New Zealand’s musical comedians — or, musicomedians, if you will — Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement have spent too much time apart. The pair, collectively performing as hilariously bumbling folk duo Flight of the Conchords, attracted a cult following for their deadpan personae through a series of albums, tours, and even a show on HBO during the late ’00s. (The show also introduced the world to an odd comedic talent with an unmistakable voice going by the name of Kristen Schaal.) Their tunes toyed with musical genre in playfully clever ways, from a Serge Gainsbourg parody of French 101 vocab to a sexy-time slow jam about rote, joyless weekday lovemaking. In the grand pantheon of musical musicians, they are slightly below “Weird Al” Yankovic — though, aren’t we all? — and slightly above Demetri Martin. But since the show wrapped up in 2009, they haven’t collaborated, save for a jointly penned charity single in 2012.
But diehard Conchordheads have reason to celebrate today. In a post on their official Facebook page, McKenzie and Clement announced that they’d reunite for a string of tour dates this summer in character as Flight of the Conchords. They’ll hit New York’s SummerStage concert series, the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and the Newport Folk Festival, among many others listed below. Much has transpired since they last paired up: McKenzie nabbed himself a Best Original Song Oscar for his ballad “Man or Muppet” from 2011’s The Muppets film, and Clement won critical raves last year for What We Do in the Shadows, his ingenious vampire mockumentary co-created with frequent collaborator and New Zealand countryman Taika Waititi. How this may change their dynamic or material has yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Reunited really does feel so good.
June 11 – Cleveland, Ohio – State Theatre
June 12 – Philadelphia – Mann Center for Performing Arts
June 13 – Washington, D.C. – Wolf Trap Filene Center
June 14 – Columbus, Ohio – Palace Theatre
June 16 – Detroit – Fox Theatre
June 17 – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Orpheum
June 18 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Riverside Theatre
June 19 – Chicago, Illinois – Pritzker Pavilion
June 22 – Redmond, Washington – Marymoor Park
June 23 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Orpheum
June 24 – Portland, Oregon – Keller Auditorium
June 27 – San Francisco, California – The Masonic
July 1 – Santa Barbara, California – Santa Barbara Bowl
July 2 – San Diego, California – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre at SDSU
July 3 – Phoenix, Arizona Comerica Theatre
July 5 – Morrison, Colorado – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 7 – Kansas City – Starlight Theatre
July 9 – Austin, Texas – Bass Hall
July 11 – New Orleans, Louisiana – Saenger Theatre
July 12 – Atlanta, Georgia – Chastain Park Amphitheatre
July 14 – Nashville, Tennessee – Ascend Amphitheater
July 16 – Boca Raton, Florida – Mizner Park Amphitheatre
July 17 – St. Augustine, Florida – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
July 18 – Cary, North Carolina – Koka Booth Amphitheatre
July 22 – Newport, Rhode Island – Newport Folk Festival 2016 (Fort Adams State Park)
July 23 – Boston – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
July 24 – New York – Central Park SummerStage
July 27 – Los Angeles – Greek Theatre
