If there’s a better band in America than the Black Keys, we’d like to hear them. Dan Auerbach (left) and Pat Carney have always been a self-contained unit, but for their latest record, Attack and Release, they enlisted the artist known as Danger Mouse (nee Brian Burton) to produce, and the result is a swirling psychedelic masterpiece.

The Akron boys play the Orpheum on Saturday. We talked to Dan about the album, his aversion to scenes, labels and other pretensions, and Robert Plant. (more…)

There was much rejoicing throughout the land last year when the Red Sox signed up Dave O’Brien to become the radio voice of the team, but his national schedule with ESPN limited him to just 60 games. O’Brien is in for almost a full slate this year, and we caught up with him to talk about the Red Sox, his work for ESPN, the difference between radio and TV, and life on the road with Manny.

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In a wave of media exits, few were as stunning as the announcement that Bob Lobel, and several other WBZ veterans, had been let go. While Lobel stuck around for the 112th Boston Marathon, he read his final sports headlines on last night’s 11 p.m. broadcast.

We talked to the local legend about his upcoming back surgery, what he plans to do once he’s recovered, and why he hates saying goodbye.

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Filmmakers Brett Portanova and Eric Poydar were two production assistants when they met on the set of State and Main. After they were recruited to play football games by Alec Baldwin, the two Massachusetts natives became friends. They then moved back home and started writing scripts together.

Their latest film, Larry (the Actor) will premiere at the Independent Film Festival Boston. The short film, which stars the late Lionel Mark Smith as a black actor who’s run out of patience with Los Angeles.

We talked to the filmmakers about the boom of moviemaking in the Bay State, why two white guys decided to write about a black actor, and why their movie isn’t like a Star Wars prequel.

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After weeks of high-profile departures, the folks at the Globe needed some good news. This week, they got it with the announcement that Arts writer Mark Feeney won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism.

We talked to Feeney about his writing process, what the award means for his paper, and why some of the best birthday gifts for your mother don’t cost a penny.

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Most of us remember Anita Hill as the young woman who testified against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during his nomination hearings in 1991, bringing awareness to the issue of sexual harassment. Because of her openness and continued work for First Amendment issues, Hill has been named the recipient of the 2008 Louis P. and Evelyn Smith First Amendment Award, and will be the featured guest at the Ford Hall Forum on Thursday.

We talked to Hill about her testimony, this year’s presidential race, and how people view her 17 years after her controversial testimony.

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Former Channel 7 anchor and reporter Liz Claman is back on the air. After leaving CNBC, Claman has joined up with the just-launched FOX Business Network. We talked to Claman on a snowy Friday afternoon about the nascent network, the differences between local and business reporting, and where Mayor Tom Menino stashes his candy.

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When sports fans think of spring, they imagine baseball players flocking to Florida, college basketball players prepping for March Madness, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. For the 2008 issue, SI featured 12 cheerleaders from around the NFL, including Patriots Cheerleader Meghan White.

We talked to the New Hampshire native about her experience with an SI shoot, the opportunities that come with being an NFL cheerleader, and her experiences at this year’s Super Bowl.

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We here at Boston Daily fondly remember Christine Elise McCarthy as the volatile Emily Valentine on Beverly Hills, 90210 (especially the male staff members). But the Roslindale native has continued acting since she left the Peach Pit, and she returned to Boston to wait out the writer’s strike (hopefully she’ll stick around a little longer). While she’s in town, McCarthy will display her photography at the 2nd Cup Cafe in Allston.

We talked to the actress-writer-photographer about how her hometown has changed since she left, if she still gets recognized from 90210, and why Hollywood insists blue-collar Boston is ugly.

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When people think of scientists, they imagine a geeky and socially awkward person hiding behind a beaker in a lab. But researchers can tear themselves away from their work and hobnob with the best of them. The Tufts-New England Medical Center’s fifth annual Rising Stars Gala brings out Boston’s stars to honor philanthropists and doctors like Dr. Diana Bianchi.

The geneticist talked to us about her research, Donnie Wahlberg, and the difficulties of sharing a name with a homewrecker.

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