Editor’s Note: The vibes of football season, eating more apples off of trees than you actually pick, and what will inevitably be droves of I Think You Should Leave Halloween costumes (sexy pig with a Nixon mask, anyone?) are inching closer as we say goodbye to baseball season (at least when it comes our friendly neighborhood basement-dwelling Red Sox) and instead, usher in the early earmarks of the upcoming holidaze. However, live comedy is a four-season jamboree, and 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 (October 15).
Tawanda Gona at Ralph’s Rock Diner
Having lent his creative force to a myriad of projects over the years like Desus & Mero, Pause with Sam Jay, Chris Gethard Presents, and even his own digital comic strip, it’s no wonder Tawanda Gona is a consistently potent and well-rounded act on stage. Returning visits to Massachusetts have become more spread out for Gona, but that’s also what makes every chance to catch his deeply thoughtful and purposeful comedy a truly special occasion.
TAWANDA GONA :: Thursday, October 12 at Ralph’s Rock Diner, 148 Grove St. in Worcester :: 7:30 p.m., $10 :: Advance Tickets
Iliza Shlesinger at TD Garden
The long and illustrious career of the Emerson alum started in Boston, so it feels only right that the biggest crowd she’s performed to will convene right back at the Gahhhhden, kehd. With her energetic and exciting stage presence, Iliza Shlesinger’s comedy truly was made for spaces like this, so it’s surely going to be a night to remember on Causeway Street. Read our August feature on her TD Garden appearance.
ILIZA SHLESINGER :: Friday, October 13 at TD Garden, 100 Legends Way in Boston, MA, 7 p.m., $45 to $131.50 :: Advance Tickets
Brett Goldstein at Wang Theatre
With arguably one of the hottest, and easily one of the fastest moving tickets in the city this year, gather ‘round with 3,500 of your best pals on Tremont Street to experience Brett Goldstein’s first stand-up tour, and make all the other Ted Lasso Stans jealous as hell when you get to brag about seeing Roy Kent in the flesh.
BRETT GOLDSTEIN :: Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15 at The Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m. (Friday), 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. (Saturday), 7 p.m. (Sunday), tickets start at $89 :: Advance Tickets
Joe Machi at The Loft Comedy Club
Don’t let the polite, soft spoken demeanor and gleaming smile fool you — Joe Machi’s sharp and cutting perspective will leave you with all the necessary feels for a night of cringeworthy tales and all-too-relatable hilarity at one of the most surprisingly cozy and attractive clubs in Massachusetts.
JOE MACHI :: Saturday, October 14 at The Loft Comedy Club, 92 View St. in Chicopee, MA :: Friday at 7 p.m., $20 :: Advance Tickets
Nimesh Patel at Shubert Theatre
When it comes to Nimesh Patel’s wide-ranging comedic approach, nobody gets a pass. Regardless of what you do or where you’re from, Patel has made it a delightfully potent pastime to dig deep into the cultural fibers of the world and not only dissect all of the glowing frustrations and foibles, but also the seemingly microscopic details that are, as Patel reveals in his own way, actually a lot more common and important to pay attention to than you thought.
NIMESH PATEL :: Saturday, October 14 at The Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m., tickets start at $34.50 :: Advance Tickets