Anyway, here’s the thing with their clothes:

1) They have really cool looking designs and
2) They have a sweet message to them.

I highly encourage you to do some Christmas shopping for your friends (and yourself) online by visiting www.zoeclothingcompany.com

We also gave them our CD to give away with each order too because we love them so much! Spread the word!!

Cheers
Dan

In other news, if you’ve ever seen us play live, you know that one of our favorite songs to play is “For What it’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield. Such an amazing song for its time and it still has poignant lyrics even for today. We turn this folk-sy song into a royal rock jam.

Last week when we were out at Spirit West Coast Festival in the beautiful Monterey, CA, we had our friend and fellow violinist Jonathan Chu from the band SKILLET come by our Late Night Acoustic set for an impromptu jam session. Jonathan is an amazing man, husband, father, and musician and it’s always a joy to hang out with him any time we can at the festivals. Honestly we weren’t sure if Jonathan was going to be able to make it because he had just finished playing with Skillet 15 minutes prior, but he did and we were pleasantly SURPRISED. Check out this special 3 violin acoustic jam here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v​=CO6m8slPnhU

We are basking in the hot summer sun of South Dakota coming back from one of many festivals we’re playing this year. We had a great time at Hills Alive Festival in Rapid City, SD (home of Mt. Rushmore). We love festivals in general for the opportunity to make tons of new friends and to catch cool bands.  So far some fine acts we’ve seen have been The Afters, NewWorldSon, Abandon, Third Day, Matthew West, ManaFest , Switchfoot, and many more. It’s an honor to share the stage with these guys.  We’re about halfway through the year and summer, and we’ve got a big rest of the year ahead. EURO TOUR 2011!! We’re going back this August. Plus more festivals and headlining concerts on the horizon.

Despite all the great shows we’ve been playing, we were in need of some boost in our life.  The business of music can suck away all good art and intentions that you originally started out with. The good news though is that through communication, prayer and encouragement from each other, there is a recent infusion of drive/passion into the music and ministry of our band. We’ve been talking more as a band and that has helped us stoke our dreams and desires.  We’re talking about writing for a new album this fall and starting to do a heavy push for radio as well. Most of all we believe we have something that needs to be said.

Also we’ve seen God’s love poured out very practically through the gracious gifts and donations of friends and fans! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You know who you are!

Enjoy the rest of your summer.  See you around the world.

Some disclaimers: First I believe that one day there will be a time when the world ends whether through our own death or an apocalyptic event. However I believe no one knows the date or time except for God. Second I believe that we’ll be judged and left to ourselves, we would all FAIL.  Access to the pearly gates is not dependent on whether your “good” acts outweigh the “naughty” deeds.  Check out http://howgoodareyou.com/ to take the test and see what the Bible says about how your actions will be judged. Finally I believe Heaven is an awesome place and will be infinitely better than anything we’ve experienced here.

That being said, there are a few things we’ll miss out on earth if the world does end tomorrow.  And thus I present to you:

Top 10 things we’ll miss out on if the Apocalypse happens tomorrow.

10) Reilly raises $50,000 by midnight and never gets to buy their BUS.

9) We miss our 2nd European Tour to Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany and England! Switzerland is the closest to Heaven though that we’ve seen

Recording a Gold Record with famed music producer Bruce Dickinson

7) Recording more cowbell

6) Summer Festival Tour 2011! Thousands of people outside all day underneath the burning sun listening to bands. It’ll be hotter than…

5) Gaining more twitter followers than Lady Gaga. www.twitter.com/REILLYBand (Let’s go for it!)

4) BabyNeedsaBus gets more hits than Rebecca Black’s Friday

3) Our kids Suki, Evie, and Vera start a band called “Daughters of Rock” (get it?!?!)

2) We’ll never have that conversation that went “Remember when Coldplay asked if they could open for us?”

1) The new manager of The Office!?!?

Comments, questions, jokes, complaints can be made to www.facebook.com/REILLYmusic

There was a young guy that I talked to that when I asked what God had taught him over the weekend he responded, “that I need to work harder for God”. I shared with him Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. I explained to him that a wage is something we earn and what we deserve from God is punishment. I had something in my hand that I held out to him and asked how he would respond if I gave him a gift. “Well, I’d have to take it,” he said. And he was right. You have to recognize the gift and receive it, acknowledge and accept it. Realize that the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life is an undeserved gift and all we have to do is simply believe.

The conversation that stood out most was with Jenny, a girl who loved to write songs who shared that she lived in a foster-home. She had me autograph her notebook that she used for writing songs meant to encourage other foster kids struggling with difficult life circumstances. I was really touched by her story and gave her a hug before she left. She returned the next day with her notebook and had me read a song she wrote during the Conference weekend. Like the day before I asked her, “Isn’t it awesome that God loved us so much that he sent Jesus?” She told me that she had just received Christ, so I prayed with her.

A few days later, the band got a message from Jenny’s foster mom, saying that Jenny came home excited and told her about the weekend. It turns out that the foster parents are believers and they were praying that Impact would be the weekend that Jenny would place her faith in Christ! They had to get special permission from the foster care agency for Jenny to go. When Jenny came home and told her parents about the weekend, her mom and dad went out and got her a cake and Bible to celebrate. How precious is that? God did a work in Jenny’s soul, and her parents acknowledged what happened by throwing Jenny a party. I can’t think of more of a reason to celebrate and was blown away hearing this family’s story. I’m so happy that Jenny is in a home that will point her to God’s goodness and faithfulness now that He has adopted Jenny as his precious child.

-Jordan

Here’s a picture of the party!

Reach FM has added “Wake Us Up” into regular rotation, and its climbing their charts. #22 right now, between David Crowder Band and Third Day (not bad company). We’re really grateful to God for the way He’s blessing us!

You might not be aware but its very hard for an independent band like Reilly to get played regularly on Christian radio. Look over every other artist on this chart and you’ll notice they’re supported by a record label.

Want to hear more Reilly on the radio?

If the station you love and listen to already plays Reilly let them know you appreciate it! Thank them. Ask them to keep playing us.

If your Christian radio station hasn’t picked up on Reilly yet consider contacting them and requesting “Wake Us Up.” The folks there really do care about what you like. They get tons of songs from labels and bands alike, but at the end of the day its you they are seeking to serve with their ministry. Your voice matters.

Personally, I (Matthew) don’t like jewel cases and have never used them when designing Reilly’s albums. Sure, jewel cases are the cheapest option but they’re overused, easily breakable, and not friendly to the environment. As a graphic designer I’m particularly sensitive to the overused part. I mean, who wants their stuff to look like everything else? Not me.

I’m also aware that God has given us a unique care-taking role in the earth. In Genesis 1:28 God tells mankind to “fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Creation plays a unique role in communicating God’s glory. Psalm 19:1 says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

To the extent we seek to care for the earth we fulfill our original creation mandate and seek to not obscure God’s glory communicated through His handiwork.

I’m sure there’s a lot more we could be doing as a band. Reilly spends a huge amount of time driving around the country in a van, so we’re spreading plenty of carbon in other ways! Still, the packaging on “Around the World” is just one small step we wanted to take.

What are some steps you’ve taken to be more green? Please share!

For a complete list of dates, go to www.reillytheband.com/tour

February Shows:

Feb 5 – Philadelphia, PA
Feb 11 – Richmond, VA
Feb 12 – Baltimore, MD
Feb 17 – Lancaster, PA

Noele took hardly anytime off and we played our first full band show a couple weekends ago. 11 days after giving birth. Once again, hard to the core.  The whole band is excited for 2011 because of all the changes within the families but also the momentum that has been building and the vision of big things for this year. We realize we need a lot of grace to do what we do and we believe God will provide so that we can go out and play music for you guys.

Check out our tour calendar www.reillytheband.com/tour because we’ve got a slew of shows already lined up for Feb/March/April and etc…

A great way to end 2010... Introducing Vera Noele Bomberger.

So we have had an amazing year in 2010. I can not believe we have had the privilege to create music and to play it for you all this past year. This is the truly the best job in the world and I thank you for your support. Anyone who has come to see a show (or several shows , downloaded a song off iTunes, purchased a poster, and who have left us a message on our blog or facebook… WE LOVE YOU.

We feel totally blessed this past year for the new states and countries we got to perform in. God has expanded our boundaries and we are sharing our songs with new audiences each week. With our new record in hand, we went to EUROPE! Switzerland, Germany, UK, Netherlands! and we visited our neighbors up north in Toronto, Canada!  What an amazing dream like experience. Then we joined up with the amazingly talented and wonderful BarlowGirl and spread holiday cheer during our Christmas tour.

******

I also realized there were many sad moments this year with friends and family members passing away. We found out more friends have cancer. Couples are getting divorced.  Pain and suffering is real…“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” Isaiah 40:31

The opportunity to love people is the greatest gift we have to offer. Let’s strive to do that with all our heart in 2011.

We can’t wait to see you in the new year. Many big things to come in 2011. See you there.

REILLY