If you go
› What: John Lennon Birthday Celebration Concert Featuring Ryan Oyer and All-Star Band› When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7› Where: Songbirds Guitar Museum, 35 Station St.› Admission: $15› For more information: 423-531-2473
Ryan Oyer was bitten by the Beatles bug early in life.
"I'm a huge Beatles fan. I remember watching 'A Hard Day's Night' when I was 5. I thought John [Lennon] was hilarious and cool."
Oyer says he has always added a few Fab Four covers in his own sets, so when Songbirds Guitar Museum talent buyer Mike Dougher asked if he wanted to do a Lennon tribute show around the late star's birthday on Oct. 9, Oyer jumped at the chance.
He will present the "John Lennon Birthday Concert Featuring Ryan Oyer and an All-Star Band" on Saturday, Oct. 7. He will be joined by fellow local musicians Dan Pinson on bass, Mike Salter on drums, Eric Parham on keyboards, Matt Shigekawa on guitar and Conrad Hyde on cello. Most of the guys will help with vocals as well.
Pinson, who performs as Danimal, will also do a short opening set of music from Paul McCartney, Lennon's primary songwriting mate in The Beatles.
Oyer says the Lennon tribute will include some Beatles classics such as "All You Need Is Love" and some lesser-known tracks, if there is such a thing, such as "Hey Bulldog" and "Dear Prudence." The group will also do some songs from Lennon's solo career.
Oyer says once he started doing the research for the show, he was surprised to discover there were quite a few Lennon solo songs he'd never heard. Digging into the arrangements also was a bit of a revelation.
"We were talking about how simplistic the chords were, but how the music changes throughout. It might have been Danimal who pointed out how simplistic some of them are, but that the depth of them is pretty amazing."
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.