Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie has released Songs Without Jokes, his solo debut, today worldwide on Sub Pop. He has scheduled an international tour in support of the album, which begins Friday, September 2nd in Nelson, New Zealand at Trafalgar Center and currently ends Monday, November 14th in Los Angeles, CA at The Fonda.
 
Bret and his 7-piece band will perform selections from Songs Without Jokes as well as favourites from his previous musical adventures with The Muppets, The Simpsons, The Black Seeds and more. Bret has assembled an all-star lineup of Wellington musicians to accompany him on this tour. Get your tickets fast for what will undoubtedly be a very special intimate night with one of New Zealand’s most successful songwriters and his amazing new eight-piece band.
 
Bret McKenzie Live!
Fri. Sep. 02 - Nelson, NZ - Trafalgar Centre
Sat. Sep. 03 - Christchurch, NZ - James Hay Theatre
Tue. Sep. 06 - Wellington, NZ - Morgan’s Clubhouse
Thu. Sep. 08 - Wellington, NZ - Wellington Opera House
Mon. Sep. 12 - Whanganui, NZ - Whanganui Opera House
Tue. Sep. 13 - Hastings, NZ - Hastings Opera House
Wed. Sep. 14 - Auckland, NZ - Town Hall Concert Chamber
Wed. Sep. 15 - Auckland, NZ - Town Hall Concert Chamber
Fri. Oct. 14 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Sat. Oct. 15 - Boston, MA - Royale
Wed. Oct. 19 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
Fri. Oct. 21 - Washington DC - Lincoln Theatre
Sat. Oct. 22 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
Tue. Oct. 25 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Wed. Oct. 26. - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak
Sat. Oct. 27 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom
Fri. Oct. 28 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre
Sun. Oct. 30 - Minneapolis, MN - Fitzgerald Theater
Wed. Nov. 02 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
Thu. Nov. 05 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
Sun. Nov. 06 - Seattle, WA - The Moore
Mon.  Nov. 07 - Vancouver, BC - The Vogue Theatre
Wed. Nov. 09 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
Mon. Nov. 14 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda
 
Songs Without Jokes is available to preorder from Sub Pop. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers in North America, UK and Europe will receive the limited Loser Edition on blue vinyl (while supplies last).
 
Songs Without Jokes, which features the aforementioned “If You Wanna Go” and “Tomorrow Today” along with “Dave’s Place,” and “A Little Tune,” was produced by Mickey Petralia and McKenzie, mixed by Darrell Thorpe, with songs recorded at East West Studios and United Recordings, and mastered by Dave Ives at 101 Mastering in Los Angeles.
 
Next Thursday, September 1st at 12:30pm ET, Bret joins “All Of It with Alison Stewart” on WNYC for a Songs Without Jokes Listening Party and interview. New Yorkers can tune in on 93.9 FM/AM 820, and streamed online (worldwide) at WNYC.org.
 
What people are saying about Songs Without Jokes:
“Baroque-pop delight. Evocative of Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman at their most extroverted. McKenzie’s songs provide great warmth (8/10).” Uncut
 
“Its tracks carry notes of Steely Dan, Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman, its contributors include some of Los Angeles’ most-revered session musicians, and while there is unquestionably great wit at play, there is also sincerity and real tenderness.” - The Guardian
 
“Surely he must see at least the fun in earnestly singing lyrics like “Look around, the planet is bleeding / A child is crying, the parents are weeping / The air is filthy, they don’t recommend breathing” atop the orchestral pop stylings of Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman, right? The songs grapple with today’s problems, but they’re every bit as charming, silly and heartfelt as one would expect from the motherflippin’ Rhymenoceros.” - Exclaim
 
“Unlike a lot of modern records, there is nothing bedroom-bound about this production, and you can feel the felicity of its live fanfare in a way that can rig up lighting rigs on its own. With this in mind, Songs Without Jokes is a titillating tour de force that we can’t wait to catch on the road.” [Album of the Week] - Far Out Magazine
 
“Although this is far from a comedy album, McKenzie’s wry sense of humour is still all over songs like ‘If You Wanna Go’ (“if you wanna go, baby, you should go,” shrugs the deadpan lyric), the sardonic ‘That’s LA’ (“drive down Sunset and the tears roll down my face”) and his breakup song with the US, America Goodbye. Musically, the album is drenched in an aviators-tinted nostalgia, ‘This World’ channelling Randy Newman and first single ‘A Little Tune’ a convincing and fun Harry Nilsson pastiche.”  - The Age

Bret McKenzie
Songs Without Jokes
 
Tracklisting:
1. This World
2. If You Wanna Go
3. Dave’s Place
4. Here for You
5. That’s L.A.
6. Up in Smoke
7. Carry On
8. A Little Tune
9. America Goodbye
10. Tomorrow Today
11. Crazy Times