There can't be too many circumstances where a landlord opens up for his tardy tenants, but Eugene Mirman entertained ahead of his co-stars and Sub Pop label mates with the appropriate ethos. Riffing on a wide range of personal experiences, he explained how he could worship a kid with Asperger's syndrome as his god, and gave an extended account as to why he wants Delta Airlines to hit themselves in the balls and post a video of it on YouTube.
Unlike the fan base of one on their eponymous HBO show, Flight of the Conchords finally made their Toronto debut to a packed house (the first of two nights, which both sold out in five minutes). Announcing their arrival with the electro-tinged (anti-) sausage party starter "Too Many Dicks On the Dance Floor" - which they admitted was inspired by a night out in Vancouver - Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie removed their robot heads and shiny sci-fi gear and got down to business - and a little later, some "Business Time."
The set found them mixing scripted jokes, music and improv heavy on interacting with the vocal crowd, which included some back and forth heckling of the playful kind. Impressive was the Kiwi duo's competency as musicians, moving between guitars, drums and synths, and bringing in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (one cellist named Nigel) to flesh out a few numbers.
Offering a well-rounded selection of their songbook from the series' two seasons, Jemaine and Bret found themselves showered with gifts during the socially conscious "Think About It" (plush monkey) and the hilarious "Albi the Racist Dragon" (jellybeans) by hardcore followers. Off-the-cuff remarks helped keep things loose; when they invited the women to back them up as the choir for a paean to ex-girlfriends, "Carol Brown," Jemaine commented, "Ahh... I can tell I'm in the land of Celine Dion."
Sure there was no binary solo or battle between Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenocerous, but for the most part the Conchords gave fans everything they were waiting years for - including a good look at their sweet "Sugalumps."
Unlike the fan base of one on their eponymous HBO show, Flight of the Conchords finally made their Toronto debut to a packed house (the first of two nights, which both sold out in five minutes). Announcing their arrival with the electro-tinged (anti-) sausage party starter "Too Many Dicks On the Dance Floor" - which they admitted was inspired by a night out in Vancouver - Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie removed their robot heads and shiny sci-fi gear and got down to business - and a little later, some "Business Time."
The set found them mixing scripted jokes, music and improv heavy on interacting with the vocal crowd, which included some back and forth heckling of the playful kind. Impressive was the Kiwi duo's competency as musicians, moving between guitars, drums and synths, and bringing in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (one cellist named Nigel) to flesh out a few numbers.
Offering a well-rounded selection of their songbook from the series' two seasons, Jemaine and Bret found themselves showered with gifts during the socially conscious "Think About It" (plush monkey) and the hilarious "Albi the Racist Dragon" (jellybeans) by hardcore followers. Off-the-cuff remarks helped keep things loose; when they invited the women to back them up as the choir for a paean to ex-girlfriends, "Carol Brown," Jemaine commented, "Ahh... I can tell I'm in the land of Celine Dion."
Sure there was no binary solo or battle between Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenocerous, but for the most part the Conchords gave fans everything they were waiting years for - including a good look at their sweet "Sugalumps."