Cashing in on the Conchords
23 Mar 2009
On the heels of a hot sporting date on a Wellington tennis court, Kiwi comics Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, of Flight of the Conchords fame, are now limbering up for a trip down memory lane.
News of ticket sales for a charity gig supporting Makoura College - Jemaine’s old high school in the Wairarapa town of Masterton - had Conchords fans in a frenzy last week as they snapped up 1600 tickets in just 91 minutes.
Organisers reported enquiries from overseas and out-of-town fans, but most of the queuing fans were locals including some who had camped out overnight in the main street. Earlier, 400 reserve tickets had been pre-sold to Makoura College staff and pupils.
The 2000-capacity show at the Genesis Recreation Centre will take place on 31 March.
Back to school
The Flight of the Conchords duo will make a guest appearance at the fundraising effort designed to save Jemaine’s old school from closure.
The celebrity coup follows months of negotiation after Jemaine lent his voice to the chorus of support for the beleaguered school when it was threatened with closure last year.
After contacting Makoura College school teacher Rae McKenzie to ask what he could do to help, Jemaine agreed for Flight of the Conchords to appear at the Masterton event.
Originally scheduled for the school hall, it was moved to the local recreation centre when organisers decided that a high profile gig required a better facility.
Holiday ‘Flight’
Home in New Zealand for a break from the US, where their popular Flight of the Conchords television series is in its second season, the stars have not managed to keep themselves entirely out of the spotlight.
Last Wednesday, Bret McKenzie married his long-time girlfriend film-maker Hannah Clarke in a Wellington registry office. The couple, who met when they were both students at high school in Wellington, are expecting a child.
On Friday, the comedians were the star turns at New Zealand’s first giant tennis tournament. Their first round doubles match, using giant oversized rackets and table tennis rules, saw them thumped 15-5 by a couple of chuffed locals.
"They must have been professionals because of the way they beat us," quipped Clement.
Proceeds from the charity tennis match will go to the Wellington City Mission.
Cult following
The pair's hit television show, about two wannabe musicians trying to make it big in America, has a cult following and a growing list of awards, most recently a Grammy.
In the latest series - airing in the US on HBO, and in New Zealand on Prime - the musicians are still struggling to make it in New York.
Some scenes in the latest series were filmed in New Zealand.
Jemaine and Bret have admitted the second season has proved to be a "difficult second album" because they had just six months to write 20 new songs.
Asked if they will consider a third season, Flight of the Conchords say to ask them when this one is over.
From New Zealand, the stars will be heading back to the US and Canada to perform in a series of sold out concerts.
More information:
Conchords play homecoming charity gigs
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