Flight of the Conchords

Flight of Conchords are a duo from Wellington, New Zealand; Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. They are, in their own words, "New Zealand's 4th most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo" or in simpler terms, "New Zealand's fourth most popular folk-parody duo". Most of their performances include acoustic guitars and humorous banter. They probably received the most recognition (in the US) from their appearance on HBO's comedy series One Night Stand in which they performed seven songs; the whole show can be viewed on Google Video. When I first saw them, I was wary of the whole comedians-with-musical-instruments routine, but these guys actually mix the instruments with their witty material really well. They recently signed a 12-episode deal with HBO for a self-titled series about them "trying to achieve success in New York City as a band" (Wiki).

They released an album in 2002 of live material called Folk the World Tour featuring 2 studio-recorded tracks, "Something Special for the Ladies" and the Lord of the Rings inspired "Frodo". In 2005, they wrote a six-part, half-hour radio series for BBC Radio 2. "Presented in a 'mockumentary' style the series follows the duo's move to London and all the trials and tribulations they encounter along the way; from being shot by an arrow and dealing with stalker fans to the threat of the band breaking up. Interspersed throughout, are songs which seem to fit each situation" (SmokeCDs). In 2006, it was made available through Audible, Amazon (Canada) (UK), and SmokeCDs.

Aside from Flight of the Conchords, Jemaine and Bret have other side-projects:
Jemaine was part of The Humourbeasts with Taika Cohen (who is also credited as Taika Waititi). I don't know much about the project, but from this thread, I gather that it was a theatrical sketch-comedy duo. Jemaine is also a screenwriter/actor who co-wrote and co-starred in a movie called Tongan Ninja which is an english-dubbed english film done in the style of poorly dubbed martial arts movies about a ninja trying to save the woman he loves. Jemaine played the villain, Action Fighter/Marvin. And in 2006, he appeared in a couple of Outback Steakhouse commercials.

Bret is part of an 8-member band called The Black Seeds with a "reggae, dub, funk and soul" influence (site bio) and also has a solo project called The Video Kid which is more electronic, synth, folk sounding. He was an extra in The Fellowship of the Ring as an elf and nicknamed Figwit by fans which is an acronym for "Frodo is grea...who is THAT?!?" And thanks to some hardcore fans, Peter Jackson gave him a speaking part in The Return of the King. There's a fansite called Figwit Lives! dedicated to the elf and the man who played him.

Jemaine will star in a film called Eagle vs. Shark written and directed by his Humourbeasts pal Taika Cohen (Waititi). It's a "tale of two socially awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love; through revenge on high-school bullies, burgers, and video games" (IMDb). The film has received much praise including winning Best Screenplay at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and being the Official Selection at both the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW Film Festival and is set to be released on June 15. Their HBO series will premiere two days later on June 17, but if that seems a bit too far, the full pilot episode can be viewed here. Much more info about Flight of the Conchords can be obtained from a great fansite called What the Folk!.

Jason :: Official Site | What the Folk! (fansite)