T.J. Miller, Kate Miller, Nick Vatterott
You’ve seen T.J. Miller steal the scene in Mike Judge’s great HBO series, Silicon Valley, where he plays Erlich Bachman, the arrogant, but well-meaning entrepreneur who runs a business incubator out of his home. Aviato isn’t his only crowning achievement, though: His Yogi Bear audition reel, filmed with a real life bear, is pretty undeniable, and I hear he did an amazing job getting melted into molten lava in Michael Bay’s Trans4mers: Dinopocalypse. Tonight Miller brings his Meticulously Ridiculous stand-up tour to Portland. His wife, Kate Miller, a performer and mixed-media artist, and comedian Nick Vatterott provide support.
Sep 9, Aladdin Theater, 7:30pm, 10pm, $29.50
Mike Epps
One of the most talented, likable stand-ups currently working, both on stage and on screen, in properties such as The Boondocks, Friday After Next, The Hangover, and the upcoming Richard Pryor biopic from director Lee Daniels.
Sep 2-4, Helium Comedy Club, 6:30pm, 9:30pm, $35-50
Billy Wayne Davis
An evening of stand-up with the comedian out of Nashville who has appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and just got off the road after opening for country artist Sturgill Simpson on the musician’s “Living the Dream” tour.
Sep 5, Dante’s, 8pm, $10
Rory Scovel
Rory Scovel is an absurd man. He is weird and off-kilter and goofy. He is also shockingly hilarious in ways both unexpected and inexplicable. For evidence, check out any of his Conan appearances, or his absurd and self-destructive Eric Andre Show cooking segment, which is set to the soulful crooning of T-Pain. Just be careful you don’t fall too far down the rabbit hole and forget to snag a ticket for his stand-up show tonight.
Sep 7, Mississippi Studios, 7:30pm, $20
Revolution Comedy
Every first and third Wednesday, local stand-up comic Andie Main hosts a benefit showcase designed to assist progressive causes through the power of comedy. The line-up changes from show to show, but big laughs for a great cause are always guaranteed. Tonight’s show takes a stand against police brutality by benefiting Don’t Shoot PDX. Featuring sets from Tsixx Daone, Adam Pasi, Carter, Daniel Martin Austin, and a secret headliner. Co-hosted by Andie Main and Jason Lamb (of Minority Retort).
Sep 7, Kickstand Comedy Space, 7:30pm, $10
Shane Torres
Rejoice! Not only is New York-based Comedian Shane Torres returning to his former hometown for a pair of shows, he’s bringing comedy to the Liquor Store for the first time ever! Catch the comedian’s self-deprecating and forthright blend of stand-up tonight, and look forward to more comedy down the pipeline at the Belmont basement venue, which seems like a perfect fit for comedy shows.
Sep 8, The Liquor Store, 8pm, 10pm, $10-12
United We Stand-Up
A special comedy fundraiser for independent radio station KBOO, hosted by Tommy Moore, and featuring sets from Adam Pasi, Bri Pruett, Bette Longden, Belinda Jiles, Brandi Morgan, Nariko Ott, and Debbie Wooten.
Sept 8, Clinton Street Theater, 7:30pm, $7-10
Christopher Titus
Not many comedians own the stage the way Christopher Titus does. He doesn’t so much do stand-up as he does pace-and-prowl-and-leap-and-whisper-and-shout-and-stand-up, which results in provocative, piercing sets that leave a laceration or two between laughs. BOBBY ROBERTS
Sep 8-10, Helium Comedy Club, 7:30pm, 10pm, $25-30
Addicted to Heroines
A live episode of Barbara Holm’s variety show-style podcast, featuring stand-up, songs, and conversation about all manner of pop culture wonderfulness. Guests include Caitlin Weierhauser, Jen Tam, and Lucia Fasano.
Sep 8, Bossanova Ballroom, 8pm, $5
Hella Sketch
Hella Sketch is a Portland’s own absurdist sketch show and comedy open mic. The show runs about 90 minutes, and features a mixture of character work, unorthodox stand-up sets, musical numbers, and whatever the hell else the performers might have hidden up their sleeves. The only thing certain is that the show goes down every Thursday at 10pm at the Kickstand Comedy Space.
Sept 8, Kickstand Comedy Space, 10pm, free
Wicked Craft
Come get wicked at Crush with this witch themed variety show, featuring drag, dancing, burlesque, singing, comedy, and conjuring. With performances by Valerie DeVille, Vanity Thorn, Zora Phoenix, Barbara Holms, Lucia Fasano, Wolfgang X, MissAurora, Simi Vargas Malhotra, Lala Del Maj, Rummy Rose, Sindel Asylum and more. Featuring music by DJ Aurora. Hosted by Nikki Lev.
Sep 9, Crush, 9pm, $10
The Comedy Bull
The stand-up showcase that puts its comedians on the stage and invites the audience and their peers to try and buck them off of it, featuring performances from Dylan Jenkins, Nick Puente, Brandon Lyons, Bill Conway, Hans Kim, Eric Alexander Moore, and Becky Braunstein
Sept 9, Brody Theater, 10pm
Comedy & Cocktails
New Deal presents the third season of its ongoing Comedy & Cocktails series. Entry is free, so come down and cozy up with a stiff drink while taking in an evening of stand-up from some of Portland’s funniest. Featuring sets from Gabe Dinger, Nariko Ott, Chris Ettrick, Todd Armstrong, and Laci Day. Hosted by Jason Traeger.
Sep 9, New Deal Distillery, 8pm, free
Late Night Action with Alex Falcone
Come out and say your farewells to Late Night Action, the late-night talk show co-hosted by Alex Falcone and Bri Pruett, which returns to Mississippi Studios tonight to kick-off its seventh and final season. Tonight’s guests include Pok Pok founder Andy Ricker, author Kelly Williams Brown, musical guest Logan Lynn, and comedian Gabe Dinger.
Sep 10, Mississippi Studios, 7pm, $10-15
Don’t Get Me Started
Andrew Dickson hosts this special one-of-a-kind therapy session for everyone who has looked around and noticed 2016 seems to really fucking suck for the most part. Featuring rants crafted by artists, stand-ups, activists, and audience members. Part of TBA:16
Sept 12, PICA at Hancock, 10:30pm, $8-10
A.C.A.B. (All Comics Are Bastards)
The punk satire site The Hard Times presents another installment of its all-ages stand-up showcase, featuring sets from Bri Pruett, Dan Weber, Katie Nguyen, Jake Silberman, and James Bosquez. Hosted by The Hard Times head writer/co-founder Bill Conway.
Sept 14, Kickstand Comedy Space, 7:30pm, $5, all ages
Adam Ruins Everything Live!
The host of the popular webseries turned truTV hit brings his jovial, soul-crushing schtick to the Alberta Rose stage, revealing all the unsavory truths behind some of your favorite things.
Sept 14, Alberta Rose Theatre, 8pm, $32.50
Jen Kirkman
With jokes about the joys of divorce and the cultural expectation that every unwed lady who dies alone MUST own a cat, Jen Kirkman is the anti-Cathy “ACK!” comic. Her smart, mordant, vaguely existential brand of humor is a sad/funny reminder that we’re all basically alone, right? But we might as well laugh during our stint in this mortal gutter. MEGAN BURBANK
Sept 16-17, Helium Comedy Club, 7:30pm, 10pm, $20-24
The Undisputable Geniuses of Comedy!
Some have said that if there is a flaw in Portland’s comedy scene, it’s that they’re not the greatest at self-promotion. Apparently tonight is the night that all stops with this amazingly-titled stand-up showcase featuring some of the city’s best comedy talent, including Bri Pruett, Alex Falcone, Nariko Ott, Jason Traeger, Kirsten Kuppenbender, Katie Nguyen, The Aces, the Doubleclicks, and more! Hosted by the Mercury‘s own Wm. Steven Humphrey.
Sept 16, Revolution Hall, 8pm, $15
Back to School Night
An one-night-only improv get-together featuring the imaginative exploits of three troupes: Tunnel, Whiskey Tango, and Broke Gravy.
Sept 16, Siren Theater, 8pm, $8
Bruce Campbell: Last Fan Standing
The actor, author, and director, best known for portraying Ash Williams in the Evil Dead series, brings his interactive quiz show to the Revolution Hall stage. Last Fan Standing is a game show designed to test contestants’ pop-culture knowledge in the realms of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and superheroes, while also celebrating the excitement and the fandom of the audience.
Sept 17, Revolution Hall, 7pm, $32.50-100
Adult Swim Drive-In
The skewed-and-touched, screwed-and-chopped comedy mad scientists at Adult Swim are taking their demented brand of entertainment on the road, with clips from upcoming shows, never-before-seen specials, unaired pilots, trivia competitions, and more.
Sept 17, Portland Meadows, 7:45 pm, free w/ rsvp
Spilt Milk Comedy Showcase
After years of performing to sold out crowds in historic Multnomah Village, Joanie Quinn and Betsy Kauffman’s monthly “PG-13 rated” comedy showcase comes north to the Secret Society. Catch the kick-off show for the Spilt Milk’s 2016-2017 season tonight, with stand up from Don Frost, Joanie Quinn, Betsy Kauffman, and Neeraj Srinivasan. Hosted by Wendy Westerwelle.
Sept 17, The Secret Society, 9pm, $15-18
Speechless
The Siren Theater’s improvised PowerPoint presentation show Speechless is back, with the best kind of organized chaos: a delightful lineup of funny Portlanders (including Kirsten Kuppenbender, Chad Parsons, Erin O’Regan, Paul Glazier, and Andrew Dickson) making up lectures on the spot—”TED Talk, startup pitch, even a self-help seminar” are all fair game—to accompany surprise slides and placate a team of judges. Next slide! MEGAN BURBANK
Sept 17, Siren Theater, 8pm, $10
Garbage People
Brodie Kelly’s comedic (and sometimes shameful) spin on the live storytelling phenomenon sees local stand-ups sharing true tales of their past filthiness and general degenerate natures. This month’s confessors include Bri Pruett, Mohanad Elshieky, Alana Eisner, Maia Doty, and some special guests.
Sept 17, The Waypost, 9pm, $5
The I, Anonymous Show!
The long-running Portland Mercury column “I, Anonymous” is famous for allowing readers to send in their most whacked-out rants and confessions—anonymously and without being judged. NO LONGER! In “The Portland Mercury Presents: The I, Anonymous Show” host Bri Pruett will read some of the wildest, uncensored I, Anonymous submissions ever, which will then be judged by our hilarious jury. Watch some of the funniest people alive judge the most awful people ever for your fun and enjoyment!
Sept 19, The Secret Society, 7pm, $10-15
Minority Retort
The city’s only comedy showcase focusing on comedians of color returns to Helium. Featuring sets from Khadija Hassan, Daniel Martin Austin, Lewis Sequeria, and Anthony Lopez. Hosted by David Mascorro and Jeremy Eli and produced by Jason Lamb.
Sept 21, Helium Comedy Club, 8pm
Wanda Sykes
It’s been a long, interesting road for the woman who first got noticed as part of Chris Rock’s crew, and then blew up on her own with multiple HBO specials, a sitcom, a talk show, and starring roles in films like Evan Almighty, Over the Hedge, and more.
Sept 22, Keller Auditorium, 7:30pm, $39.50-65
Parallel Dimensions
Bunk Bar presents Parallel Dimensions, a new showcase from local comedian and storyteller Tim Ledwith that aims to bring the worlds of sound and laughter together. Tonight’s first installment of the event features pummeling tunes from Joe Preston’s long-running ambient doom and metal solo-project, Thrones, as well as some side-splitting stand-up from one of Portland’s most lovable weirdos in Jason Traeger.
Sept 22, Bunk Bar, 9pm, $5
Faizon Love
One of the funniest “those guys” you never knew you knew, better known from his appearances in films like Elf and Made, and most famously as Big Worm in Friday.
Sept 22-24, 7:30pm, 10pm, $20-25
The Sweat Hogs
The first graduating class from Siren Theater’s sketch comedy program (taught by Shelley McLendon) has their final exam in the form of a fully produced show.
Sept 22-23, Siren Theater, 8pm, $5
David Liebe Hart, Jay Shingle, Anna Vo, Temporar
The 60-year-old musician and puppeteer David Liebe Hart has been a cult figure in Los Angeles for years, earning a reputation as a cast member on the LA-based public access show Junior Christian Teaching Bible Lesson Program and as something of a more endearing, 21st-century Wild Man Fischer, performing regularly in public spaces like the entrances to the Hollywood Bowl and La Brea Tar Pits. He claims to have been abducted as a child by a race of aliens called Korendians, an experience that makes its way into his songs. Hart’s big break, however, came when he became a beloved regular on Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, where his B-rate ventriloquist shtick epitomized the comedy duo’s post-cultural marriage of the mind-numbingly normal with the horrifyingly surreal. MORGAN TROPER
High Water Mark, 9pm, $10-13
Kurt Braunohler
Kurt Braunohler is a master of chaos. When the comedian isn’t hosting the popular Hot Tub variety show in Los Angeles (along with the hilarious Kristen Schaal), he’s out in the world pulling stunts to make people do double takes. Like that time he blindfolded a busload of comedy nerds and drove them to Council Crest Park during Bridgetown. He taped his Kill Rock Stars-issued debut album, How Do I Land?, here in Portland, and now he’s back for a Comedy Central Special filming. The best part? Tickets are free if you RSVP before they run out. Don’t sleep on this one.
Sept 24, Revolution Hall, 7:30pm, 9:30pm, free w/ rsvp
Whose Live is it Anyway?
The cast of TV’s Whose Line is it Anyway? bring their improvised comedy to the Newmark Theatre. Featuring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and special guest Joel Murray from Mad Men.
Sept 24, Newmark Theatre, 8pm, $35-45
Riley Silverman
An evening of stand-up with the midwest-raised, Los Angeles-based comedian who has been seen on MTV and Fusion, as well as at Portland’s own All Jane Comedy Festival.
Curious Comedy Theater, 9:30pm, $12-15
Gabe Dinger’s Going Away Comedy Spectacular!
Well, goddammit. We’re losing another Portland comedian to the wiles of Los Angeles. This time it’s the beloved Gabe Dinger, but he’s leaving on a high note. In Gabe Dinger’s Going Away Comedy Spectacular! he’ll be hitting the stage with Barbara Holm, JoAnne Schinderle, Jason Traeger, Nariko Ott, Bri Pruett, Milan Patel, Ben Harkins, Jacob Christopher, AND punk band Berzerk! Wait… and a raffle, too?!? Gabe really is leaving it ALL out on the stage! WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
The Secret Society, 9pm, $10-15
Mike Lawrence
An evening of stand-up with the New York City-based comedian and past Bridgetown Comedy Festival performer who worked as a staff writer on season four of Inside Amy Schumer and was the winner of the first season of Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle. Lawrence’s act leans heavily on pop culture references and self deprecation, and he attributes his ability to deal with hecklers to his time spent at McDonald’s working the drive-thru.
Sept 29-Oct 1, 7:30pm, 10pm, $15-23
Trevor Noah
The South African comedian takes a break from his hosting duties at The Daily Show and to hit the road with his stand-up routine.
Sept 30, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 7:30pm, $35-55
