Conchords to play homecoming charity gigs
18 Mar 2009
International comedy stars Flight of the Conchords are to relive some Kiwi childhood memories supporting a charity tennis tournament and a school fundraiser while they’re back in New Zealand on holiday.
Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement will be in their hometown Wellington on 20 March to play in the tennis tournament organised by Jemaine's uncle. Then on 31 March, the comedy duo heads back to the classroom to support a fundraising event at Jemaine’s old school, Makoura College in Masterton.
Scoring an ace
Organisers of the charity tennis tournament at Wellington’s Renouf Centre reckon they have scored an ace, serving up Flight of the Conchords for the event.
Clement's uncle, Patrick McArdell, said he used "a bit of family pressure" to nab the high-profile pair, but both Jemaine and Bret were keen to help out.
The Rotary Club of Wellington has organised the event and hopes to raise $13,000 for the Wellington City Mission and Wellington tennis.
Big racquets and doubles
Bret and Jemaine are likely to play doubles together, and will join 30 teams using huge plastic racquets in quick fire seven-minute games. The idea was born after a club member saw the game played in Papua New Guinea.
Although they are both used to having rackets in their hands - Bret plays tennis and Jemaine likes squash - they will be strangers to the oversized racquets that have been imported from Vietnam especially for the event.
"I don’t think Bret and Jemaine will be treating it like Wimbledon, but they both hate to lose," McArdle said.
Back to school
Makoura School teacher Rae McKenzie is also unlikely to lose on a deal that will see Flight of the Conchords make a guest appearance at a fundraising event designed to save the school from closure.
The celebrity coup follows months of negotiation after Jemaine lent his voice to the chorus of support for the beleaguered school threatened with closure last year.
After contacting Mrs McKenzie to ask what he could do to help, Jemaine agreed for Flight of the Conchords to appear at the fundraising event in Masterton.
The Genesis Recreation Centre was booked after organisers decided the school hall was too small to handle such a high profile gig.
A powhiri welcoming 'The Conchords' at the college will precede the afternoon concert.
New TV series
The comedians had been due to appear at Makoura College's 40th anniversary in December 2008, but had to change those plans when the dates clashed with filming of the second series of their Flight of the Conchords TV show in New York.
In the latest series - currently airing in US on HBO, and in New Zealand on Prime - the musicians are still struggling to make it in New York. One episode even has the duo contemplating prostitution to pay the bills.
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.
"When I heard we got the first series I couldn't sleep for three nights. I thought we couldn't do it. Then halfway through the first series they asked if we'd do the second one and Bret had heart palpitations," said Jemaine.
"I've never had such a physical reaction to a piece of information. I got a tic," said Bret.
Asked if they will consider a third season, Flight of the Conchords say to ask them when this one is over.
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