Yesterday & Today

Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience is the nation’s most innovative and unique show utilizing the works of the Beatles. This amazing band, anchored by brothers Billy, Matthew and Ryan McGuigan perform as themselves and leave the song choices completely in the hands of the audience. This is done through request cards that audience members fill out prior to the show. On those cards, the audience member only needs to fill out three things: their name, their favorite Beatles song and the reason why they chose that song. The cards are collected and two minutes before the show begins, a set list is created based upon the songs chosen by that particular audience. As an added treat, the reasons that the audience members chose those songs make up the narrative of the evening. Every show is different, every show is interactive, and every show proves that The Beatles music truly is the soundtrack to our lives.

THE MCGUIGAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE TO THEIR DAD

In 1996, Billy, Ryan and Matthew McGuigan were just 21, 18, and 15 years old when their father, William McGuigan passed away, after a difficult but courageous battle with Leukemia.

William “Bill”, was enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1994. He held the position of Tech Sergeant in the United States Air Force when the boys were young. Aside from his work in the armed forces, Bill had an immense love for two things in life. Naturally, the first being his sons, but it was the music of The Beatles, that came a close second.

Bill owned every Beatles album there was…even the obscure ones. However, as a family, the McGuigans were quite poor. So, rather than going out to entertain the

young ones, Bill stayed home with them and shared his love of the Beatles catalogue with his boys.

Little did any of them know, it would turn out to be one of the greatest gifts a father could pass on to his children.

Now, Billy, Ryan and Matthew have united their musical talents, charms and passion for performing to create the ultimate living tribute to the greatest man they’ve known. They tour the world with the show, “Yesterday & Today”, which is a unique audience interactive concert experience, born out of the idea that everyone, like themselves, has a story or particular memory attached to the legendary music of The Beatles.

What the McGuigan boys have overwhelmingly found, since debuting the show in 2007, is that not only do people have a story to tell, but they are absolutely ready and willing to tell that story when being able to tie it to their favorite Beatles song. On some level, it goes beyond sheer entertainment, and perhaps becomes a hint of music therapy. Every night the songs change, the faces change and the stories change. But one element always remains the same between the McGuigans and their fans. A mutual respect for why they are there. Whether it’s for the sheer love of the music, or to have a personal connection with it, either way, the McGuigan boys get to do what they love most – honoring the memory of a their greatest hero, and the priceless gift he gave them so many years ago.

“Smart enough not to tamper with the original class act, Billy and fellow musicians don’t mess around with English accents…and they don’t wear The Beatles’ wigs or cut their hair like The Beatles. However, they do deliver The Beatles’ music in a BIG way.” – Joanne Greco Rochman, Republican American

“Foot-stomping, clapping in union, singing along and outright screaming from the audience, especially during the all-out panic that erupted when a little ditty named “Revolution” was played!” –David Williams, Omaha City Weekly

“On a musical roll last summer, the Omaha Playhouse boasted the hottest ticket in town. Yesterday and Today, starred Billy McGuigan who wowed audiences with his innovative singing style.” –Steve Eskew, The Reader Year in Review

“So much more than a Beatles Tribute. It is not just music… it is so much more than that.” – Largo Patch