Leave Work Now! With Rick Koster

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?

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.

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 song “Manic in the Morning.” Straight to VHS has a Kickstarter to fund the upcoming album, find out more at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/straight2vhs/friend-music-album-release-by-straight-to-vhs Their music video for "Chemical Wifi" premieres Saturday at noon: https://youtu.be/ZBMM2Khz6n4

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rick calls Peter at 6:30 Saturday morning to make sure he doesn't miss the Royal Wedding.

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?

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.

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.

Rick and Peter think back on their work and musical listening habits of the past year.

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 at http://www.pocketvinyl.com/.

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.

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.

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.

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

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?