July days, with their sweltering afternoons and late evening sunsets, are filled with a kind of sun-dappled shapelessness; days once described by Ada Louise Huxtable as “jeweled balm for the battered spirit.” Balming the battered is also a standup comedian’s job description, and this month promises a healing wave of laughs washing over our arid city, featuring seasoned chortle-mongers from across the country. From one-night only theater appearances from sitcom stars to comedy nerd heroes headlining our local clubs over the weekend, battered spirits from across the spectrum of comedy fandom will have plenty of opportunities to laugh in air-conditioned comfort.