Editor’s Note: It’s officially August, and that means we’re getting close, but not nearly close enough to finishing our fight against the dragging dog days of this bogus, humid summer. With all of the stress and frustration that continues to pile up with every rainstorm and inability to some sun, it seems only right to assume that the best remedy for that would be, at the very least, to laugh. Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered. With homegrown talent, national headliners, and open mics galore highlighting the calendar, the plethora of powerful comedy throughout the commonwealth continues to show up, night after night. Enter Mic’d Up, our ongoing weekly series that details the best live comedy shows to consider as you head out and about. Below find our rundown for this week, through Sunday (August 6).
Comedy night at Bill’s Bar
In the event that you aren’t heading to Fenway Park or its surrounding area to unleash the inner emo kid in you at the Fall Out Boy show, you can still find a great room full of laughs, great beer and food, and best of all, free comedy. You never who might pop in for a quick set, but it’s almost always a guarantee to be a top-notch show week after week.
Wednesday, August 2 at Bill’s Bar & Lounge, 5 Lansdowne St. in Boston, MA :: 7:30 p.m., free :: Event Info
Ilana Glazer at Academy of Music Theatre
With an unshakable energy and the same sharp wit that has brought her to be one of the most well-respected names in the comedy biz, Ilana Glazer makes her first of two trips to Massachusetts this year for a two-night stay in NoHo that is bound to put nothing but her best on full display.
ILANA GLAZER :: Thursday, August 3 & Friday, August 4 at Academy of Music Theatre, 247 Main St. in Northampton, MA :: 8 p.m., $42.50 :: Advance Tickets
Jay Leno at Chevalier Theatre
While the comedy game continues to house elite talent in all capacities, very few can boast that of Leno, even after more than 40 years in the industry. The living legend returns home for another soirée at The Chevalier, and quite frankly, even if he wasn’t going to deliver 100 percent, being able to catch an artist of his caliber is a chance not to be taken for granted. Read our 2019 interview with him here.
JAY LENO :: Friday, August 4 at Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St. in Medford, MA :: 7:30 p.m., $55 to $120 :: Advance Tickets
Dan Hall at Nick’s Comedy Stop
Don’t let his generally laid back demeanor and light-hearted grin fool you. Hall is one of the best comedians on the grind right now, and seeing on one of the city’s most prestigious stages is not only a testament to his own work ethic and top-notch approach to stand-up, but also to the fact that stellar talent can be and is still being recognized around town.
DAN HALL :: Saturday, August 5 at Nick’s Comedy Stop, 100 Warrenton St. in Boston, MA :: 8 p.m., $22 :: Advance Tickets
Mo Amer at The Wilbur
If you haven’t heard, Amer is only continuing a titanic ascent through the ranks of art and comedy with his creative efforts both on and off the stage. With a highly-successful show on Netflix, and a few awards to boot because of it, Amer returns to The Wilbur with what we can only assume is a brand new batch of stories and musings that are brilliantly delivered from the perspective of a man who knows how to craft a set with unshakable confidence.
MO AMER :: Sunday, August 6 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 6 p.m., $38 to $77 :: Advance Tickets