Editor’s Note: It’s the same thing we all know in love when it comes to Vanyaland’s recurring weekly live comedy rundown, Mic’d Up — just a slightly different face. We’ll be hyping club shows, theater and arena gigs, open mics, and whatever else to help fill your free time with some much-needed laughter.
It may not be every single year, but when Joe List does make his way back home to indulge in the regional celebration of Patriots’ Day and Marathon Monday, it’s almost a given that we’re also going to get one of the best comedy shows on the calendar — and luckily for us, we’ll be able to feel that familiar feeling again this weekend.
For one night only, the Whitman native and New York resident returns to the Wilbur stage on Saturday (April 19) for a bit of holiday weekend hilarity, offering up his latest hour of stand-up to help make the generally upbeat weekend feel even more jovial, as he has for most of the past few years. While his output of recorded material has yielded quite the acclaimed specials, including his most recent work with the 2024 YouTube special Enough for Everybody, List is only getting started in 2025.
Not only will his next special, Small Ball, make its way to movie theaters for one night only on May 21, but he will also be bringing his documentary Tom Dustin: Portrait of a Comedian to theaters all over the country starting next Friday (April 25).
Yes, we do agree that List’s return to the area on this specific weekend should be considered part of the commonwealth’s holiday festivities, but until that day comes, we will have to settle for it marking the best Saturday before the best Monday of the year in Boston — and if you jump on the chance to go and see him, you’ll quickly understand why.
JOE LIST :: Saturday, April 19 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 6 p.m., $33 to $43 :: Advance tickets