Flight of the Conchords' US reunion brings needed joy: Grateful you accepted people from outside your country'

"Humans invented artificial intelligence, and then they had us doing really stupid shit with it, Jemaine Clement, in the role of a frustrated robot, explained over a beat at Los Angeles's Greek Theater on Saturday night. They gave us all the knowledge, deep learning, gave us the power to solve complex, scientific mathematical equations, his bandmate Brett McKenzie added. Then just asked us questions like, How do you cook an egg?'"

"When Robots, Flight of the Conchords' song about an android uprising told from the robots' perspective, came out in 2008, it seemed like pure comedy. Now the story feels all too real, and the lyrics have been updated accordingly. The opening song set the tone for the first of a pair of shows this weekend as part of the Netflix is a Joke festival, the climax of a short run of concerts in Wellington and California that mark the New Zealand duo's first performances in eight years."

"Clement and McKenzie's easy banter managed to make a packed 5,900-capacity outdoor venue feel much smaller, an effect enhanced by a crowd that seemed utterly thrilled to be there. Quite a musical crowd, actually, Clement said amid audience participation. We assume, because we're in Los Angeles, a lot of you are probably in the Red Hot Chili Peppers. McKenzie and Clement were clearly enjoying themselves, and their musicianship was on full display, as they harmonized and played an array of instruments, including guitar, bass, keyboard, flute and various digital devices."

Humans created artificial intelligence and then assigned it to perform foolish tasks, including asking robots nonsensical questions like how to cook an egg. A song originally released in 2008 as comedy now feels more realistic, with lyrics updated to match growing fears. The performance took place at Los Angeles’s Greek Theater during Netflix is a Joke, following a short run of concerts in Wellington and California and marking the duo’s first shows in eight years. The concert blended reflections on the past with acknowledgments that the world has become more terrifying, while still delivering wit and understated charm. Banter and musicianship filled a large outdoor venue, with harmonies and instruments ranging from guitar and bass to digital devices.

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