Tues. Nov. 22

The last artist we know to name-drop Steve McQueen in a song was the Rolling Stones in "Star, Star." But Steve-o shows up in the first track on Julian Velard's six-song EP/CD "The Movies Without You." The 24-year-old singer/pianist is difficult to pigeonhole. Yusef Lateef took a liking to a young Velard and sent him to Paris to study with jazz pianist Kirk Lightsey. Lateef then chose Velard to open his retirement show at UMass. There are jazz elements in what Velard plays, but he's more of a jaunty, pop guy - at least now. His EP is guitar-free and he's garnered praise from the New Yorker and the Village Voice, the latter hailing him as a dude who could "bring classic pop genres back to the masses. Our favorite line: "Believe in the little demons/'cause I know they believe in you" in "Little Demons." Good news for Bostonians: You've got one more chance to catch one of his Tuesday residency gigs at the Paradise Lounge. He's playing with one other musician, a drummer. Opening acts on the 22nd is The Hatch. Tickets: $10. Doors at 8 p.m.

969 Commonwealth Ave., 617-662-8801 thedise.com