by VICTORIA ELIZABETH
Nestled in the heart of the iconic Strat in Las Vegas, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States standing at 1,149 feet tall, the LA Comedy Club features a staggering array of comics from around the world. Performer credits range from major late night talk shows t Comedy Central and Netflix specials to the big screen.
The Backstage Pass team and I were elated to return to this comedic institution for a feature on some of the best and brightest names in the industry.
This hour and 15 minute long show kicked off with outrageously funny comic Bruce Brucell who brought laughs with off color jokes about white people getting sunburned, Saturn cars, and some cringe worthy jokes about disgraced singer-songwriter, R. Kelly.
Featured comic Mark Small, who has been featured on top comedy platforms such as Don’t Tell Comedy, brings rapid fire wit and real life observations to the table ranging from buying Spirit Airline tickets on Temu and generally unsavory experiences while flying on discount airlines. Non-stop laughs were delivered minute by minute as Small reflects upon couple’s activities and therapy sessions with his girlfriend, providing unique insights and perspectives on a vast array of topics throughout the span of his set.
Headliner Willie Ferrell, a renowned comic known and beloved for his gruff and wry humor delivered with a distinctive mafioso aesthetic speaks about time spent at Cosa Nostra Comp as youngster, the ardent dedication people display to playing slot machines in Las Vegas, and the grim perils of the modern dating world.
Featured at many top venues across the U.S. and in the Las Vegas circuit including The Funny Bone, The Tropicana, Sahara, and Riviera Casino, Farrell’s signature brand of comedy has entertained thousands of people from across the world over the duration of his illustrious career. He engaged in some laugh out loud crowd work, poking light hearted fun at a couple who met on a vegetarian dating app.
The comics, personable and engaging, all congregated in the lobby post show for a meet-and-greet, taking photos and interacting with fans before the later evening’s shows, which the Backstage Pass Team also had the privilege to see and spotlight.
The next show featured a brand new roster of comedians from across the nation, kicking off with Michael Robert’s comedy, whose boyish charm and unique perspectives add to his overall unassuming and impish delivery on topics ranging from being a young dad of many kids, his ethnic ambiguity, and how his young looks often convince people that he is one of his own children’s siblings.
Mike, the evening’s host, took the stage next and opened with his signature line “It’s funny how your parents always tell you to stay off drugs and not talk to strangers…but here I am: on drugs and talking to strangers.”
He talked about the predisposition of modern people to not hold down “regular jobs” and the propensity of “cancel culture” to often times take things just a bit too far: such as the cancellation of the Green M and M’s boots and fishnet stockings as it made her look too “promiscuous.”
The evening show’s headliner, Butch Bradley, whose wildly impressive resume of credits includes “The Late, Late Show,” HBO, and Comedy Central as well as the film “Reagan” with Dennis Quaid, dominated the stage, opening with an outrageously funny act about an experience with medical marijuana gone awry during the COVID 19 pandemic. Known for his unmatched crowd work, Bradley poked playful fun at audience members, including a quite large, boisterous man on the front row who was about 30 drinks in and admitted to accruing 7 DUI charges. Although sometimes the jokes pretty much write themselves, Butch’s penchant for improvisation and razor sharp wit combined with his inimitable skill for audience interactivity truly made him a force with which to be reckoned on the comedy scene.
Special thanks to JT and the entire LA Comedy Club Team for having us back for this spotlight feature!
WEBSITE: https://www.bestvegascomedy.com
PHONE NUMBER: (702) 275-1823
