New Zealand’s “fourth most popular folk duo” spent a long time playing it as straight as it gets: Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement were an earnest, naive pair of so-so musicians wanting to ‘make it’ in the UK and then, in their HBO show, in New York – helped (or not) by their hapless manager. The utterly deadpan comedy and mundane realities of their struggle had a dirty secret: McKenzie and Clement’s music is actually killer, able to pastiche and lampoon pretty much any style, subject or scenario through hilariously constructed lyrics and a watertight delivery. Since the part-mockumentary, part-viral-music-video series wrapped up, the duo have genuinely hit it big in Hollywood: acting, writing, even casually winning an Oscar. But their encyclopedia of 70s, 80s and 90s-mocking tunes – hopeless tales of hapless love and faulty friendship – deserve to be dusted down and given a good singalong. Preferably with some long, awkward silences in between. Given that the initial run of arena dates sold out in minutes, you’d better run to pick up a ticket to this.

Thu 22 Mar, 7.30pm at The Genting Arena, Perimeter Rd, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, £29 – £63 theticketfactory.com