Tom, Jenny, and Bryan at Abbey Road On The River, Louisville KY Saturday May 28, 2005.

This photo was taken just prior to performing our set on the "Desmond & Molly Patio" stage.

One More Photo Before Leaving AROTR in Louisville

Clockwise from left: Marty, Tom M., Maureen, Harlene, Brian, Amy, Alton, Mike, Fred, Marla, Lisa, Bryan, Tom & Jenny pose for one last photo before leaving the Galt House & Abbey Road On The River 2005.

Photo courtesy of Marty Konopacki.

AROTR 2005 Photos

A Beatles Ensemble group shot, following the Unstrung Heroes performance on the Desmond and Molly Patio - Sunday, May 29th, 2005. 

Martin Konopacki Photography
1407 W. Ohio St.
Chicago IL 60622 (312) 850-1947 

Martin Konopacki Photography: Mike Mann on bass, Tom, Jenny, Barry Fritz on harmonica and lead guitar, & Bryan performing "Chains" at AROTR 

The Acoustic Humans Live at "Abbey Road On The River"

Martin Konopacki Photography 

Click here to download the official AROTR program

The Acoustic Humans are all set to perform an acoustic set this weekend at the three day Beatles music festival - Abbey Road On The River, in Louisville, KY. This is in addition to the two sets the Beatles Ensemble will be performing there, and a set by our Beatle Ensemble friends in "Unstrung Heroes".

"A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All!"

Click here for all of the details:

http://www.abbeyroadontheriver.com/index.html

See the Acoustic Humans on the "Desmond and Molly Patio" at noon on Saturday, May 28th.

The first of the two Beatles Ensemble performances is scheduled for Saturday at 4:00pm at the "Fountain" (performance time has been changed).

"Unstrung Heroes" are scheduled to perform at noon on Sunday on the "Desmond and Molly Patio".

The second Beatles Ensemble performance is scheduled for Sunday at 3:00pm at the "Fountain" (performance time has been changed).

As we posted in our April 26th entry, this will be Bryan's third appearance at the Abbey Road on the River festival. He performed with the Beatles Ensemble at the 2002 & 2004 festivals. This will also be Jenny's third appearance, as she performed with the Beatles Ensemble at the 2002 & 2003 festivals. This is Tom's second appearance; his first was with the Beatles Ensemble in 2003.

Official program for this year's Abbey Road On The River is now available online. 

We are off to "Beatle Camp" for the weekend; to rehearse, relax, and prepare for the upcoming Abbey Road On the River festival. Here is a photo of Jenny, Bryan & Tom, taken one year ago, rehearsing at "Beatle Camp".  

Tom, Jenny, and Bryan performing their acoustic sets at Yerbabuena Restaurant in Lisle, IL on Saturday, May 7, 2005 

WXRT's Breakfast With The Beatles

We want to send a huge thank you to Terri Hemmert, "Chicago's Number 1 Beatles Fan" for her kind words regarding The Acoustic Humans, on her "Breakfast With The Beatles" radio program last Sunday on WXRT.

Breakfast With The Beatles Page on wxrt.com for Sunday, May 1, 2005. Note the plug for the "Acoustic Humans" this Saturday. 

Remember this Saturday, May 7th - 7:30pm See the Acoustic Humans perform two acoustic sets at Yerbabuena Restaurant, located at 4732 Main St in Lisle (details in the April 6th post below) 

A portion of the Beatles Ensemble performing at the 2003 Abbey Road On The River in Cleveland. Left to right: Brad, Jenny, Jack, Jessica, Brian, Steve, Lenka, & Tom. 

The Beatles Ensemble performing with Lawrence Macca at the 2002 Abbey Road On The River festival. Dr. Bryan is up front singing harmonies. 

Abbey Road On The River - May 27 - 29, 2005

The Acoustic Humans are scheduled to perform an acoustic set at the three day Beatles music festival - Abbey Road On The River, in Louisville, KY. This is in addition to the two sets the Beatles Ensemble will be performing there, and a set by our Beatle Ensemble friends in "Unstrung Heroes". Click here for all of the details:

http://www.abbeyroadontheriver.com/index.html

Look for the Acoustic Humans on the "Desmond and Molly Patio" at noon on Saturday, May 28th.

The first of the two Beatles Ensemble performances is scheduled for Saturday at 6:00pm at the "Fountain".

"Unstrung Heroes" are scheduled to perform at noon on Sunday on the "Desmond and Molly Patio".

The second Beatles Ensemble performance is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30pm at the "Fountain".

This will be Bryan's third appearance at the Abbey Road on the River festival. He performed with the Beatles Ensemble at the 2002 & 2004 festivals. This will also be Jenny's third appearance, as she performed with the Beatles Ensemble at the 2002 & 2003 festivals. This is Tom's second appearance; his first was with the Beatles Ensemble in 2003.

The Acoustic Humans - Live in Lisle, May 7th

Come on out to the western suburbs to hear the
Acoustic Humans play:

Saturday, May 7th at 7:30pm
Yerbabuena
4732 Main Street
Lisle, IL

We will be fine-tuning our Beatles acoustic set for
the upcoming "Abbey Road On The River" in Louisville
(on May 28th - watch this space!), and possibly
playing a few non-Beatles tunes, too.

Yerbabuena is a friendly, neighborhood Mexican
restaurant located in Tom's hometown of Lisle.

Bryan recommends the margaritas...

Click here for a Yahoo map to the restaurant:

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=hvJg6up_0TpREfVxfTFjZ1GE.UZqqpT4DA--&csz=lisle%2C+il&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=

Dr. Bryan preparing for the upcoming May 7th Acoustic Humans performance at Yerbabuena, in Lisle. 

The Ensemble Connection

Jenny writes:

Looking at the photo on our March 9th posting, you may wonder what the Acoustic Humans have to do with the Old Town School of Folk Music's Beatles Ensemble. Good question - and easily answered. The Acoustic Humans are also active members of the Ensemble, which is where we first met. The Beatles Ensemble, run by the venerable maestro Steve Levitt (http://www.grandpuba.net/), is both a class and a performing band. Tom has been a member of the Ensemble since 2003, Jenny since 2000, and Bryan since 1996, making him one of the Ensemble forefathers. Note his long beard and sage look.

Each of the Acoustic Humans has also performed with other ensemble classes at the Old Town School at various times over the years. Among these ensembles are the Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Yes, Lucinda Williams, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Led Zeppelin, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen, Lyle Lovett, Frank Zappa, and the Monkees. An eclectic mix to be sure, but that's just how multi-faceted we are.

Yet, our hearts always reside with the Beatles, and the Beatles Ensemble remains our foundation at the school. For fun, see if you can find each of us in the Sgt. Pepper cover below featuring the 40 + members of the Ensemble. Lots of luck!

If you are interested in classes at the Old Town School, check out their web site.

http://www.oldtownschool.org

"Beware Of Darkness"

On Saturday, January 29, 2005, The Acoustic Humans took part in a tsunami benefit concert at The Old Town School Of Folk Music. Recreating George Harrison's "Concert for Bangla Desh", students and friends of the Old Town School raised more than $3000 for UNICEF.

The Acoustic Humans performed "Something", "Here Comes The Sun", and with Fred Sugimoto on drums, Barry Fritz on lead guitar, Alton Smith on piano, and Mike Mann on bass, "Beware Of Darkness".

Special thanks to Marty Konopacki for the photo below.

Martin Konopacki Photography
1407 W. Ohio St.
Chicago IL 60622 (312) 850-1947 

The Beatles Ensemble - The Old Town School of Folk Music 

Lost John Lennon 1975 Radio Interview

30 years ago on February 21, 1975, John Lennon gave a radio interview via conference call to about 20 radio stations. He had just released his "Rock 'n Roll" album. Very interesting, and very rare. He had just reunited with Yoko after his "lost weekend". Towards the end he says "Hi to Paul in New Orleans". McCartney was there at the time recording "Venus and Mars", and I have read the John had planned to go visit him there, but he never made it there. You
can hear a 12 minute excerpt here:

http://www.russrants.com/index.php?page=story&category=15&post=22

I found this site as a link on one of the best Beatles related web sites:

http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/fabnews.htm

John Lennon in the Rolling Stone's 1968 film - Rock and Roll Circus, singing "Yer Blues" 

Bryan, Jenny & Tom video clip link

Watch a video clip of Bryan, Jenny & Tom (a.k.a. The Acoustic Humans) from the November 21, 2004 Beatles Celebration for the Brenden Hedges Scholorship Fund at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Scroll down the page and click on the video clip link.

http://www.oldtownschool.org/performances/archive/list.lasso?m=11&y=2004

The Acoustic Humans live at The Old Town School Of Folk Music, November 2004 

Who are The Acoustic Humans?

The ACOUSTIC HUMANS are a trio from Chicago
specializing in tasty 2 and 3-part harmonies backed by
full-bodied acoustic arrangements. Initially brought
together by their mutual love for the Beatles, the
members of the group - Bryan Yanaga, Jenny Peel, and
Tom Ryan – present the music of the Fabs stripped down
to its harmonious essence.