In 1988, Rocky LaPorte quit his day job as a truck driver to become a professional comedian. Turned out to be a good move. LaPorte hasn’t forgotten his roots and in his stand-up routines, he makes simple observations about the oddities of life. In one performance, the comedian talked about putting your parents down as an emergency contact. “What are my parents going to do?” he joked. “‘Mrs. LaPorte your son has been in a horrific car accident.’ ‘Well give him some ice cream; he likes ice cream.’” It’s that sort of simple observation that makes LaPorte’s material stand out from the pack of other truck drivers turned comics. He performs tonight at 8 at Pickwick and Frolic. Tickets start at $23 and LaPorte has shows scheduled through Sunday. (William Hoffman)