All news items, stories, images and just about anything else that won't get me sued.
Please don't email me for gig info or booking the Conchords etc as a) I don't have time to reply to people individually regarding gig info and 2) I am not the guys agent so therefore cannot help with booking, iii) nor am I a message forwarding service ;)
I don't enjoy having to write emails telling people 'No' to their request or pleas. So please stop asking! Save my sanity.
First up, the May 29 SF gig - June emailed in with the following info on the venue
'Just thought I’d let you know that I called Davies Hall in San Francisco and the box office says that Davies Hall will not be running the hall the evening of the Flight of the Conchords concert. Ticketmaster has rented the entire hall and they will be supplying the staff so Davies Hall has nothing to do with the decision of who is allowed entrance into the show. If what Ticketmaster says is true in their email to you, buyers must certainly be aware that they may not be allowed entrance to the show without proper ID.'
Also there is a thread on the WTF! forum for ticket swaps and sales (at face value plus booking fee etc only). A few people have tickets to sell, some to swap and others are just wanting tickets. Have a read of the thread here and if anyone is able to help, swap etc, let them know :)
New York Times ran a review of one of the Conchords NY gigs. Read it here
Australian TV is finally airing the Conchords HBO series. Channel: 10 (a.k.a. ten) on Sundays. Time: After Rove (which the TV guide estimates to be at about 10:10pm) Thanks mandraco for the heads up.
The Conchords went in at #2 in the New Zealand music chart also. Read about it here . Congrats to the guys for the success in their home country :)
May 3 2008 - Ticketmaster have spoken... Fans please read (SF May 29 gig only)
*IMPORTANT* Save my sanity please! This news post applies only to the extra SF gig on May 29 at Davies Hall. It does not apply to any others. It is a follow on of the previous SF gig news story and an update on the 'fair access' ticket purchasing. I am not replying to individual emails on this as I simply don't have time or energy (baby arrival imminent).
I've emailed them a few times now. My questions were pretty simple with regards to scalpers selling on tickets for seats in the Orchestra rows that were supposed to be 'fair access'.
*How is this possible when Ticketmaster stated 'fair access for fans' and 'will call only' and no Ticketfast option was to be available for sales on these seats?
*What are Ticketmaster going to do about this situation?
*Are tickets for those seats going to be collect in person only regardless of the Ticketfast option working?
Ticketmaster finally replied with this....
Dear Sherry,
Thank you for contacting us. In the spirit of fair access to tickets a will call only restriction has been put in place for all Flight of the Conchords tickets that were purchased through the Fan Club presale. Tickets purchased may be claimed only by the original purchaser through the box office will call window on the day of the event. In order to receive your tickets, you must present the credit card that was used to purchase the tickets, a government issued picture ID, and the Ticketmaster order number issued to you during the sale.
Please be aware that these tickets are non-transferable and will be voided if resold. Likewise, no name changes or alternate pick-ups will be permitted. Please note If tickets purchased under the presale, and were received via ticketfast, will not be valid for the event.
So an answer in one way, but still not an explantion as to why Ticketfast was working for those seats.
I have also emailed the venue direct to ask them about what might happen if someone presents a printed off ticket for those seats bought from a scalper. I've yet to receive a reply. One of two things I would guess... either a) The venue will not enforce what Ticketmaster have said and people will be able to use tickets via the Ticketfast option or b) they will enforce it and there will possibly be quite a large number of empty seats in the Orchestra.
Fans be aware and ensure if you have tickets for Orchestra rows A - L you may well need your ID etc to collect those tickets at the door and that a Ticketfast print out might not be enough, even if you are the original purchaser.
Be very wary buying tickets from scalpers for the gig. You may well lose out bigtime. These scalpers used the password as they bought tickets during the presale, so please exercise caution.
Feel free to pass this information along to your Conchords communities if you wish. Thanks.
if I hear from the venue with regards to this matter I shall be sure to update with it.
May 1 2008 - Thanks for nothing Ticketmaster - Fair access to tickets for fans... pfffft
*Note to self* When Ticketmaster post on a sales page the following
Additional Information: Orchestra Row A through L will be will call only.
In the spirit of fair access to tickets for fans, Orchestra Row A through L are "WILL CALL ONLY". UPS and Ticketfast will not be available as delivery choices. You will need to bring your government-issued photo ID and credit card used to purchase the tickets to the box office window on the night of the show to retrieve these tickets. Once your order is picked up you must immediately enter the venue. ** Will call tickets must be picked up by card holder. Alternate names for will call will not be allowed. **
Don't believe a word of it.
Within minutes of tickets for the Conchords extra San Francisco gig going on sale, they were springing up on certain sites for insane amounts of cash. 2 orchestra seats in row C for example will now set a fan back (if there is one daft enough to pay the asking price) $449!
How the hell is this possible? Well it would appear that for all Ticketmasters talk, they didn't follow it up and when purchasing for the Orchestra section the Ticketfast option was left open to use. So people were able to buy tickets, have them in their account, save them to file in PDF and are now able to sell them on.
I've emailed a number of sellers of these overpriced tickets and have been told this is exactly what happened when they attempted to purchase tickets. So of course they bought them. I've also emailed Ticketmaster about how was this possible and as yet have to hear back from them. I hope they reply with something. If not I shall keep emailing.
So once again, genuine fans have been kept out and are now being ripped off. The only people profiting will be the scalpers and they can only do that if fans buy these overpriced tickets. My advice on that is DON'T PAY THE SCALPERS EVEN IF IT MEANS EMPTY SEATS ON THE NIGHT. Leave them stuck with a loss.
Feel free to email Ticketmaster if you are a tad annoyed or mightily pissed off. Its an email form set up so have to enter a bit of info but it can be done.
In other news, good news...
The Conchords album landed in at number 3 on the Billboard chart! Pretty impressive and I guess this means the guys are no longer the nugget of great comedy flying under the masses radar. They are well and truly centre stage. Part of me is thrilled for them, part of me misses the days before they were this well known and in demand. Another article on the chart success here
April 30 2008 - Columbus OH gig added - May 16
Flight of the Conchords - Schottenstein Center , Columbus, OH
Fri, May 16, 2008 08:00 PM - Onsale to General Public: Fri, 05/02/08 10:00 AM EDT
No blurb with this gig about fair access for ticket purchasing. But lets hope it applies eh. Come on Ticketmaster, you can do it, you know you can ;)
April 29 2008 - Extra Conchords San Francisco gig added - May 29
And scalpers will hopefully be thwarted. Thank you whomever over at Conchords HQ/Ticketmaster. Steps have been taken to stem the flood of overpriced tickets from scalpers. The fans do truly appreciate it. Lets hope it goes some way to ensuring genuine fans get tickets for the face value price (don't pay the scalpers people). Not the Conchords fault, and I am sure they don't want fans to have to pay $200 a ticket to see them.
Flight of the Conchords - Davies Hall , San Francisco, CA - Thu, May 29, 2008 08:00 PMTicket info here Onsale to General Public: Fri, 05/02/08 12:00 PM PDT - Support act - Aziz Ansari
Additional Information: Orchestra Row A through L will be will call only.
In the spirit of fair access to tickets for fans, Orchestra Row A through L are "WILL CALL ONLY". UPS and Ticketfast will not be available as delivery choices. You will need to bring your government-issued photo ID and credit card used to purchase the tickets to the box office window on the night of the show to retrieve these tickets. Once your order is picked up you must immediately enter the venue. ** Will call tickets must be picked up by card holder. Alternate names for will call will not be allowed. **
*Note* I do not know any pre sale password and even if I do hear of one, I shall not be posting it on the main site this time round. With regards to 'fan club' pre sale, there is no official fan club so not sure what its on about.
Apparently the Conchords played Largo last night. Read more about it here. I was not able to post this news as I was due to time zones, sounds asleep. Don't forget the mooted Largo reopening with the Conchords scheduled in to appear. No definate dates as yet, but the Conchords are supposed to be appearing at Largo in LA in June. Largo is relocating in May and reopening the following month. Will be sure to let you know when the listing appears. Read about Largo moving house here.
Under The Radar is in stores now. Anyone who gets this magazine and can grab a scan of the article feel free to email it in. Thanks.
Conchords are inGeek magazine this month also. Not a cover worthy article obviously ;) Anyone who reads this and can grab a scan of it feel free to email it in.
April 27 2008 - Conchords #1 album on iTunes
Yup its true! Beating Mariah Carey and a few others I have never heard of. Click on screecap to see it for yourself. Congrats guys!
Eugene Mirman is supporting the Conchords at the Tower Theater in Philadeplphia on May 5. Read his other gig dates here
April 25 2008 - Conchords Amoeba in store appearance
Flight of The Conchords made their instore appearance at Amoeba yesterday. Go read a cool review by Nicole Campos over at LA Weekly. Pics ahoy there also!
Anyone else with a write up or pics from Ameoba they would like to share with the world, drop me an email and I'll do my best to post it before I pop.
I'm not really covering reviews of the new Conchords album as so many are out there adn can easily be found via a quick online search. But there is a discussion over on the WTF! forum if you feel like adding your opinion on the album. Need to sign up to post.
iTunes Conchords pre order had an extra track, Bret You've Got It Going On. Many missed it. Now I don't link to torrent sites etc for such things (nor do I know if the track is even on such places) but I do know its been included on SubPop's 20th birthday compilation album. Which would probably explain why its not on the Conchords album. Read about the SubPop album here
Next, want to see what the Conchords looked like when they were 12? If so go view this video clip of them performing Petrov, Yelyena And Me back in the year 2000. OK I lied, they were not 12 but look it. Almost. Had Bret even discovered what shaving was back then?
And just to let you know, if you've emailed me with fan submissions, asking for info etc and I've not replied its not because I am ignorant. Its because I am *still* pregnant and sitting at the computer for any legnth of time is bloody painful. I'm updating news but not much else till baby arrives and I can actually sit down comfortably without needing arm extensions.
April 23 2008 - Conchords random snippets
Righto, unless I am very much mistaken there was an album release yesterday. Hoping those of you who bought it already are enjoying it. Masses of reviews are already out there so I'll spare you and won't post any! Discuss on the WTF! forum
O and the Conchords are set to appear at SubPop's 20th birthday bash. Tickets on sale April 26 - Read more here Why are they not playing the comedy night with Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry and others? They are lumped in the band section *ponders this*
The Conchords live appearance at Amoeba on April 24th appears to have been brought forward to 6pm. So get there even earlier or you won't see a thing.
The Conchords have been filming a music video for Ladies Of The World. Check it out below.
One word... Coachella. Four more to explain the one... No I don't know.
I'm off to blob out again for a bit.
April 13 2008 - And the general feeling about it all is....
Mixed. Very mixed. Depending on what blog, forum or news site you read, people have no end of thoughts on the Conchords upcoming US tour. Many fans have emailed me having been lucky to get tickets in the rush, quite a few others were unable to buy any tickets at all finding the shows sold out in less than five minutes. Those fans were then gutted to see tickets appear for resale within minutes on certain websites at EXTORTIONATE SODDING PRICES, I mean $400 for 2 tickets to the LA gig? If any fan out there is daft enough to pay that kind of money well, words fail me.
Many fans are thrilled to be able to see the Conchords live finally. I'm chuffed for all of those people :) For those people, positives on seeing the Conchords abound already :)
However here are the negatives I've read elsewhere and also been emailed on. And my thoughts on all of them.
* Tickets were average $35 plus a $9-10 booking fee per ticket. Many people feel that is overpriced.
I have no idea of pricing normally for the kind of venues the guys will be playing, but for me its in the ballpark of what I would expect to pay to see a good comedian in a largish venue. But maybe to the US market it is high. Still, people were prepared to pay it. I hope you get your monies worth.
* No gigs down south and not looking like being any anytime soon. Many fans are miffed. Miffed being an understatement.
I really don't know why no gigs were included further south. Maybe logistics, travel, time frame, I cannot say. I do hope should the Conchords tour again that they will be able to include some gigs in your neighbourhood.
* Tickets selling out so quickly online and therefore people queing at the venues were mostly unlucky and told 'sold out' within minutes.
Ticket allocation seems to have been very heavily in favour of online sales. A shame that more tickets could not have been allocated to people waiting in line. As those kinds of sales are slower, many people missed out. If they then get home to see 20 tickets listed by scalpers it must be a really crappy feeling. Sort it out Ticketmaster and venues. Please.
* Scalpers are cashing in. Even with a ticket allocation of 4 per sale.
A great shame but not surprising really, as soon as some level of 'fame' (bleh at that word) is reached everyone wants a piece of you. It's now happened to the Conchords in America. I resigned myself to this over the past year but anyone who didn't see it coming..... you've hopefully spotted it now. Don't pay the scalpers is my advice. Let them go out of pocket and not sell the tickets for daft money. I shall not list any scalper tickets for resale on the site.
* Concerns about what the live show will contain. Some seem happy to hear old stuff. I've read comments from people who don't want to see the same show the guys have been doing the last few years and who hope to see a new set over the old material. I have to say, as I still see it as comedy over music I'd also be hoping for the same. I don't go see my favourite comedians when they tour every few years and hope to hear the same material over each time. I like new thank you :) But who knows what the Conchords are going to do. Maybe a bit of both and mix it up a bit. We'll soon find out. If the tour is to promote the album then it may well be the back catalogue you hear.
To try to help out genuine fans I have set up a thread on the WTF! forum for selling/swapping tickets. There are conditions to this that include no scalpers and that people only ask the face value price plus booking fee charge. No excessive prices being asked otherwise the post will be deleted and user banned from the forum. You will need to sign up to the forum to be able to post.
Oh and you may notice some changes going on with the website over the coming weeks. In the process of moving things over to a new set up that's easier for me to maintain and you to use. Fed up with Dreamweaver :| Already the main menu has altered and is now permanently expanded so its easier to find things.
Anyone with anything to say about anything Conchords related, from tour to upcoming album, feel free to join us over on the discussion board/forum. You will need to sign up to the forum to be able to post.
April 11 2008 - Non tour Conchords news
Almost - Firstly, please stop emailing me asking for tour information elsewhere or inside tips. Your powers of persuasion are not going to work on me ;) If you want a heads up on any gig info as it comes in sign up to the mailing list newsletter, the RSS feed or visit the site! Thank you.
For those unable to get tickets for the LA gig, you might want to try squishing yourself into the queue that will form for this live appearance at Amoeba on April 24th at 7pm. As the Conchords now seem rather popular this will probably also prove to be a total full house, but hey, thought I should let you know. Start queing now maybe?
Now onto some slower burning Conchords news I've held off posting so as to cover the tour info fully....
Is this the Conchords album artwork? Perhaps a lil poster type wotsit album cover? And as I reported ooooo back in August 2007, the upcoming album is also due for a vinyl release :) Click images for larger size
The Conchords announced the second season of their HBO show will air in January 2009. Not long now people! And hey, thats a millisecond in Conchords time really :p
Next up, if you want a 2009 Conchords calendar (no idea of content but it appers to be an HBO thing, click here
And lastly, I could go into labour any time now (yes I have been expecting a baby for the last 8 plus months and sitting at a computer updating stuff lately has not been pleasant I can tell you), so if all goes quiet on the site for a bit be sure to check out the WTF! forums as others will I am sure be posting info as it comes in. Newsletter and RSS will still be sent out so please save my sanity and if its regarding gig info, tours and other such stuff, don't email me please. Just wait for the updates I'll send out.
April 10 2008 - *UPDATE ON UPDATES OF PRE SALE TICKETS*
*UPDATE* April 14
Gig info and tour dates listed over on the Gig Info page
Tickets appear to be sold out for all venues
And what the crap? A $9.55 booking fee on top of each ticket!
Pre sale ticket info is now available online for all the gigs. I'll post more gig info as it comes in. I'll also send out to the mailing list and RSS feed Please don't email me asking for more info or if I can help secure you tickets. I cannot. Nothing to do with me, I'm just your humble webmistress! To be fair on everyone updates and info will be sent out to the RSS and mailing list as well as being posted here.
And if you can't wait that long, go visit the Conchords SubPop page and download one of the tracks, Ladies Of The World.
Now the reason for all these magazine covers and interviews is (and call this a wild guess here) because the Conchords have a new album to promote. So they are doing the old press circuit and getting their kit off and dressing up as Captain Pugwash (ok maybe not Pugwash, but still Captain), some dodgy fitness dudes, and erm some even more dodgy 'tached wanna be porn stars (if that wasn't the intended look I apologise but its what I got from the Maxim shoot :p )
Next, another magazine cover, Under The Radar. And I am guessing once it hits the shelves we'll find out what Conchords goodness is inside. And woah, Bret as a blonde is better looking than erm, ok, so he's not. Can I laugh now?
The Conchords also appear in Paste magazine this month. Article reads -
Flight of the Conchords Takes Off by Bud Sooppa
"We knew it was gonna be hard. but we didn't know it would be impossible," says Bret (or Brit in Kiwi pronunciation) McKenzie about Flight Of The Conchords' schedule from late 2006 though most of last year, which required the New Zealand musical-comedy duo to write and film their HBO series five day a week while recording an EP and full-length for Sub Pop on weekends. McKenzie and his comedic partner Jemine Clement acknowledge the use of stimulates to get through the grueling ordeal. "We'd be in the studio half asleep, drinking Coke trying to get this stuff done" McKenzie says. "Not doing coke, drinking Coke." "We'd mix the Coke with the cocaine and make a paste out of it, Clement explains. "Like a mojito," Bret adds. "But carbonated," Jemaine clarifies. The duo would still be waiting for a day off if not for the writer's guild strike, which prevented them from starting work on scripts for the second season. "It's a dream for us, " McKenzie says, "a forced holiday. During a quick trip to LA, Clement and McKenzie submitted to a fan-mag-style pop quiz over lunch (Brit had the viggie burger)
What's your sign?
JC: Capricorn
BM: Cancer
JC: Cancers and Capricorns get on really well.
BM: Jemaine doesn't get sick of me, I get sick of him.
Favorite Rapper?
BM: R. Kelly
JC: Neil Tennant.
Favorite Rock Band?
JC: Jimi Hendrix Experience.
BM: Steely Dan. Would that be rock?
Favorite TV Shows?
JC. It's Gary Shandling's Show. The Larry Sanders Show and Blackadder are the shows that got me excited about comedy.
BM: Curb Your Enthusiasm. Tenacious D and The Monkees.
Fave Film Comedies:
BM: Harold and Maude, This is Spinal Tap
JC: Rushmore and Robocop
Fave Workout Regimen:
JC: I play clumsy basketball and coordinated squash.
BM: Tennis or soccer
Fave Body Part:
JC. Penis! Oh, mine or other people's?
BM: My guns.
Fave Religion:
BM: I love the Christians
JC: It's all Islam for me.
Fave. Presidential Candidate:
JC: Probably Obama
BM: the winner
March 14 2008 - Conchords overload! Speedo alert!
The Conchords are everywhere. And semi naked to boot. They seem happy to get their kit off for mens magazine Maxim and ladies mag Bust. So covering all their fan bases eh ;)
What the hell am I on about? Only these priceless pics and articles....
Racists, bigots and chauvinists, but not drug-users - Flight of the Conchords is winning over the world, but they just want to eat cake by Joel Handley
Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are two comedians who have found success playing struggling musicians as Flight of the Conchords. Armed with two guitars, seven chords and a couple killer falsettos, they've reclaimed the world of musical-comedy from Jack Black's grubby hands and rejuvenated a post-Sopranos HBO. Since their series premiered last summer, their stars have been rising steadily. But the soft-spoken, mild-mannered New Zealanders aren't too keen on fame.
Their show tonight at Northwestern's Cahn Auditorium sold out in 45 minutes. To get tickets, some fans even slept at Norris University Center. Others stood in line through the early morning hours. When I spoke to Jemaine and Bret over the phone Tuesday, I asked how all this attention made them feel. They said they were a bit nervous because they hadn't played together in a while.
In conversation, as in concert, they work well as a pair. They finish each other's thoughts and can help each other through faltering answers. We talked for half an hour about their past, future, fame and secret powers. Here's the abridged conversation:
Q: You just recently won a Grammy for Best Comedy Album for your EP "The Distant Future." How did you feel about your win? Has it changed anything?
Jemaine: It changed our life in New Zealand for the last week we were there, 'cause it's quite big news there. We'd go down the road, and every third person, strangers, would say congratulations to us.
Q: Did you like that, or did it get annoying?
Jemaine: It's a little scary to tell you the truth. We were like principals at a huge school, just 'cause everyone knew us, and that's sort of what it felt like. I don't really like it, to be honest. It's nice, and I can see that it's nice, but it's been quite sudden. So it was quite weird...... Read the rest of theQ & A here
Australian fans will be pleased to know that Channel 10 have bought the rights to air the Conchords HBO show. Hopefully by the end of the year! Just when you've all finished watching it on YouTube or elsewhere then :| Read more here at Defamer
And lastly a bit of Bret action (with the Black Seeds) More Bret stuff in his Bit On The Side
March 11 2008 - Where do I start?
I suppose gig info is a good place. No definate dates but the Conchords are supposed to be appearing at Largo in LA in June. Largo is relocating in May and reopening in June. As yet no confirmed dates but will be sure to let you know when the listing appears. Read about Largo moving house here.
Next up, gig reviews from the Conchords Northwestern show. North by Northwestern review here and The Daily Northwestern review here.
What else.... a Conchords interview from Triple J in Australia. I recall hearing about this a while back but missed finding it online till now. Anyways, go listen to it here.
And woo those Conchords won another game! Read about the basketball team named after your favourite musical comedy duo/pair here
February 27 2008 - HBO second season pushed back to 2009
I won't do puns today. I think you will be distraught enough as it is without my adding to it :p
So yes, erm about those Conchords...
Whitney Matheson, from USA Today's Pop Candy blog reports - An HBO spokesman tells me the strike pushed it back to the beginning of 2009. Sorry about that, but the duo will release an album April 22.
Also reported over on The Watcher . Same thing different words.
Rumours include the Conchords need more time to write new songs, the writers strike and purple cheese tasting blue. If I hear anything I'll be sure to let you know.
Personally, coming from the land of Eng I don't mind the wait. Lots of our TV has long breaks inbetween and shorter seasons, so it doesn't worry me a bit. So long as the guys are happy and doing their thing, whatever that is in 2008, then good luck to them. At least they are not rushing it and botching a good thing. They have always been a slow burn so this is at least in keeping with their laid back, low key approach.
In other news - Hi res Conchords album cover is here!
Click image to view the high res cover!
February 26 2008 - Conchords sold out gig but another one lined up
Conchords selling out? Of course! Students at Northwestern University will be seeing the Conchords perform a sell out gig on March 6. Read more here . The gig sold out in 45 minutes. You can read about that here.
Anyways, there is still this for fans of festivals... 2008 Sasquatch! Music Festival, to be held May 24-26 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Quincy, Washington. Tickets go on sale March 8; prices increase two days later and will be raised again the week of the event. Details can be found on Sasquatch!'s Web site. Read the entire article over on Billboard
February 25 2008 - Album cover art
Awaiting a higher def image. Its green. A bit blue. And is that a bug in the corner?
February 16 2008 - Radio NZ interview with Jemaine
Jemaine talks to Oscar Knightley on Radio New Zealand about his favourite songs. He talks about being almost papped by the press in New Zealand, not getting too personal and You Tube amongst other things.
Download theinterview here (10.3MB) *songs faded out so just the interview*
February 14 2008 - Yup, it was really them
Online news roundup for the Conchords.....
* Stuff NZ has a great article, video clip and pictures from the Aro PA. View here
* New Zealand Herald talks about their upcoming album and a few other snippets. Read more here.
* Rebecca Barry, writer for NZ Herald let her imagination run away with her here
* Now the writers strike appears to be at an end an autumn/fall window has been suggested for the Conchords second season with HBO. In between I am sure the guys will be busy with solo projects and also filming and recording for the second season.
Pictures from the Aro PA yesterday. Click thumbnails for larger image.
Thanks to Chris for sending them in :)
Clips from the Aro PA yesterday. Conchords performing Inner City Pressure and Think About It. Hand held and shaky footage.
February 12 2008 - Guys making personal appearance - Arovideo, Welly, NZ
It is our pleasure (and absolute thrill) to announce that Arovideo will be playing host to the hottest act in New Zealand (and possibly the world) right now, "Flight of the Conchords".
In support of the local release of their widely-acclaimed HBO TV show on DVD, Bret and Jemaine will be performing a short set live in store from 10am, Wednesday the 13th of February, at 97 Aro Street in Wellington.
Then from 10.30am until 12pm, they will be signing copies of the DVD, which will be available to buy on site at $39.95 for the 2-disc set.
Space limitations on the ground floor of our store mean this will be a very intimate, exclusive event indeed, and entry will be on a "first come, first served" basis. While we cannot guarantee you will gain entry for the performance itself, their should be ample opportunity to meet the guys, especially if you are armed with a copy of their fantastic DVD! There will be eftpos facilities available, though cash is recommended.
This clears up the confusion over the guys possibly appearing to promote their new album. It isn't that. As reported here a while back its the NZ HBO DVD release alongside the release of Eagle vs Shark.
A few snippets, clips and radio interview about the Grammy win also now.
The guys actually speak! Radio NZ report - click here They enjoyed the writers strike as it was a bit like a holiday and its bad news for them as it means they have to work again. And they also say they are heading back to the US in the next couple of months. And some others stuff, but I'll let you listen.
TV3 has a video clip online of the Conchords talking about their Grammy win.
February 10 2008 - Accidental Sex Gods - Is there a health warning with that?
*Update* I go to sleep, wake up and lo the Conchords have won a Grammy. Best Comedy Album! Congrats guys. Read more here and here. And no, the Conchords did not appear on the live telecast that I am aware of. Not that I saw a second of it, because I am elsewhere in the world and find award shows the perfect time to sleep :p But I am reliably informed they were not seen. And yay go The Muppets for winning also! Full list of 'the award goes to' here
The track list for the upcoming Conchords album has been released. Go read it over on Billboard . I'm pretty happy with most of the listing, but its missing Pencils In The Wind and Jenny. Would have been great to have both of those on there. O and the Bus Drivers Song. And I could happily have done without Business Time. It's already on the EP and is probably their most overplayed/over quoted song. And as I first heard it back in 2004 I'm kind of bored with it now :p Tracks like Leggy Blonde and Motha'uckas, I have old bootlegs of and its cool to see how much the songs have changed over the years to make it into the TV series and this album. And I'm still a fan of live material over studio tracks, but looking forward to the album nontheless :)
The Observer in the UK ran a great interview with the guys also this weekend. Giving it the title of Accidental Sex Gods gave me a giggle. Anyways, for those hormonal female fans, it might prove too much as the guys reveal they are now both engaged to be married (well their partners as both referred to as 'fiancées' now, not just Bret's partner) and they both appear somewhat bemused by the whole sex god thing. The article says ' They're not entirely enamoured of their burgeoning celebrity, which is, they say, why they give few interviews.' Anyways, go read it here
The Conchords didn't win anything at the WGA Awards. Read about that over at Variety
A not in person Conchords appearance will take place at the Grammys! I boggle at my amazing use of language there :p They are set to appear via video link from back home in New Zealand.
The Conchords are appearing in this months The Word magazine. On sale now. Anyone who gets a scan of it and would like to share with me, drop me an email please.
January 31 2008 - Priceless - Jemaine to make a new film?!
I find this kind of, well, amusing. If this is true, then *laughs* All those comparisions to Eagle vs Shark being like some film called Napoleon Dynamite and then all those comparisons to FoTC being like some band called Tenacious D (rock!) and look who Jemaine is going to be working for.... Priceless. Congrats Jemaine!
Cast ready to saddle up for "Broncos" - Thu Jan 31, 2008 By Borys Kit and Leslie Simmons
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Michael Angarano, Sam Rockwell and Jemaine Clement have signed on to star in the comedy "Gentlemen Broncos," to be directed by Jared Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre"). The script by Hess and his wife, Jerusha Hess, follows a high school outcast who attends a camp for writers where his story gets ripped off by a legendary fantasy novelist.
Angarano plays the teen, and Clement is the famous author. Rockwell will play the fictional story's title character, who appears in book-come-to-life sequences under two guises: one in the teen's story and one in the author's story.
Angarano, whose credits include "Lords of Dogtown" and "Sky High," next stars in "The Forbidden Kingdom" opposite Jet Li and Jackie Chan. He also appears in the ensemble drama "Snow Angels."
Rockwell was recently in Sundance for "Choke," Clark Gregg's adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel, which was picked up by Fox Searchlight. He also appears in "Frost/Nixon" and "Snow Angels."
Clement is the co-creator of HBO's comedy "Flight of the Conchords," which he stars in and writes.
From what I've discovered filming is due to start in March in Utah. Jemaine is playing the veteran, desperate, written-out fantasy novelist Ronald Chevalier.
Ummm yes I am sure you'll all have lots to discuss now. Maybe? Feel free to sign up and talk about this and other stuff on the WTF! Forum
Flight of The Conchords have a basketball team named after them. Honest! Unless I misread that bit :| And they won! Wooo go Conchords.
January 30 2008 - It's not Conchords news, but its still very important. Like recycling.
Eagle vs Shark news now - Yes it's out on DVD. But region 2 has differering extras to region 1. Sorry North America but apparently you miss out on the Jemaine commentary for some reason. Read info on both releases here on What The Folk!
New Zealand fans of the Conchords might like to know the HBO series has it's DVD release on February 13 2008. Same day funnily enough as Eagle vs Shark gets it's DVD release there. Priced at NZ$39.99 (shop around, you'll find it for less somewhere). No news as yet about the extras but I'm hopefully New Zealand will get something along the lines of the UK version with Jemaine commentary.
Updated theFantastic page with some new fan art. Many thanks to all who sent stuff in.
Also this! Holden made a clip to go with the Bus Drivers Song. Works really well with the song. Almost as good as being on the tour itself!
Can view other fan clips here
Conchords cohorts news update
Rhys Darby is apparently filming his first stand up DVD at the El Rey on February 18. Info on the El Rey calendar and booking there also. Two shows, early and late.
He is also doing some lead up shows in and around the area -
January 22 2008 - *wedges self into computer chair* Conchords update time ahoy!
Back home in New Zealand the Conchords talked to Tim Hume.
Kiwi jokers Flight of the Conchords - Sunday Star Times by Mark Coote
Comedy duo Flight of the Conchords have been spending an extended summer break in New Zealand and enjoying a heroes' welcome home. Tim Hume talks to them. Of all the unsolicited advice the Flight of the Conchords have received for the second series of their cult HBO comedy, one suggestion crops up with stubborn regularity.
"So many times people come up to us with: `How about your Kiwi cousin comes over and stays on the couch?"' laughs Jemaine Clement.
"It's not necessarily just comedians saying that, it's often strangers in bars," says Bret McKenzie, the other half of the duo which first conquered America, then won over New Zealanders last year with their critically-acclaimed, US-produced comedy series.
You can't blame opportunistic comics, or even barflies, for trying their luck in inveigling their way on to the show. An invitation to fellow Kiwi Rhys Darby to play their manager in the series in which the pair play struggling musicians trying to make it in New York has seen his stock rocket, and Hollywood offers, including a role in an upcoming Jim Carrey film, come his way.
The Conchords chow down on the culinary experience that is fish tacos!
Bret and Jemaine also make an appearance in the trailer for the upcoming film about the Largo venue in LA. Can view it here and visit the Largo film site here
Variety report on the Conchords winning another award. This time its for Outstanding Comic Duo or Group. Read about it here.
KMTT, fans of the Conchords, have a CD out from their 3rd annual: 20 Funny. The Conchords make an appearance on the CD along with a whole host of other bods. Read more here
hence the lack of updates the past couple of weeks. Though to be honest there has not been much Conchords news anyways. So while it was quiet I quit my job, moved house, watched my baby bump expand even more and am currently living in chaos but have of course set up my computer and gotten back online.
Now for stuff.
Eagle vs Shark, starring Jemaine Clement and Loren Horsely is out on DVD in the US today. Order it here. Never heard of it before and want to know more? Have a read and view some clips here.
Are the Conchords back in the US? Maybe, if this news snippet is to be believed. Don't get all hissy at me for not posting this sooner. It was only announced recently and is apparently very expensive and chances are, very un-giglike. It is the International Consumer Electronics Show after all.
Anyways, it may well be the Conchords are back Stateside as it is the season of silliness, ie Awards Season, though as to how many of the events will actually take place remains to be seen. And if they do go ahead, will the Conchords stay away due to the writers strike? Talking of which, no news on the second season. I doubt we'll hear anything much for as long as the writers strike continues as both Bret and Jemaine are part of the union and therefore are restricted to what they can do. Someone tells me they can write episodes during the strike, they just can't hand them over to HBO or get paid for them.
If shopping at the WTF! shop there is a discount on orders made in the US store. 20.08% off all orders till January 14. Valid on all orders over $10. Use coupon code newyear08 (Candaian code: CADnewyear08). Shipping charges not included in discount. Visit the WTF! shop here.
Back home in New Zealand the Conchords and Rhys Darby were nominated for the Kevin Smith Award Best Artist Achievement at the 2007 NZ Comedy Guild Awards -
Flight of the Conchords – For renewal of their HBO series
Dai Henwood – For his overall contribution to C4's programming. Winner: Rhys Darby - For his landing of a role in Yes Men with Jim Carrey
Last but not least, being super organised this year I am mentioning Jemaine's upcoming birthday two whole days in advance rather than two weeks later. I'm not much on birthdays and all that, so Happy Leg Day Jemaine! Jemaine was born in 1974 which still makes him younger than me. Cor I stun myself at the extravagance of my celebrating. *Must sit down and rest now*
News from January - July 2007 has been archived on the 2007 Archive page
All news from 2006 has now been archived in full on the 2006 Archive page
Awaiting a higher def image. Its green. A bit blue. And is that a bug in the corner?
