Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D put on the party of 2014 in downtown Los Angeles on Oct. 25. Moving locations from the Santa Monica Pier to the Shrine Expo Hall this year, Festival Supreme featured the best comedians currently in the country, plus a few bands, and threw in a Halloween costume party to boot.
Using the expansive grounds next to USC, this music and comedy spectacle had a total of three stages, similar to the Coachella Music and Art Festival (Golden Voice produces both events). After entering the venue you were led into a “Circus of Death” area designed by Stephen Hull, where I took a ride on the bizarre “acid” train.
While stand-up comedy from the likes of Doug Benson, Margaret Cho and Norm Macdonald entertained the crowd inside the Hall, outside two dueling stages featured a large contingent of musical comedy acts, including Bridget Everett, Bo Burnham and Workaholics. Thousands of costumed comedy fans roamed the grounds adding to the hilarity of it all.
As the afternoon turned to night, the outdoor audience was treated to amazing sets by the Aqua Bats, Fred Armisen and the Eagles of Death Metal. The crowd grew increasingly large as the evening wore on. Taking the stage as an angel and a devil, Tenacious D invoked thunderous applause. Rocking such favorites as "Tribute" and “Fuck Her Gently," The D gave the fans their money’s worth. Also joining them on stage playing harmonica for a song was crowd favorite and musical comedy legend Weird Al Yankovic. Ending the night in a lingering cloud of smoke was L.A.’s own comedy godfathers Cheech and Chong.
