The Spicy Meatball Tour was a concert tour by American comedy rock band Tenacious D The tour began on May 6, 2023 and ended on July 14, 2024 with the band playing in the United States, Europe and Australia. Whilst the tour was not supporting the release of a new studio album, it was supporting the song and music video, "Video Games", released in May 2023.
In July 2024, the tour was cut short following a comment made by Kyle Gass in Sydney regarding the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, which sparked international controversy on social media.
History The set list consisted of music from the band's first three albums (Tenacious D, The Pick of Destiny, Rize of the Fenix). Music from their fourth album, Post-Apocalypto, was not performed on the tour.
A new Tenacious D song, "Video Games", premiered online, on May 11, 2023 with a music video directed by Adam Paloian and his production company Pinreel Inc., which was the band's first new music video since 2012.
On June 1, 2023, the band released a music video for their cover version of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game", a song the band started performing on this tour. The band had a yearly tradition of releasing the cover of a song every year.
The band also released a coloring book, titled "Tenacious D: The Official Coloring Book" while on this tour. Limited edition signed copies of the book were available on each stop of the second leg, starting with the show in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In February 2024, the band announced their first tour of Australia and New Zealand in eleven years, to be held in July 2024.
In May 2024, the band re-issued Rize of the Fenix on vinyl whilst on tour.
Opening acts Musician Steel Beans and acoustic duo Wynchester (featuring Tenacious D's John Konesky), opened for specific nights of the first leg of the tour. For the fall U.S. dates, comedian Dave Hill opened for the band. For the European dates on the fourth leg, Crusade (also featuring Konesky) and Dave Hill supported on different nights with Crusade supporting in Sydney.
Average set list
The following set list is from the first concert of the second leg, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is not intended to represent all shows of the tour. "Kickapoo" "Low Hangin' Fruit "Rize of the Fenix" "Wonderboy" "Tribute" "Video Games" "The Metal" "Sax-a-Boom" "Roadie" "Dude (I Totally Miss You)" "Wicked Game" Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown)" Double Team Encore "Master Exploder" "The Spicy Meatball Song" "Fuck Her Gently"
Jack Black solo song Jack Black had a solo set on the majority of the tour dates, towards the end of the show, after the band introduction, where he performed a snippet of a song, which was a cover version with a Tenacious D twist to it. May 8 & May 9, 2023 – Chesterfield, Missouri & Kansas City, Missouri: "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath May 11, 2023 – New Orleans, Louisiana: "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong May 13, 2023 – Saint Augustine, Florida: "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd June 6, 2023 – Hamburg, Germany: "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel June 10, 13, 14, 2023 – Milan, Italy; Brussels, Belgium & Rotterdam. Netherlands: "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes June 16, 2023 – London, England: "Take A Chance On Me" by ABBA & "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath September 6, 2023 – Charlotte, North Carolina: "Carolina in My Mind" by James Taylor September 7, 2023 – Franklin, Tennessee: "Jolene" by Dolly Parton September 11, 2023 – Rogers, Arkansas: "Wichita Lineman" by Jimmy Webb September 13, 2023 – Houston, Texas: "La Grange" by ZZ Top July 13, 2024 – Sydney, New South Wales: "Overkill" by Men at Work July 14, 2024 - Sydney, New South Wales: "Highway To Hell" by AC/DC
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueOpening actLeg 1 – North America #1May 6, 2023AtlantaUnited States Shaky KneesMay 8, 2023ChesterfieldThe FactorySteel BeansMay 9, 2023Kansas CityStarlight TheatreMay 11, 2023New OrleansThe FillmoreMay 13, 2023Saint AugustineSt. Augustine AmphitheatreWynchesterLeg 2 – Europe #1June 2, 2023NurembergGermanyRock im ParkJune 3, 2023NürburgringRock am RingJune 4, 2023PragueCzech RepublicForum KarlinSteel Beans June 6, 2023HamburgGermanySporthalle HamburgJune 7, 2023BerlinCitadel Music FestivalJune 8, 2023NickelsdorfAustriaNova Rock FestivalJune 10, 2023MilanItalyCarroponteSteel Beans June 12, 2023ZürichSwitzerlandSamsung HallJune 13, 2023BrusselsBelgiumForest NationalJune 14, 2023RotterdamNetherlandsRotterdam AhoyJune 16, 2023LondonEnglandThe O2 ArenaJune 18, 2023ClissonFranceHellfestLeg 3 – North America #2September 6, 2023CharlotteUnited StatesPNC Music PavilionDave Hill September 7, 2023FranklinFirstBank AmphitheaterSeptember 9, 2023IndianapolisAll IN Music & Arts FestivalSeptember 11, 2023RogersWalmart AMPDave HillSeptember 13, 2023HoustonWhite Oak Music HallSeptember 14, 2023Grand PrairieTexas Trust CU Theatre at Grand PrairieSeptember 15, 2023AustinGermania Insurance AmphitheaterLeg 4 – Europe #2April 29, 2024StockholmSwedenHovetCrusade April 30, 2024OsloNorwaySpektrumMay 1, 2024CopenhagenDenmarkRoyal ArenaMay 3, 2024LuxembourgLuxembourgRockhal May 5, 2024DublinIreland3Arena Dave HillMay 7, 2024BirminghamEnglandResorts World Arena May 8, 2024ManchesterManchester Arena May 9, 2024GlasgowScotlandOVO Hydro May 11, 2024LeedsEnglandFirst Direct Arena May 12, 2024NottinghamMotorpoint ArenaMay 13, 2024BrightonBrighton Centre May 15, 2024ParisFranceAccor Arena CrusadeLeg 5 – AustraliaJuly 13, 2024SydneyAustraliaInternational Convention CentreCrusadeJuly 14, 2024
Cancelled shows DateCityCountryVenueNotesMay 13, 2023Live OakUnited StatesSpirit of the Suwannee Music ParkEcholand FestivalThe entire festival was canceled due to "unforeseen circumstances"July 16, 2024NewcastleAustralia Entertainment Centre Cancelled following controversy around Gass' comment regarding the attempted assassination of Donald Trump during the second Sydney show.July 18, 2024BrisbaneEntertainment CentreJuly 20, 2024MelbourneRod Laver ArenaJuly 22, 2024AdelaideEntertainment CentreJuly 24, 2024WellingtonNew ZealandTSB ArenaJuly 26, 2024AucklandSpark Arena
Other shows These shows occurred in the middle of The Spicy Meatball Tour but are not recognized as being part of the tour. They are extra performances that had a limited setlist. + List of other showsDateCityCountryVenueShowJune 25, 2023Los AngelesUnited StatesHollywood BowlThe Game Awards 10-Year CelebrationTenacious D performed "Video Games"October 14, 2023Hollywood PalladiumRun the Jewels 10th Anniversary TourTenacious D performed a DJ set as "Tenacious DJ"
Personnel Jack Black – lead vocals, additional guitar Kyle Gass – lead guitar, additional vocals, flute John Konesky – electric guitar, additional vocals John Spiker – bass guitar, additional vocals Scott Seiver – drums Mike Bray – 'Biffy Pyro' character, additional vocals
References