Comedy & Concerts: Adam's Fall Entertainment Extravaganza

I’ll apologize in advance for what will likely turn into a long blog post. This is essentially my own personal “travel/event” blog, with a recap of shows and events we’ve attended or are looking forward to this year. Amy has dubbed this adventure the "Amy & Adam Childless Tour: Fall 2024 Edition."

All but one of the eight(!?) shows took place in October and November, so it’s been a very busy two-month stretch. There’s also a bit of a common thread with a few of the events we attended this year. Roughly 15-16 years ago, I had an hour-plus commute to work each way, which came with a lot of time to listen to podcasts —back when they were still a relatively new form of content, long before everyone you know (including myself!) had their own podcast. 

The first event this year was in June at the Ensemble Arts Theater in Philadelphia (formerly known as the Kimmel Cultural Campus). It was a live comedy improv show of a podcast I’ve been listening to for about 15 years, called *Comedy Bang Bang*. The show is a blend of interviews with actors, musicians, and other celebrities, alongside comedians playing wild “characters” that lead to fun and chaos. They only go out on tour every 4-5 years, and this was my first time seeing it live. 10/10—would see it again!

One of Amy’s favorite artists is P!nk, and we had the chance to see her perform in Hershey in October. It was a bit chilly, and it rained off and on throughout the show, but it was an amazing experience. P!nk definitely knows how to put on a show! And we even got to see Sheryl Crow perform as the opener. 9/10—would see P!nk again, though not in the bleacher seats at Hershey (my back and tailbone told me that was the last time, haha).

Another podcast I’ve been listening to for about 15 years is *The Adam Carolla Show*. This was my first time seeing him live, and it was his stand-up comedy show at a smaller club called Soul Joel’s, in Pottstown of all places. 8/10. I love that we have a comedy club close by that doesn’t require a trip to Philly or Jersey!

We also saw more stand-up from comedian Brad Williams at the Ocean Casino in Atlantic City. His opener was a comedian local to the Philadelphia suburbs (Delco), and we got to hear some jokes he doesn’t usually do on tour, since not everyone in the country knows about Wawa or Boscov’s, haha! 9/10—would see him again.

Then, we saw comedian Adam Ray perform a live tour version of his “Dr. Phil” improv show. He sits through hours of makeup to look like the famous TV personality and does a hilarious impression for the entire 90-minute show. His performances are available on YouTube, and I can’t wait for the show we attended to be posted so I can enjoy it a second time. I’m constantly amazed by how quick-witted and funny some comedians are when improvising conversation off the cuff, and Adam Ray does an awesome job! 10/10—would see again and might even try to catch another show early next year!

I’m a fan of alternative rock, especially the band Theory of a Deadman. Ava and I saw them in concert last fall at the Santander Arena, and this year they performed at the smaller Performing Arts Center in Reading with an "unplugged” acoustic set. Wow, were Ava and I in for an awesome show! Yes, they were using acoustic guitars but all the instruments were definitely amplified and it made for an amazing sounding performance. There’s just something so right about seeing a band you love perform in a venue that is set up for music and not just a huge arena or outdoor stadium. 10/10 will definitely try to see them again!

Amy and I are also seeing another comedian, Jo Koy, at the Santander Arena later this month. I’ve watched his stand-up specials on Netflix and am excited to see him live for the first time.

This last one will be a completely different experience for me. I’m not usually a musical or Broadway aficionado, but I do enjoy a good live performance (as evidenced by this blog!). My kids were huge fans of *Hamilton* when it was released on Disney+ a few years ago. The songs played throughout the house for years afterward. The excitement has faded a bit since then, but recently they started touring a new cast of *Hamilton* across the country. I’ll be taking Axy to see it performed at the Ensemble Arts Theater in Philadelphia this month. It’s our first time seeing a performance like this, and I’m really looking forward to it, especially to see how much Axy enjoys it.

Phew! It’s been a busy couple of months, and all the shows have been awesome. As I write this, we don’t have any more events or shows scheduled for the rest of 2024—and nothing planned for 2025…for now. 😊

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