Flight of the Conchords Discuss Their Return to Musical Satire

In the world of musical satire, Flight of the Conchords holds a unique position. This duo from New Zealand, consisting of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, is known for their understated and romantically absurd humor, parodying everything from David Bowie to gangster rap.

During the early 2000s, Clement and McKenzie, who transitioned from the alt comedy scene to starring in a popular HBO series named after their group, offered a softer spoken and hip alternative to acts like Weird Al, Spinal Tap, or Lonely Island. Despite the show running for just two seasons, its influence persists, partly due to the ongoing popularity of their videos on social media.

Clement, now 52, continues to stay visible in the entertainment industry. Currently starring in Hulu’s “Alice and Steve,” he has also made his mark having co-created and directed the cult series “What We Do in the Shadows,” a show born from his film collaboration with Taika Waititi. Meanwhile, McKenzie achieved notable recognition by winning an Oscar for a song he wrote for the Muppets.

Their agent has frequently inquired about reviving Flight of the Conchords, especially following their reunion which led to an HBO special eight years ago. They consistently declined until recently.

The duo began playing together again casually, leading to a sold-out performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles last month. Prior to this event, they met at the club Largo, looking fit and casual in T-shirts. They expressed interest in a potential Flight of the Conchords movie, if the timing and concept were right, although their Gen-X attitude suggested it might remain unrealized.

Edited excerpts from their conversation:

You have been performing as Flight of the Conchords for the first time in almost a decade. What has changed?

Bret McKenzie: I was joking that the songs are old, but we’ve forgotten them, so they’re new to us.

Jemaine Clement: This is the first time we’ve never included any new songs in our set. People don’t react the same way anymore, as they already know the jokes.