New Zealand’s self-described “fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo-a cappella-rap-funk-comedy-folk duo” Flight of the Conchords sold out their first shows in eight years in minutes this week, sparking a frenzy among fans.

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement formed the musical comedy act in 1998, soaring to worldwide fame off the back of their HBO comedy series of the same name with tunes including Business Time and Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenoceros.

The duo announced on Tuesday four shows to be held at the Wellington venue Meow Nui from next week – their first gigs since 2018.

Tickets went on sale on Wednesday and sold out within half an hour.

The shows will be a warm up for the band as they prepare for the Netflix Is a Joke festival in Los Angeles in May, where they will perform two shows.

McKenzie told New Zealand’s state broadcaster RNZ last month that the pair were in “hysterics” trying to remember their own songs. “We ended up watching ourselves. We have to pull up YouTube clips to remember how to play our songs,” he said.

“We’re like a bad covers band of ourselves.”

Many fans felt disappointed after missing out on tickets for the Hiphopopotamus and Rhymenoceros’ Wellington shows. One posted on the Wellington Facebook page Vic Deals saying they were “not above selling an organ or two” in order to get tickets.

Another person offered to “sell a limb”, and several people are considering heading to the venue anyway. “We should all band together and just have a massive listening party outside the venue,” they wrote.

It will be business time for the Flight of the Conchords when their first show begins next Thursday.