The anatomy of a green room is deceptively simple: couches, tables, mirrors, mini-fridges, and other basic items are available to performers as they wait backstage, do interviews, receive guests and party. But within those confines are wildly divergent experiences for rock stars, drag queens, comics, authors and other stage performers at the area’s best indoor and outdoor venues. At the Hi-Dive, layers of graffiti and spare, ratty furniture give the South Broadway club a punk-rock authenticity and sense of history.

The news of O.J. Simpson’s death was met with a mixed bag of responses befitting his complicated (to say the least) history. But hearing the news, my immediate thought wasn’t anything to do with O.J.’s life, controversies or career. It was “Man, I miss Norm Macdonald.” In my mind, Norm is the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. Norm initially became famous in the ’90s for his turn as the host of Saturday Night Live (SNL)’s Weekend Update segment, during which he relentlessly fired off O.J. Simpson jokes. Most still...

An audience member who was at Dave Chappelle’s Boston show claims the comedian did not actually criticize Israel’s bombing of Gaza, but rather advocated for an end to the violence that has persisted for nearly three weeks. “Dave’s comments about ending the violence centered around reducing the issue to a human rights issue,” Melissa Seaver, who was at the show on Thursday, Oct. 19, wrote in an email to MassLive Monday. “He never mentioned being Muslim as a means to supporting Hamas. It centered on all lives matter.” The Wall...

Some audience members reportedly walked out of Dave Chappelle’s show in Boston last Thursday after the comedian criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza, according to The Wall Street Journal. Chappelle addressed the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas during the TD Garden show, first condemning the Palestinian militant group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the WSJ reported. However, the comic also criticized what he described as war crimes in Gaza and accused the U.S. of aiding the slaughter of innocent civilians, the news outlet reported. The commotion reportedly began after Chappelle...

Some fans walk out of Dave Chappelle's Boston show after Israel - Hamas war comments Some fans walk out of Dave Chappelle's Boston show after Israel - Hamas war comments Some fans walk out of Dave Chappelle's Boston show after Israel - Hamas war comments BOSTON – Comedian Dave Chappelle's comments about the war between Israel and Hamas reportedly triggered a walkout of his Boston comedy show late last week. During the show at the TD Garden Thursday night, Chappelle criticized Israeli actions in Gaza, calling them "war crimes." That's...

Dave Chappelle allegedly criticized Israel‘s bombing of Gaza at one of his recent Boston comedy tour stops. The Wall Street Journal reported that the comedian initially condemned the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas during his show at TD Garden on Thursday, according to people in attendance. He reportedly then criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza and accused the United States of aiding the slaughter of innocent people. Those in attendance said Chappelle’s comments on the Israel-Hamas war came about after he said that he...

Fans of comedian Dave Chappelle reportedly got up and left one of his recent performances after he is said to have sided against Israel for targeting Hamas terrorists inside the Gaza Strip. Chappelle’s remarks come after the terrorists launched an unprecedented terrorist attack two weeks ago, murdering more than 1,400 Israelis — including 30+ Americans — wounded 3,200+ and took over 200 hostages. The Wall Street Journal reported that Chappelle made the remarks during a performance in Boston on Thursday, a claim that a spokesperson for Chappelle denied, saying that...

Some audience members left Dave Chappelle’s Boston show feeling uncomfortable after the comedian commented on the conflict between the Israeli government and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Chappelle, who is Muslim, first condemned the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel, but later criticized Israel’s bombing of Gaza during his show at TD Garden in Boston on Thursday Oct. 19, the Wall Street Journal reported. “Towards the end of his act, Chappelle mentioned the war in Israel and how he as a Muslim denounces Israel for its treatment of...