A Comedic Evening with Erica Rhodes at Off Cabot

Comedian Erica Rhodes gut-busted the sold-out crowd at the cozy Off Cabot for a needed night of laughter. Rhodes brought a uniquely personal and hilariously dark perspective to the room. As someone who has not attended many comedy shows, this night made me rethink how comedy can unexpectedly connect us.

Before Rhodes took the stage, two comics delighted audiences with jokes and stories. First, Jesse Farris talked about how being a ginger has impacted her life, for better or worse. Farris had impeccable comedic timing before hitting the punch line. My favorite bit in her act was about how death row prisoners should get Panera instead of a $40 final meal.

Next, Dan Crohn, a Boston comedian, traveled 18 hours to perform at Off Cabot after getting off a cruise. In his routine, he listed things he hated, talked about the problems with texting emojis as a response, and how distracting it is when tall people fall. His best impression was imitating Jason from Friday the 13th tilting his head when questioning something.

Taking the stage, Newton, MA resident, comedian, actress, and America’s Got Talent star, Erica Rhodes got a welcoming round of applause. From the moment she stepped up to the mic, Rhodes established an easy rapport with the crowd.

She started with her time on America’s Got Talent and the ironic part about how very few Americans are on the show. Rhodes jokingly quipped that maybe she didn’t win because she didn’t show the judges her apartment.

“It’s a weird time,” Rhodes commented, bringing up the 2024 presidential election which has been weighing on people’s minds. “People are nervous about laughing now.” She fixed that by joking that we’re not all watching the same murder trials anymore.

I like how Rhodes understood the boundaries of jokes, piggybacking with positive remarks. For example, she dug at singer Taylor Swift as just okay, but immediately complimented her confidence. She also talked about the recent death of One Direction star, Liam Payne. When viewing his girlfriend’s social media, Rhodes found a new pasta recipe. “(Payne) didn’t die for nothing,” Rhodes stated.

In my research of Rhodes’s stand-up routine, I watched a segment about her late father. I got excited when she did this skit. “My dad is here tonight,” she announced. “He’s dead.” The mood immediately changed in the audience. “But he’s always with me!” Rhodes happily stated, showing her necklace with her dad’s ashes inside.

Rhodes went on with this heartwarming story about her late father’s time in hospice care and how her family dedicated the time to dark comical moments. This was a relatable portion for me. “Death is hard to talk about. It’s not a part of our lives,” Rhodes noted the irony.

“That was cruel, I liked that!” I heard one audience member laugh. Rhodes made the audience chuckle in the Off Cabot. She listens to the vibe and goes with the flow.

“Dark subjects are my passion,” Rhodes remarked about her routine. In her 13 years as a comedian, she has learned to express herself and connect with others around personal experiences and struggles that people try to avoid talking about. She tells a story with humor that others might find uncomfortable but will relate to. Her stories reached people.

It was a fun and needed night of comedy. Comedy isn’t just about laughs; it’s about connection, relief, and seeing life from a different angle. Keep an eye out for an Erica Rhodes performance. You will leave with a new way of seeing things. And be sure to check out an upcoming event at Off Cabot, a great place to have a drink and see a show.