracks Mann and co. played during the show, my favorite has to be “Save Me”, from the MAGNOLIA soundtrack. Very different from my usual concert fare, but so damned talented and, dare I say, beautiful that I would definitely check out Aimee Mann live again in the future (And wouldn’t mind seeing her also very talented husband, Michael Penn, either).

Russell Brand: By this point in the night, I thought that Tenacious D would take the stage for the finale, and I was quite content with that. Luckily, like always, I was wrong. “Rusty” took the stage like a pit bull takes to raw meat and delivered what is definitely the most energetic and frantic set of stand-up comedy (if you could really call it that – more like “observational philosophy) I’ve ever seen. Wordy is an understatement when one describes Brand’s stage set – It’s like studying for your SAT verbal section. Rather then being off-putting or excluding, Brand’s intellectual (and highly spiritual/sexual) bent differentiates him from ANY comic working today. Like all the bests, Brand uses the stage as a psychotherapy couch, and the cathartic rambling that spews henceforth from his waifish frame is a look into the mind of a very complex, very intelligent, very disturbed, and – luckily for the audience – very funny human being. Brand muses on all things from life, love, and the pursuit of “happiness” to more topical subjects as his recent stint as host of the MTV Movie Awards. A mile a minute, very funny, and oftentimes challenging, if you get a chance to see Mr. Brand take to a stage, I would definitely recommend jumping on the chance.

Tenacious D: The men behind the entire evening. Respectively – Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Collectively – The D. I’ve had the pleasure of both meeting The D at a signing and seeing their PICK OF DESTINY TOUR when it hit Madison Square Garden, so I knew that some face-melting was about to occur. Since I heard the first licks of “Wonderboy” back in the 9th grade, I’ve been hooked on them. And not as a parody group or a comedy act, but rather as one of my favorite bands in the world, musically as well as ideologically. This very special set kicked off with the debut of a new song, chronicling the failure that was THE PICK OF DESTINY, and foretelling The D’s inevitable return to greatness. Pop songs, these are not. All the favorites were rolled out – “Tribute”, “Fuck Her Gently”, etc.) with a few songs I’d never heard thrown into the mix as well (including a very funny new tune called “The Roadie”). Look, you either love The D or you’ve never heard of them. It was a D show. Rocking and funny while at the same time melodic and impressive. Notable moments include Ben Stiller making a guest drum appearance on a cover of the GOOD TIMES theme, and Kyle quitting the band (as he always does). A fantastic finale to a truly remarkable night of laughs and music.

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And like that, it was over. One of the most entertaining nights I can remember in a long while, and all for a worthy purpose, as well. Sometimes, all is right with the world. Thanks for the gander, and I’ll see you cats next time with a op-ed piece on the 90’s equivalent of LOST… THE X-FILES. How good was it? How important was it? How Canadian was it?

–Matt Cohen is currently Standing With Laziness

For more Matt Cohen, check out CameltoadProductions.Com and, of course, “Bagged and Boarded“, right here at FRED entertainment.

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