Leave Work Now! With Rick Koster

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?

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 remaining. Three of Wendy Klemperer's animal sculptures have been knocked over just a few weeks after they were installed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 Yesterday"   RICK'S WEDDING Neil Young – “Harvest Moon”   SLOW DANCES FOR COUNTRY PEOPLE Willie Nelson – “Always On My Mind” Garth Brooks – “The Dance” Dwight Yoakam – “Ain’t That Lonely Yet”   EVERY WEDDING I’VE EVER ATTENDED Elvis – “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” The Righteous Brothers – “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” Journey – “Faithfully” Percy Sledge – “When a Man Loves a Woman” Eric Clapton – “Wonderful Tonight” REO Speedwagon – “Can’t Fight This Feeling”   SONGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SLOW-DANCE CLASSICS BUT

One of Rick's former bandmates, Robert Corky Ray, calls in to reminisce, and Rick talks about getting ready to play bass in his one and only concert of the year. Plus, replacement lead singers and Pippin at Foxwoods.

There are way too many festivals in southeast Connecticut this weekend - the Strawberry Park Cajun Zydeco Festival, ComiCONN Foxwoods, the Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport, the New London Blues and Brews Festival, the Outer Light Brewing rebrand party, and Taste of Mystic. Plus, what makes the wings at Hot Rod Cafe so good, and neural network metal band names.

"Mansion in the Slums" by Crowded House. "I Remember California" by REM. "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2. Why are there certain songs by our favorite bands that we always skip over? Steve Chupaska joins Rick and Peter to discuss. Also, Braiden Sunshine launches his first U.S. tour.

Rick and Peter share memories of concert sing-alongs gone good, and bad, including Ben Folds, Rustic Overtones, O.A.R. and Crowded House. Plus, David Crobsy at The Garde.

Somehow, a conversation about the death of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell turns into a discussion about the merits of Curly and Schemp in The Three Stooges. Also, Vadim Neselovskyi at the Side Door Jazz Club and Ben Folds at Foxwoods.

Have you ever noticed the bland, inoffensive pop music that is playing everywhere you go? At the supermarket? At the gas pump? In every restaurant? Rick and Peter have noticed, and they're sick of it. Plus: Mary J. Blige and Blackberry Smoke.

Rick and Peter share favorite concert memories that had nothing to do with the music. Rick was in the front row when Uriah Heep bassist Gary Thain was electrocuted. Peter met As Fast As frontman Spencer Albee in the mens’ room. Listener Keith saw Tommy Lee fall from a drum set 25 feet in the air. Plus, Fox Farm Brewery and the Karl Kelly Memorial Concert.Leave work now is a production of The Day Publishing Company.The program is hosted by Rick Koster, and produced by Peter Huoppi.You can see us live on Facebook most Thursday mornings at facebook.com/thedayct, and you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, and TuneIn.

Is it appropriate for an adult man to walk around wearing the jersey of his favorite sports team? How about a concert t-shirt? Aren't we just paying a band for the privlege of advertising for them? Shouldn't they pay us? Plus, reflecting on the passing of renowned painter Barkley Hendricks.

Who deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Who's in the shouldn't be? Should music be a meritocracy similar to sports? Plus, Rick's thoughts on the Genesis tribute band The Musical Boz, and the Knickerbocker All-Stars.

The seventh annual New London Youth Talent Show is coming to The Garde on Saturday night. Has the show joined the Hygienic art show and Sailfest as one of the premier events of the year in New London? Bon Jovi is coming to Mohegan Sun Arena, doing the same thing that has made them popular for decades. Flock Theatre is staging performance of Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night" in real time in the Monte Cristo Cottage that inspired the play's setting.