They did, check out the Local app they released.

You still can't create events via third-party apps.

This and messenger are the only reasons I haven't closed my account.

Same, but recently discovered you can continue using Messenger if you deactivate your account.

That might not be the case. A friend recently closed her account and I found out because Messenger gave an error (of course the type of error that really didn't convey what happened, but that's another story).

This! Similar events is the only thing I miss about fbook.

I was told that an app / site "bandsNearMe" or something like that would replace.. but I don't think it's gets the smaller acts / DJs / events that I would really like to attend.

Meetup does a better job of notifying me. As long as people are going to use fbook to post about upcoming events it would be nice to have access to things coming locally, since I rarely use fbook I miss some good shows.

Bandsintown does seem to have the small acts, at least near me. It does send these obnoxious 20-character notifications/emails that will only let you read the actual message via their site though.

Yes! That and the groups. The only reason I still have a Facebook account is because of groups and events.