Stand-up is where it’s at for Dan Soder

Silly humor suffices for Dan Soder. The veteran stand-up comic, who will perform Thursday at the Englert Theatre, grew up in Colorado loving comics such as Robin Williams and Dana Carvey.

His humor, like his comedic heroes' material, avoids politics but offers fans an escape.

"I was obsessed with those guys (Williams and Carvey), and Jim Carrey and Eddie Murphy," Soder said while calling from Seattle. "I loved watching Mel Brooks movies when I was a kid. They just made you feel good."

Soder nails it since many of Brooks' films aren't very deep. The comedy icon's greatest works, "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein," take fans to another place, often courtesy of silly humor. Brooks' movies were sometimes edgy and subversive, but they're frequently silly. It's no surprise that fans revisit his films frequently.

"It's like comfort food, and that's what I'm going for," Soder said. "I want to take people away from what we deal with every day."

That sentiment has considerable appeal since there's something serious in the news nearly every day. There's certainly a place for Soder's amusing observational comedy, which is often self-deprecating.

The Hartford, Connecticut, native is adept at riffing about relationships, celebrities and pets.

"My dog rules," Soder said. "She's a COVID dog. I got her when we were in lockdown and it helped a lot. When I couldn't do comedy live, it gave me something else to focus on."

Soder's connection with his dog and how he dealt with the pandemic is much like the bulk of his material, which is relatable.

The inconsequential is king with Soder, who avoids heavy, thought provoking material.

"I'm dumb," Soder said. "I just want to make you laugh. I'm comfortable being dumb. But it's a weird time now. Everybody is supposed to have an opinion on social media. But people get so upset that people don't allow others to have a different opinion. People believe some unbelievable things."

Soder's comedy isn't serious. But that doesn't mean that the often hilarious stand-up isn't up for some serious acting gigs. Soder, who has appeared on MTV's "Guy Code," honed his acting skills on the acclaimed Showtime drama "Billions."

"It was a very cool show to be part of," Soder said. "I got to learn how to act with all of these great actors. It was an amazing opportunity to act with people like David Costabile, who is great.“

Soder, who is on his "Golden Retriever of Comedy" tour, also appeared in such films as 2015's "Trainwreck," which featured Amy Schumer, and 2019's "Drunk Parents," an under the radar gem, starring Alec Baldwin, Salma Hayek and Jim Gaffigan.

However, Soder isn't looking to utilize stand-up as a vehicle for a full-time television gig.

"My acting career is casual," Soder said. "I already have a job, which is doing stand-up. This is what I love to do. I enjoy acting but if I could do anything, it's stand-up, and that's what I've been lucky enough to do."

Fortunately Soder prioritizes stand-up. But not every comic uses stand-up as a launching pad for a television vehicle. There's a number of exceptional comics, such as John Caparulo and Demetri Martin, that are content to crack wise on a stage for a living.

Soder is an accomplished comic who has put in the work. The stage is what he focuses on, even though he occasionally accepts an acting gig and has excelled as a talk show host. Soder and fellow comic Big Jay Oakerson co-hosted the entertaining "The Bonfire" on Sirius XM's Comedy Central Radio from 2015 to 2023.

However, the inveterate stand-up always goes back to what he's most passionate about.

"I just love doing comedy," Soder said.