10 May - Birmingham, UK (The National Indoor Arena)

Spoiler:

[size=150:4lev4eoi]Flight of the Conchords
Birmingham NIA


[size=100:4lev4eoi]Brian Logan
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 May 2010 21.35 BST

Trapped-wind R&B ... Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. Pictures/Jules Annan

[size=100:4lev4eoi]If the joke is that you're a failed band, two losers with only one fan, what do you do when you become one of the hippest acts in international comedy? That's the paradox facing Flight of the Conchords, "
New Zealand's fourth most popular folk parody act"
, as they used to call themselves before their hit sitcom and now tour of Britain's enormo-domes. The contradiction is unresolved: Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement seem unsure whether to stay in gormless character or savour their success. But if the Conchords concept is looking shaky, the songs are solid as ever: masterpieces of bathos that unite earnest musicianship with pedantic and gloriously banal sentiment.I say songs, but the gag is that Clement and McKenzie's lyrics seldom attain that status. Songs require heightened language, but the pair trade in an earthbound idiom, and their funniest numbers are marooned between music and hair-splitting chat. When they want to look like macho rappers, they bellow phrases such as: "
Be more constructive with your feedback!"
Two ex-lovers recalling their night together get bogged down in a critique of the film Weekend at Bernie's II, and a medieval madrigal about wooing falters at Jemaine's difficulties in renting a horse.

More than in their previous shows, Clement is the star here. His personality inflates to arena size, whereas McKenzie's stays put. Their music – finest when plucked and twanged on acoustic instruments – and their Kiwi deadpan are better suited to smaller auditoriums: tonight's event is low-key by arena standards. But concessions are made to showmanship: the pair shimmer in sequinned bodysuits on Bowie in Space, and their trapped-wind R&B caterwauling would be hilarious whatever the venue. Likewise their imperishable banter. "
If you're wondering,"
Clement tells us, "
this is one of the talking parts of the show. It's just normal talking, except it's more professional."


The Conchords' most delightful dotty material derives from a nit-picking refusal to let anything speak for itself. The lyrics puncture their own illusion. "
Oh Jemaine, you're amazing at making love,"
sings Jemaine on Business Time. Then he answers himself: "
Thank you, me-putting-on-a-lady's-voice."
They're hyper-sensitive to gradations of reality and illusion, which is why the uncertainty about their own identity (they respond to a heckle about their manager Murray by referring to him as a fictional character) is conspicuous tonight. But by the end, there's no room for confusion. As they bump, grind and thoroughly enjoy themselves among their adoring crowd ("
Ladies from the easties and from the westies / Trying to molest these beautiful testes"
), no one will mistake them for failures.

At the Manchester Apollo (08444 777 677), tonight. Then touring.

gezyka wrote:

[size=100:x2l6lxmf]Krispeh: @FOTCmb just got back to the hotel after seeing @fotc in Brum, were BRILLIANT. Hecklers made the show amazing but the woman who did a mel!

FOTCmb: @Krispeh Yay! Glad you enjoyed the show! " title="" border="0"/> What's the story w/ "
the woman who did a mel"
?

Krispeh: @FOTCmb brett was playing his guitar and a woman from front row ran up to hug him and he ran away - security was called and she danced off

O_o Wonder if this was a serious call for security or a Sugalumps-esque one?

onlyalways wrote:

gezyka wrote:

O_o Wonder if this was a serious call for security or a Sugalumps-esque one?

Yea it was during sugar lumps. Bret actually motioned her to come towards him then called secruity when she got closer.   

onlyalways wrote:I'm going to be completely evil and quick mention that Jemaine did some major clit-teasing action to the mic during demon woman. Similar to the omnichord lick but far dirtier...

I hope so so so much that someone got video if it! 

Amily wrote:

onlyalways wrote:I'm going to be completely evil and quick mention that Jemaine did some major clit-teasing action to the mic during demon woman. Similar to the omnichord lick but far dirtier...

Oh god.

I hope so so so much that someone got video if it! 

Venus wrote:I have to head off soon but I'd just like to reiterate how much of an amazing show it was and that Sarah, Sara and Courtney were brilliant company.

I'll post up an account soon but in the meantime, I took this pic during the M&G

Venus wrote:I have to head off soon but I'd just like to reiterate how much of an amazing show it was and that Sarah, Sara and Courtney were brilliant company.

I'll post up an account soon but in the meantime, I took this pic during the M&G

hellomyfriend wrote:

Venus wrote:I have to head off soon but I'd just like to reiterate how much of an amazing show it was and that Sarah, Sara and Courtney were brilliant company.

I'll post up an account soon but in the meantime, I took this pic during the M&G

(and I spy background Eugene! )

drunkagain wrote:End of Sugalumps (the guys need help getting back up on stage and Jem's pants fall off )

[flash=350,287:bdtp4zj1]https://www.youtube.com/v/b7xuSnHtVqw&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:bdtp4zj1]

drunkagain wrote:End of Sugalumps (the guys need help getting back up on stage and Jem's pants fall off )

[flash=350,287:3w91ft0s]https://www.youtube.com/v/b7xuSnHtVqw&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:3w91ft0s]

gezyka wrote:

hellomyfriend wrote:





(and I spy background Eugene! )

I'm shocked, Nik! Background Bret is also prisint! ;
) (in the hat, between the girl and Eugene )

drunkagain wrote:End of Sugalumps (the guys need help getting back up on stage and Jem's pants fall off )

[flash=350,287:7y1smd5d]https://www.youtube.com/v/b7xuSnHtVqw&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:7y1smd5d]

hellomyfriend wrote:My Bret radar failed!!! " title="" border="0"/> " title="" border="0"/> " title="" border="0"/> Tsk-tsk, me.

gezyka wrote:

hellomyfriend wrote:





(and I spy background Eugene! )

I'm shocked, Nik! Background Bret is also prisint! ;
) (in the hat, between the girl and Eugene )

Venus wrote: I can't get over how cute Bret was and he gave me (& Courtney!) the tightest hugs!

Venus wrote:I have to head off soon but I'd just like to reiterate how much of an amazing show it was and that Sarah, Sara and Courtney were brilliant company.

I'll post up an account soon but in the meantime, I took this pic during the M&G

Venus wrote: Yes Bret's also in there! I can't get over how cute Bret was and he gave me (& Courtney!) the tightest hugs! Courtney, did you not turn a little Bretero after that M&G? " title="" border="0"/>

Venus wrote: Courtney, did you not turn a little Bretero after that M&G? " title="" border="0"/>

chrissycubana wrote:what a great idea that fan had, to dance off with the security guard!!! she's good peoples, that one is .

[size=100:a664wvoj]I feel I must apologise for storming the stage last night. I was pretty scary. x