Bostonist had the wonderful luck to talk to some big-time talents in all fields this year. And, no, we're not sure how we tricked these people into talking to us. Here's a look back: Authors Diane Rapaport, The Naked Quaker, 11/20 Jonah Lehrer, Proust Was a Neuroscientist, 11/13 John Fulton, The Animal Girl, 10/22 Jonathan Messinger, Dollar Store Series and Hiding Out, 10/9 Shalom Auslander, Foreskin's Lament, 10/9 Steve Almond, Not That You Asked, 9/11......

Julian Velard with Jordan Carp Paradise Lounge Tonight, 7 p.m. 18+, $10 website The baseball fates are smiling upon Julian Velard today. The New York-based singer-songwriter told Bostonist recently that he was looking forward to performing in Boston tonight, with a show at the Paradise Lounge that serves as a brief escape to live performance during an intensely busy recording process. But Velard knew that trying to compete against the Red Sox in Boston is......

If you look past the fact that the Sox are back at home for their first few games at Fenway this season you'll be able to hear a greater beat on the street. As is often the case there is more good live music going on in town this week than any one person could possibly listen to. Time to clone yourself so you can scoop up a standing room ticket to watch Dice-K......