This article by Renee Beasley Jones, illustrated with photographs by Greg Eans, was published in the (Owensboro KY) Messenger-Inquirer on April 1, 2018.

Beatles vs. Stones: Four DCPS students prepare to play oldies concert

By Renee Beasley Jones Messenger-Inquirer

Photo by Greg Eans, Messenger-Inquirer.com | [email protected] Apollo High School orchestra teacher Kelsey Davidson, right, runs through a music rehearsal on Thursday with, clockwise from bottom right, Isaac Malott, 17, Morgan Nave, 17, Trinity King, 17, and Hayden Deaton, 14, in the orchestra room at Burns Elementary School. The string quartet is rehearsing for a performance with the tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction for a 'Beatles vs. Stones' concert at the Owensboro RiverPark Center on April 23.

Photo by Greg Eans, Messenger-Inquirer.com | [email protected] Isaac Mallot plays the violin while rehearsing on Thursday for 'Beatles vs. Stones,' a concert at the Owensboro RiverPark Center on April 23.

Owensboro has its own version of the Fab Four.

Isaac Malott, Morgan Nave, Trinity King and Hayden Deaton, all of Owensboro, will take center stage April 23 at the RiverPark Center when they perform beside two professional tribute bands in a show titled "Beatles vs. Stones."

The teens -- three violinists and a cellist -- will play music that defined their grandmas' and grandpas' generation and changed the modern music scene forever.

At their first rehearsal Thursday afternoon, the teens played the Rolling Stones' "As Tears Go By."

At next month's concert, they'll also perform that group's hit "Ruby Tuesday," along with "Hey Jude," "Eleanor Rigby," "Hello Goodbye" and "A Day in the Life" by the Beatles. While they know who the Beatles and Stones are, they aren't all gaga over them like their grandmas likely were. When it comes to music, this is an eclectic bunch.

Hayden, 14, is the youngest. The Burns Middle School eighth-grader plays classical music on his cello, but he listens to rock music.

"I know who they are," he said of the Beatles and Stones, "but my family never listened to them."

Isaac, 17, attends Apollo High School. He enjoys all types of music, but prefers bluegrass. Old Salt Union out of Belleville, Illinois, is his favorite band.

He has good memories of his dad, Eric Malott, listening to the Rolling Stones when the two of them go boating. However, if Isaac listens to oldies, he prefers Chuck Berry.

Trinity, 17, will graduate this year from Daviess County High School. Like her contemporaries, she listens to all kinds of music, but she especially likes the heavy metal band Metallica.

She worked at Bee Bop's in downtown Owensboro and remembers the Beatles hit "Yesterday" playing there a lot.

"I like both of them," Trinity said of the Beatles and Stones. "I like the Beatles more because I've listened to more of them."

Morgan,17, attends Daviess County High School. She tunes in to every genre.

"I don't know if I have a specific kind of music," Morgan said.

The Malott family subscribes to Spotify, a music, podcast and video-streaming service. Everyone in the household uses the service and listens to different genres.

Thanks to the internet, today's youth have more music at their fingertips than any generation before them, Eric Malott said. "They have good taste in music. They're open to all genres. That's a good thing."

Laura Nave, Morgan's mom, grew up listening to the Beatles because her parents couldn't let go of their generation's music. "My mom and dad had their vinyl records. We listened to them over and over. I love ("Revolution") by the Beatles," Laura Nave said.

"Today's music pushes the envelope so much," she said. "Music back then told a story."

At the April 23 concert, two tribute bands -- Abbey Road and Satisfaction -- will face off. The four Owensboro teens will provide orchestral accompaniment on seven songs.

Last month, the tribute bands contacted Daviess County Public Schools and requested orchestral students as backup, said Kelsey Davidson. She teaches orchestra at Burns Middle School and Apollo.

Davidson and Karen Higdon, orchestra teacher at DCHS and Daviess County Middle School, teamed up to select four students.

"We try to spread it around and not pick the same kids," Davidson said.

As far as difficulty goes, the students said "Eleanor Rigby" can be a little tricky, but the seven songs they are rehearsing for April 23 are fairly simple.

"Most of the (classical) work they play is harder," Davidson said.

Owensboro's Fab Four is excited about the upcoming concert. They've even put aside the whole Panthers-Eagles rivalry for the occasion.

They have performed at the RiverPark Center and in front of other large audiences before, so they don't expect any jitters.

"It's a great opportunity. We're getting to play some fun music and getting to play with professionals," Isaac said.

"It's an honor to be selected," Trinity said. "There are so many good musicians in these schools."

Renee Beasley Jones, 270-228-2835, [email protected]