Chatterbox: Covered with love

When a band picks an iconic song to cover, they'd better do it well.

So it will be interesting to see how Elemeno P handle a cover of the Verlaines' single Death and the Maiden.

The cover version is included on the band's new album, Trouble In Paradise, which is out on October 24.

The original, with its deadpan chant of "Verlaine, Verlaine, Verlaine ... ", was released only as a single in 1983. However, it is available on Juvenilia, a 1987 compilation of early singles by the Flying Nun band.

The song was also covered in 2002 by Stephen Malkmus on the compilation Under the Influence to celebrate Flying Nun's 21st anniversary.

How has Elemeno P's version turned out? Well, you'll have to wait and see, but apparently the sole reason for covering it was because the whole band loved the song.

Elemeno P play Wellington's Stage, on November 3, Hamilton's Altitude, November 4, and Auckland's Studio, November 5.

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Kiwis crack them up overseas

Wellington comedy duo Flight of the Conchords have hit it big in the United States.

The comic musical pair - made up of Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie - recently appeared on the show One Night Stand on HBO.

Over the coming months One Night Stand will air a series of live Conchords' shows that were filmed by the network earlier this year. In terms of local comedy, this is definitely what you'd call making the big time. The Conchords are also working on developing ideas for a TV show for NBC in the US.

Internationally, it's a big month for other local comedians too. First up, Brendhan Lovegrove - a regular on the British comedy circuit - will this week be the first Kiwi to headline the Sydney Comedystore.

Rhys Darby, who now lives in Britain and recently collaborated with the Conchords on BBC2, has headlined the Cape Town Comedy Festival.

And Andrew Clay recently became the first Kiwi to headline the New York Underground Comedy Festival.

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Rise of the goat

Raise those goats in the air. Raise them like you just don't care because Motorhead - Godfathers of all things heavy - play one show here in December.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the band who influenced any number of hairy heavy metal and rock bands around the world.

Motorhead (supported by the Bleeders and 8 Foot Sativa) play Auckland's St James on December 1.

Also, Steve Earle - the politically-charged US country rocker - returns to New Zealand supported by country singer-songwriter Allison Moorer. Earle and band play Christchurch's James Hay Theatre on Nov 10, Wellington's Opera House on Nov 11 and Auckland's St James on Nov 12.