Mo Amer's vulnerability shines at Chicago Theatre

The Palestinian comic came back to the Windy City to make sure everyone from "Little Palestine" had a chance to see him live

Even if you’ve watched Mo Amer do stand up on one of his previous runs, I recommend not missing him this time around. This set is different. Shockingly, it feels even more personal than his asylum story from his first special.

Chicago is home to so many Palestinians, one of the southwest suburbs is nicknamed “Little Palestine.” So, it wasn’t surprising when he was able to sellout the Chicago Theatre two more times, after doing it twice back in February. He let attendees into his thoughts and emotions since the genocide in Gaza began and what fatherhood looks like to him. Some of his jokes and stories give insight into what might have inspired certain scenes from Mo Season 2.

If he’s performing at a theater near you, don’t miss out as he uses this tour to prepares to film a new special.

He explained at the beginning of his set, he returned to Chicago to make sure the people who didn’t get tickets in February had another chance. My wife and I were amongst many of those people that did not attend those first set of shows.

We couldn’t justify spending more than $200 for two tickets to see a comic we’ve seen before for $15—where we sat close enough to untie the man’s shoes. Sunday night’s show was much more affordable. This time two tickets were only $60 after fees. It was the perfect price point for balcony seats at one of Chicago’s most iconic venues.

After two hilarious opening acts, Amer took the stage and didn’t waste any time. He immediately obliterated DJ Khaled for staying quiet about the plight of the Palestinians, since October 2023.

By firing well-deserved shots at a fellow Palestinian, Amer set the tone for the rest of his set—no one was off limits, even if they aren’t an outright Zionist, like Khaled. You either stand with Palestinians against Zionism or Amer doesn’t want to hear from you. He made it simple, clear and hilarious.

I’ve heard Amer tell a version of the DJ Khaled joke and others at previous shows, but when he retold a joke during the “El So Palestino” tour, the story was strategically refined.

This was the first time I’ve seen the Palestinian comic in a very large theater and he commanded the venue as if it was the intimate comedy club I first watched him at.

While Amer hammered Khaled and others for their lack of humanity, he did let the crowd know which celebrities reached out. For example, his mentor Dave Chappell, and fellow comic Jon Stewart called Amer to check on his well being once the attacks on Gaza began. He was surprised when he received a FaceTime call from the lead singer of Cold Play, Chris Martin.

“How did he get my number?” Amer asked shockingly.

From the story of his son’s birth, to name dropping his celebrity friends and co-workers, Amer tied everything back to Palestine and how it made him feel.

His vulnerability added an element to the show you come to expect from less famous artists, with less to lose. He’s been unapologetically Palestinian his entire career, but this time its more blunt and in your face.