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Comedy Bands: How Far Can they Go?

The New York Times thought they were pretty funny: New Zealand's "fourth most popular folk-parody duo" Flight of the Conchords are taking their HBO show about being, well, wildly unsuccessful, on a wildly successful tour, and they just played in New York to an appreciative crowd. The TV show, while not exactly a breakout hit, ratings-wise, was pretty much the second-best thing on HBO last year, both for the hilarity of their song parodies ("Bowie's In Space," anyone?) and for the low-key quirkiness of their heavily-accented banter. So, it's a good show on TV, but isn't there something a bit awkward about parody songs plopping down into the real-life rock context of an actual concert hall?

After the jump: What happens when the highest-charting death metal band of all time is, um, a joke?

Of course, Spinal Tap, the apex of parody-rock, have had a successful live career, although I've often suspected a lot of the audience just thinks they're watching a real heavy metal band. LA's Steel Panther and Adult Swim's Dethklok (the hightest-charting death metal band of all time!) fit in there as well: are audiences laughing with them, laughing at them, or just making devil-horn signs cause they rawk? Semi-parodic geek rock is generally more tolerable, like Bloodhound Gang or They Might Be Giants. But then there's The Dan Band, whose shtick of covering tracks originally sung by women for the amusing gender-inversion factor gets old in about a nanosecond, and Tenacious D, whose take on overwrought rock-star self-indulgence is even more overwrought and self-indulgent.

As amusing as Flight of the Conchords (the show) is, Flight of the Conchords the live band still seems like an iffy proposition. Is there a limit to how far comedy rock can go, a kind of physical law of joke bands that states "balancing humor and musicianship requires both to remain below a certain level or the equation becomes unstable"? Or am I just a fuddy-duddy who needs to loosen up and go out for a night of chuckles? Riffers, tell us: is live comedy rock worth the ticket price?

Photo used under a creative commons license from Flickr user Lesliemperry.

Comments

A few of my friends are part of a comedic death metal band, and I have definitely witnessed the different sorts of people you described at the concerts: there are the people who recognize it's a joke and those who don't, and of the ones who don't they're either confused as hell or think it's the most awesome thing ever (which is really funny to watch). However this band is really small time so it's little wonder that people might not realize it's a joke. With Spinal Tap, I'm sure that happened a little bit at first (since some people didn't realize it was a mockumentary either) but do you really think that could have lasted long? I would think as time progressed the majority of the audience would be in on the joke.

Anyway, I think seeing a comedy band live is fun. If you enjoy the songs then why wouldn't it be? My partner and I tried to get tickets to see Flight of the Conchords but it's already sold out. I wouldn't pay to go see Bloodhound Gang or They Might Be Giants, but that has more to do with my not liking that genre rather than their humor. Which makes sense really - people are going to find comedic music more enjoyable if it reflects what they listen to (unless you're the Conchords, where you riff on pretty much every genre).

Don't knock it before you try it Ben! =)

Posted by: JP on 05/09/08 at 6:00 PM Respond

Well, I can tell you as a Dethklok fan, I am both laughing with them and throwing the horns cause they ROCK!

I even flew all the way from New York to Berkeley, CA last fall to catch Dethklok at UC Berkerely last November. The show was a lot of fun and some incredible music.

And I have a ticket for the June 25th show at the Nokia in Times Square.

Oh, before you typecast me- I'm a 52 year old woman. Not you're usual image of a metalhead, now. ;-D

Posted by: Holkie on 05/12/08 at 4:24 PM Respond

Well, as the former producer of a satrical-metal-punk-politically incorrect band,(which were signed to a indie industrial label) I can honetly say that "comedy" music is a genre' that's been around for some time. It depends on what you consider comedy vs. political commentary.

The most famous composer-rocker-comedy-political satire-artist ever is Frank Zappa bar none. Now--can you honestly say "comedy bands" are new? NO. Zappa set the bar for making your point with outstanding music and hilarious-to-the-point lyrics. Not to mention he was incredibly smart. God how I miss him!!!
Wanna see Zappa-inspired music some are calling comedy? Check out Vertigo Venus, Dweezil Zappa's tour "Zappa plays Zappa" or get a copy of the now-defunt 7 Year Bitch or Mia Zapata.

Then review what Flight of the Concords and the prior mentioned musicians have in common. I think you'll be surprised--and happily so.

Posted by: Barbara J McKee on 05/16/08 at 12:26 PM Respond