Leave Work Now! Episode 50: Is pop music getting stupider?
Stupider? More stupid? Rick and Pete discuss a scientific study that found pop songs have become musically and lyrically simpler over time. Does simpler equal worse?
Sep 18, 2019•27 min
Job Description with Rick Koster
Do you ever find yourself wondering about an intriguingly obscure or maybe intricate job? Or “I didn’t even know people did that.” My name is Rick Koster, and I don’t do many things with fluency, so when i meet someone who has a really interesting gig or does something really well, it’s a privilege to talk to them. Job Description is a new podcast from The Day where we do exactly that, talk to folks who do things the rest of us could only screw up.
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Episodes
Leave Work Now! Episode 49: Rustic Overtones and road trip radio
How do certain bands become our favorites? Pete's favorite band, Rustic Overtones, play Saturday at the Knickerbocker Music Center in Westerly. Plus, Rick has some ideas on how to use the radio to make road trips more interesting.
Sep 11, 2019•30 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 48: Song Spinner Extra with Jon Young of Straight to VHS
Song Spinner is a video series we produce for The Day where musicians perform a song and tell the story behind it. This episode of the podcast is an extended interview form our most recent Song Spinner session. See the video at: https://youtu.be/wPV8QWruQsA Straight to VHS is a three piece rock band from New London, Connecticut whose members, guitarist/vocalist Jon Young, Drummer Jay Silva, and bassist Tim Donnell, recently recorded a new album, “Friend Music.” We spoke with Jon Young about the ...
Jun 07, 2019•14 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 47: Will we ever visit the places on our bucket lists?
There is so much art, history and culture in the world, and so much of it is so far away, how will we ever get to see everything we want to see before we die?
Jan 31, 2019•31 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 46: Hamilton was never president?
A lot has happened to musical theater since Rick's favorite musical, "Pippin." Features editor Kristina Dorsey sits in to discuss how "Hamilton" has put hip hop in front of new audiences while teaching history lessons in a novel way.
Jan 24, 2019•23 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 45: Is it OK to laugh at Louis C.K. anymore?
Is it possible to appreciate art while disapproving of the artist? Rick and Peter discuss the talented comedians, musicians, authors, actors and athletes who were revealed to be terrible people, and how to view their work in light of their transgressions. Topics include Woody Allen, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey, Ted Nugent, Michael Vick, Harvey Weinstein, Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain.
Jan 17, 2019•17 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 44: Texas Roadhouse, Texas BBQ, and musical encores
Rick and Peter find some things to like about chain restaurants, find even more to like about authentic Texas BBQ, and try to determine the appropriate amount of time for bands to wait before playing an encore.
Sep 28, 2018•21 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 43: Why did so many people leave the Kendrick Lamar concert before it was over?
Put down your cell phone! Stay until the end of the show! And stop talking! Rick went to see Kendrick Lamar recently, and can't understand how millennials behave at concerts.
Jun 15, 2018•28 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 42: Homemade earplugs at the Slayer concert
Rick went to review Slayer's show at Mohegan Sun Arena, part of their Farewell Tour, (read the review here) and it was so loud, he had to improvise a pair of earplugs.
Jun 04, 2018•25 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 41: Watching the Royal Wedding
Rick calls Peter at 6:30 Saturday morning to make sure he doesn't miss the Royal Wedding.
May 21, 2018•19 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 40: Fleetwood Mac, The Moody Blues, and Childish Gambino
Rick reacts to some news about his favorite musicians – Neil Finn of Crowded House joins Fleetwood Mac, and The Moody Blues are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And what do you think about the new Childish Gambino video for This Is America?
May 11, 2018•30 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 39: Do childhood favorite movies still hold up to adult scrutiny?
Is Rick still scared by zombie movies? Will Pete’s kids love The Goonies and The Princess Bride as much as he did? We reflect on the movies we saw as children and what we see in them now when we watch as adults.
Feb 15, 2018•30 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 38: Rick on the Grammys: Where were the musicians?
Rick opines on the latest Grammy awards, lamenting that pop performance and spectacle have pushed out musicianship. He approves of Bruno Mars, but Cardi B? not so much.
Jan 29, 2018•20 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 37: Reflecting on 2017
Rick and Peter think back on their work and musical listening habits of the past year.
Dec 22, 2017•20 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 36: A year on the road with Pocket Vinyl
Singer/pianist Eric Stevenson of the piano/painting duo Pocket Vinyl talks about their new documentary Drive. Play. Sleep. Through dozens of interviews and on-the-road footage, the film tells the story of independent, do-it-yourself musicians touring the country and trying to make a living from their art. Stay to the end of the podcast to hear a new song from their forthcoming album "Uncomfortably Unsure." See the film at http://www.driveplaysleep.com/ and find out more about the music and art a...
Dec 01, 2017•35 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 35: What do you do when you see your favorite musician shopping at Target?
When is OK to be a fanboy? Rick once handed a cassette tape of his band to one of the members of The Church. Peter saw Spose and Dave Gutter out shopping and was too scared to say hello.
Nov 22, 2017•20 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 34: What to do when you’re alone on Thanksgiving
Rick and Peter try to figure out what to do on Thanksgiving when you don’t have a family get-together to attend. Their best options: go watch high school football, stay home and drink away your sorrows, go to the casino, or make nachos.
Nov 17, 2017•24 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 33: Rick hassles Blue Öyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard at an Imagine Dragons concert
Rick ran into one of his musical heroes, Blue Öyster Cult bassist/vocalist/composer Joe Bouchard, at an Imagine Dragons concert at Mohegan Sun Arena. Peter stumbled upon a Boyz II Men concert at Disney World. Also, Rick and Peter agree that modern popular music all sounds the same, and admit that they are old and out of touch.
Nov 10, 2017•26 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 32: Waiting outside Fats Domino’s house with a 12-pack of beer
Rick recalls an unsuccessful stakeout outside the New Orleans home of Fats Domino. Lady Madonna by Fats Domino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1OdbPpvFYg
Oct 27, 2017•20 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 31: Eminem’s anti-Trump freestyle: Is it OK when musicians get political?
After Eminem made headlines with his anti-Trump freestyle, Rick and Peter discuss the history of musicians making political statements and consider the varying motiviations behind them. Is Eminem just out to promote a new album?
Oct 12, 2017•23 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 30: Do Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers belong in the top five greatest American rock bands?
After the recent passing of Tom Petty, Rick and Peter consider his band's place in the pantheon of great American rock bands. Who else belongs in the top five? The Allman Brothers? Bruce Sprintsteen and The E Street Band? The Eagles? The Grateful Dead? The Beach Boys?
Oct 06, 2017•23 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 29: Who is responsible for taking care of public art?
Rick and Peter look at several examples of public art in New London that has been poorly maintained, or not maintained at all. Arts writer mary Biekert, who has writtern about the New London Scupture Mile, joins in to discuss who is responsible for maintaining and restoring a public art installation in the months and years after it is unveiled? The Wyland whale mural has been completely repainted in a way that hardly resembles the original. The Sandy Garnett Light Cube has only one light remaini...
Sep 28, 2017•26 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 28: Paying our respects to Groton’s Bayou Smokehouse
The Bayou Smokehouse in Groton in closing as chef/owner Pierre Boutros steps aside to spend more time with his family. Rick has made it his life's work to find a local barbecue joint that is tolerable to his refined southern palate, and the closing of Bayou is going to make it that much harder. Rick and Peter have one last meal before the restaurant closes on Saturday.
Sep 13, 2017•9 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 27: Concept albums: masterpieces or cheap gimmicks?
Rick and Peter consider the concept album, from Frank Sinatra to Green Day, and whether the format still resonates today when people don't buy albums. Our favorite local concept albums include Red Over Red by Bedroom Rehab Corporation, Death Anxiety by Pocket Vinyl, and El Amor de los Muertos by The Hempsteadys. Also, Rick remembers Arthur Falconi, a local musician who died in yesterday's storm.
Sep 07, 2017•25 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 26: White guys with guitars covering rap songs, and Kylie and Kendall Jenner’s rock tee shirts
What distinguishes a good cover song from a bad cover song? Martha Shanahan joins Rick and Peter to provide a young person's opinion. Plus, Kylie and Kendall Jenner's vinatge rock tee shirts, and Future performs at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Aug 24, 2017•29 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 25: How does a four-year-old start singing Simon and Garfunkel?
Peter discovered his kids singing a Simon and Garfunkel song that came out over 50 years ago. Turns out they heard "The Sound of Silence" in the animated movie "Trolls." What determines whether a song has staying power? Are there artists today whose music our grandchildren will be listening to? Rick remembers thinking that "She Sheila" by The Producers and "Hold On" by Santana were going to be massive hits.
Aug 17, 2017•25 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 24: Ed Sheeran on Game of Thrones: Did we need another rock star TV cameo?
Rick and Peter bring in The Day features writer Mary Biekert to talk about Ed Sheeran's cameo appearance on game of Thrones, and to look back through TV history and some other notable musical cameos. Plus, The Who and Queen + Adam Lambert at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Jul 20, 2017•29 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 23: How our wives affect our musical tastes
Rick's wife made him listen to New Order. He went to a New Order "concert" and saw them playing exactly zero instruments. What do you think of concerts that are more dance and theater production than musical performance?
Jul 07, 2017•21 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 22: Going the distance on the Appalachian Trail or to see your favorite band
Peter hiked 52 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Rick's band played a marathon weekend of shows and almost ran out of beer, before being saved by their lead singer's Elvis impression.
Jul 01, 2017•28 min
Leave Work Now! Episode 21: Slow dance songs for middle school, proms and weddings
Rick and Peter reminisce about slow dance songs from their past, and read through the list of favorites sent in by friends and listeners. RICK'S HIGH SCHOOL Bread – “Make It with You” Chicago – “Colour My World” Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven” Moody Blues – “Nights in White Satin” PETER'S MIDDLE SCHOOL Extreme - "More Than Words" Richard Marx - "Right Here Waiting" Bryan Adams - "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" Damn Yankees - "High Enough" Boyz II Men - "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yes...
Jun 23, 2017•26 min
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