The Flight of the Conchords' self-titled debut album has soared to number three on the US Billboard pop charts. It sets a new record for a New Zealand act in the US charts, following the number 12 peak set by Crowded House in 1986.

The album, from Wellington comedy duo Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, sold 52,000 copies in the week ended April 27. It also sits at number two on the NZ Music Chart.

In February, Flight of the Conchords won the 'Best Comedy Album' Grammy for their comedy EP 'The Distant Future'. The Flight of the Conchords' self-titled debut album has soared to number three on the US Billboard pop charts. It sets a new record for a New Zealand act in the US charts, following the number 12 peak set by Crowded House in 1986.

The album, from Wellington comedy duo Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, sold 52,000 copies in the week ended April 27. It also sits at number two on the NZ Music Chart.

In February, Flight of the Conchords won the 'Best Comedy Album' Grammy for their comedy EP 'The Distant Future'.The EP had reached No. 116 on the Billboard 200 chart. The EP and debut album were both released by Sub Pop Records in the US.

Their first post-Grammy concert was a 15-minute freebie show at the Aro Street Video Store in Wellington.

They were in NZ taking a break from filming the second season of their series, shown on cable channel HBO.

The Conchords play fictionalised versions of themselves as struggling musicians in New York. The series has been labelled a 'cult-hit' and was nominated for three Writers Guild Awards for best comedy series, new series and episodic comedy.

Flight of the Conchords are currently touring the US during May.

May 5, 2008 - Tower Theatre, Philadelphia
May 6-7, 2008 - Town Hall, New York
May 9, 2008 - Lisner Auditorium, Washington, DC.
May 10, 2008 - Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor
May 11, 2008 - Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee
May 13, 2008 - Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis
May 14, 2008 - Chicago Theatre, Chicago
May 15, 2008 - Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver
May 26, 2008 - Sasquatch Music Festival, George (WA)
May 27, 2008 - Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco
May 30- June 1, 2008 - Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles

More information

See promos and clips at the HBO Flight of the Conchords website

Read more about Flight of the Conchords on wikipedia.

Check out the Flight of the Conchords myspace page.

By Cathy Aronson

01/05/08