The NZ International Comedy Festival is back this month with that other Conchords star, Arj Barker, among the acts. He talks to Rebecca Barry about stand-up and the hit show
KEY POINTS:
He'S best known as Bret and Jemaine's egotistical, headband-wearing, slightly deluded mate on Prime's Flight of the Conchords. He's also a favourite US stand-up, chatting on the phone from Australia before he returns to the NZ International Comedy Festival.
Hi Arj.
Arj Barker: [Violent coughing]
Are you okay?
Excuse me, I just choked on a piece of korma.
How much choking, sorry, joking around goes on behind the scenes at comedy festivals?
Comedians are a very serious group overall. There might be one guy who's always cracking jokes but for the most part comedians are very wary to try too hard or go out on a limb for another comedian. If you're having a laugh, sure. But it's not like a constant zing-fest.
How many times have you been to New Zealand?
Three times, which is three times more than most Americans have left the country.
How prepared are you for Flight of the Conchords mania?
Is it super-popular over there? If this is Lord of the Rings, Bret and Jemaine are like Frodo and Sam? And I'm like one of those elves that you never really knew their names?
Dave has a pretty good following too. Alcatraz ...
Alcatraz, yeah it was so fun I can't even tell you how exciting it's been. I mean, it's funny but I didn't know it would be big. No one knew what the heck we were doing, either. More than once someone came up to us on set and said, "So what are you guys, like, college students?"
How much of Dave was your creation?
They cast me in the part of Dave but encouraged me to be myself. There was a lot of room for improvising. One thing I'm a little bit proud of is the whole headband vibe. That was me. Because I wear headbands like that in real life. After I take a shower when my hair's a bit long, I like to press it down with the headband. Sometimes I'll wear it for a few hours, sometimes I'll wear it for one hour, sometimes I'll wear it all day. I had it on and they kind of giggled and James the director said, "Keep the headband, it's a great invention". I'm the headband guy. I'm Dave Grohl.
They're banning headbands in New Zealand schools thanks to you.
No, I don't believe that. That would be awesome though. I'm all for it and I'm looking forward to extending the headbands for the second season. I'm thinking of getting a headband stylist.
You've also been known to wear schpants.
Schpants - too long to be shorts, too short to be pants - schpants. That's the lyrics of the schpanthem.
What clothing item will you be bringing to New Zealand?
I just got some shorts. Well, I thought they were shorts. I gotta be honest with you, they're almost schpants. But they're really comfortable. I'm wearing them without any underwear right now and I'm really enjoying it. As Kramer says, "I'm out there, Jerry and I'm lovin' it!"
What are you going to discuss in your shows?
All sorts of things, from the philosophy on how to live a happy life to how to get medical attention when you don't have insurance.
How do you live a happy life?
I think the Buddhists got it right when they said don't hold on too tightly to anything. Resisting change inevitably fails and leads to suffering. I have a much funnier way of saying it in the show.
You obviously have a spiritual side. You co-wrote a play called The Marijuana-Logues, you're from San Francisco and you wear headbands. Is it fair that the word "slacker" follows you around?
I want to set this straight. The rumours that I smoke a lot of marijuana are totally unfounded. As are my keys and my mobile.
You're pictured on your website with Methodman. How long have you been hanging out with the rap fraternity?
With the Wu? Well, me and the Wu go way back. They're East Coast and I'm West Coast but we made a truce in the mid-90s that we'd come back for the rest of our crew. Nah, I just met him backstage. I gave him a tape which was really silly.
Did you give him a headband too?
No, I think that may have been the pre-headband era. He was so nice about the tape, though. He acted like, 'Oh thanks, man!' like he was going to run off with it.
LOWDOWN
Who: Arj Barker
What: "Dave" from Flight of the Conchords and Arj the stand-up.
Where and when: Comedy Gala, Civic Theatre, tomorrow (sold out); Comedy Chamber, Auckland Town Hall April 23-26, 7pm. Tickets from $29 at Ticketek
More information: comedyfestival.co.nz
