Flight of the Conchords @ Hammersmith Apollo 17/05/10

In their eponymous TV show, New Zealand folk duo Flight Of The Conchords are a pair of woefully unsuccessful musicians bumming around New York playing gigs in lifts and trade conventions. In reality their UK tour sold out in seconds, has been upgraded to stadium level and the rapturous applause the pair receive on arrival to the stage tonight is one normally reserved for heroes.

This disparity seems fitting as it is juxtaposition that lies at the heart of The Conchords music and comedy. Whether it is is their gangster rap songs about having hurt feelings or sexed up funk tracks dealing with their inadequacies between the sheets Bret and Jemaine take the expected norms of a musical genre and reverse it in a self depreciating manner.

The bands low key, lo-fi approach to comedy transfers to their stage show too. Eschewing any temptations to make a big Hollywood version of the TV show, Flight of the Conchords live is merely Bret and Jemaine sitting on stools, playing their guitars and chatting. There are occasional nods to ostentation such as bringing on New Zealand's entire symphony orchestra (one cello player named Nigel) and the cardboard helmets used on robot electro anthem 'Too Many Dicks (On The Dancefloor)'.

Fan favourites such as 'Bowie In Space' and the Pet Shop Boys spoof 'Inner City Pressure' are raced through much to the delight of the sold out crowd including famous faces such as Jonathan Ross and Richard Curtis. Inevitably some songs do not get an airing to the disappointment of the crowd, most notably 'Business Time', however it would be churlish to wait nearly three years for this tour and then quibble over the set list.

With hilarious between song chat (“This isn't talking like you do, it's more professional” says Brett “Plus, we get paid.”) and songs packed with more melody and charm than many of their 'proper' musical contemporaries Flight Of The Conchords live is everything you would hope it to be and more. With more than a suspicion that we will never see them in this guise again, certainly not live on a UK stage, every second of the show is drunk up by the crowd and as the pair finish the show in audience members laps during a riotous 'Sugalumps' you can't help feeling that this is not just one of the comedy events of the year but one of the musical highlights too.

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Flight Of The Conchords- 'Choir Of Ex-Girlfriends' & 'Too Many Dicks On The Dancefloor'

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Flight Of The Conchords- 'Friends' and 'Dreams'

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Flight Of The Conchords- Hurt Feelings

From the episode 'Bad Brets' which aired in the US last night.

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New Flight Of The Conchords

Episode 2 of the second season aired last night in America and is available to watch online if you know the right people/ places. The episode revolved around Brett buying a new cup and plunging the pair into a pit of debt and ultimately prostitution. The 2 new songs premiered were outstanding too, hilariously funny and excellent genre spoofs at the same time.

'You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute'


'Sugar Lumps'

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Flight Of The Conchords- 'Flight Of The Choncords'

http://www.gigwise.com/reviews/albums/43437/flight-of-the-conchords--flight-of-the-conchords-sub-pop-released-120508

Flight Of The Conchords
‘Flight Of The Conchords’
Sub Pop
May 12th
4/5

For those of you not well versed in the Flight of The Conchords TV show, from which this album originates, a brief synopsis. Two well-mannered guys (Bret Mckenzie & Jemaine Clement) from New Zealand come to New York to make their folk band big in America, aided by their loveable manager Murray. Their songs punctuate their adventures such as meeting girls, racial abuse, going on tour and dealing with their stalker/ super fan Mel. In a world of cynical, angry and exploitative comedies it is a sweet refreshing alternative, and it’s hilarious too. Really you should buy the DVD rather than the album as all the songs on display here are from the TV show and removed from the context of the show they perhaps lose an inch of their charm.

Having said this album is packed full of great, laugh out loud songs that show music and comedy can mix. The album includes tracks that parody famous acts such as The Pet Shop Boys (‘Inner City Pressure’), Marvin Gaye (‘The Most Beautiful Girl’) and rap music (Hiphopopatamus Vs Rhymenoceros) that work perfectly. Every single track here is built around minute word play and funny asides. Without fail every song has a laugh out loud moment on it. There are too many to mention so a quick top 3 will have to spur you on-

“So you think maybe you'll be a prostitute. Just to pay for your lessons, you're learning the flute. Ladies wouldn't pay you very much for this.Looks like you'll never be a concert flortist.”- ‘Inner City Pressure’
“You know when I'm down to just my socks it's time for business that's why they call it business socks.”- ‘Business Time’
“My rhymes are so potent that in this small segmentI made all the lady listeners pregnantYeah that's right, sometimes my lyrics are sexistBut you lovely bitches know, should knowI'm trying to correct this”- ‘Hiphop-Potamus Vs. Rhymenocerous’

What is outstanding about the music Flight Of The Conchords make is that besides being very funny the songs really get into your brain and nag away harder than any Ting Tings song could ever hope to. The desire to go back and listen to these songs over and over is hard to sate. It is no stretch of the imagination to say that Clement and McKenzie could make a brilliant ‘straight’ album. Their control of melody, instrumentation and lyrical prowess is something that is missing in a lot of more traditional bands around in 2008.

In a field of music often, and normally deservedly, derided as slightly rubbish and pointless Flight Of The Conchords have made one of the warmest and most delightful albums of the year. Now can they please come and tour the UK?

'Business Time'

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