On the Docket

COME, SEE and HEAR The NEW EARTH BAND at these FOLLOWING EVENTS.  WE’LL FILL YOUR TANK and CHARGE YOUR BATTERIES, THEN WE’LL SEND YOU OUT WITH A FIRE IN THE BELLY, TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS – BECAUSE GOD CAN’T DRIVE A PARKED CAR !!

Thursday, March  11,  2010, 6p-8p – There are just  three more Thursdays left, sadly, before it all ends!  The NEW EARTH BAND’s Little Buford (Lee) appearing with singer/songwriter Dave Reinwald , serving up a whacked-out evening of good-time music and silliness at the Mohnton Navy Yard Galley, 322 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton, PA .  This dazzling duo features golden oldies from the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, plus a generous helping of Gospel tunes, a little American Graffiti style Doo-Wop,  that infamous rubber chicken, some pitifully lousy – but pristine clean  humor, excellent wood-fired-oven pizza, pasta, salad, sandwiches – a truly great time with more genuinely warm and fuzzy folks!  It’s a whole lot better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick !

Friday, March 12, 2010, 2p  - A return  invitation has been extended to The NEW EARTH BAND to bring back its unique brand of rural Gospel music to the residents and staff of Wyomissing Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1000 East Wyomissing Boulevard, Reading, PA, (www.wyomissingnursing.com).

Thursday, March 18, 2010, 6p-8p – The NEW EARTH BAND’s Little Buford (Lee) appearing with singer/songwriter Dave Reinwald, offering up the usual unpredictable musical madness, crashing recklessly through their 3rd year at the Mohnton Navy Yard Galley, 322 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton, PA.     Sing along with warm and toasty oldies from the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, a good bunch of  Gospel tunes, a taste of Doo-Wop, that annoying rubber chicken, some incredibly, painfully poor, but always clean-as-a-whistle  humor, wood-fired-oven pizza, pasta, salad, sandwiches, and desserts.  It’s by far the most fun you can have without getting arrested!  Come out and see us right now, because The Mohnton Navy Yard Galley, as we know it, is closing after next week.  Let’s go out with a roarrrrr!!!

Friday, March 19, 2010, 7p - The NEW EARTH BAND  returns to the scene of the crime at the Cafe at Border’s Books, Music, and Cafe  (www.borders.com), in Wyomissing, PA, for  another ‘rousing evening of bouncing-good rural Gospel music.  This will be our fourth invasion of Border’s, to which we heartily invite all of our friends and followers!

Thursday, March 25, 2010, 6p-8p – TONIGHT WILL BE THE LAST  for The NEW EARTH BAND’s Little Buford (Lee), appearing  with singer/songwriter Dave Reinwald  in an evening of great oldies music and unbelievably-clean-but- stupid jokes at the Mohnton Navy Yard Galley, 322 E. Wyomissing Avenue, Mohnton, PA .   This rickety old ship of fools will close out their run at The Galley, which began in 2007, with a slate of vintage pop, rock’n'roll and country music from the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s, plus a generous serving of  Gospel, a side of doo-wop, that dreadful, squawking rubber chicken, some pitifully lousy humor, excellent wood-fired-oven pizza, pasta, salad, sandwiches – a truly great time with genuinely warm and fuzzy folks!  It’s a whole lot better than root canal !  Help us say “Goodbye” to a good, old friend tonight.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 9a - The staff and residents of The Heritage at Green Hills (www.heritageofgreenhills.com), 10 Tranquility Lane, Reading PA,  will receive a unique wake-up call as The NEW EARTH BAND  will show up - yes, we’re invited! – for breakfast (!)  at 8:30a, followed by an hour of easy, Country Gospel music to start the day in a Heavenward direction.  Where have you gone, Don McNeil?  Arthur Godfrey and His Friends?  Does anybody know?  How are ya, how are ya, how are ya!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 2:30p - Activities Director Lana Fick has  invited The NEW EARTH BAND to return to ManorCare, 425 Buttonwood Street, West Reading (www.hcr-manorcare.com), for a mid-afternoon Country Gospel music fest for the benefit of the residents and staff.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 2:30p - Activities Director Lorraine Hubiak of  Spruce Manor (www.extendicareus.com/sprucemanor), 220 South 4th Avenue, West Reading PA  has booked yet another mid-afternoon matinee of The NEW EARTH BAND’s loose-and-easy rural Gospel music for the Manor’s residents.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 6:30p - The bouncy, happy sounds of The NEW EARTH BAND will once more ring through the rich, paneled rooms of  the beautiful Villa St. Elizabeth, 1201 Museum Road, Reading PA  (www.villastelizabeth.com)  for a tasty, after-supper, Gospel wing-ding!

Monday, June 28, 2010, (time T.B.A.) - The NEW EARTH BAND  has accepted the  invitation of Lebanon PA’s  Classic Country 1510-AM  (wwsm2@evenlink.com) to bring an afternoon of  its good-time, throw-back, Country Gospel Music to the week-long 250th Anniversary Celebration of the town of  Palmyra, PA, the brand spankin’ new home base of  operations for Pat Garrett’s  country music radio icon station.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 2:30p - The folks at Spruce Manor, 220 South 4th Avenue, West Reading PA (www.extendicareus.com/sprucemanor) have  requested an encore of our most recently encored encore (?) .   The NEW EARTH BAND’s loose-and-easy rural Gospel music will ring merrily in the halls of the Manor for its residents and staff this afternoon.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, SALUTES and THANK-YOU’s :

A massive and well-deserved ”Thank-You” from the members of the nine-piece ROCKY MOUNTAIN BAND  (which includes The NEW EARTH BAND’S  Marvelous Markie and Little Buford),  goes out to the Reading and Berks Community, and to the entire congregation and staff of Kissinger’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,  715 Berkshire Boulevard, in Wyomissing, PA (www.kissingerselca.org), for their reception and response that exceeded all expectations at this charity event, “The Benefit For Haiti -The Music of John Denver Concert” on Sunday, March 7, 2010.  God bless you all!

A ‘rousing Danke Schoen to Pastor Ed and the family at The TORCH Community Center (www.torchcc.com), in the ClockTower Plaza, at the intersection of Routes 23/10 and 176, in Morgantown, PA, for a homey welcome and a great time during our Sunday evening, February 21 concert.  Incredibly, Little Buford’s long-time amigo, Paul Carlson, whom he had not seen in 40+ years, drove all the way from Wilkes-Barre, PA, with his family, to catch The NEW EARTH BAND  -  and Markie’s new steel guitar – in action.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the congregation of  Kissinger’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (www.kissingerselca.org), 715 Berkshire Blvd, in Wyomissing, PA  for entrusting to The NEW EARTH BAND their entire Sunday, February 14 worship service – the music, the Scripture readings, the children’s story and the message of the morning, “Knowing God”.

Our thanks to the residents and staff of the beautiful Columbia Cottage (www.columbiacottages.com), 3121 State Hill Road, Wyomissing PA, for their courtesy and kindness at The NEW EARTH BAND’s January 19 matinee concert.

Kudos also to the enthusiastic and animated residents of  Spruce Manor, 220 South 4th Avenue, West Reading PA  (www.extendicareus.com/sprucemanor)  for their warm welcome and avid participation during our January 20 afternoon Gospel-fest.

Our appreciation to the management and staff at Ozzy’s Family Fun Center (www.playozzys.com), 5411 Pottsville Pike, Leesport PA  for bringing in The NEW EARTH BAND to provide the bounce for their Monday, January 18 Faith & Family Night.

The NEW EARTH BAND extends a heart-felt thank you to all those dear sisters of the Sacred Heart Convent (www.bfranciscan.org). 450 St. Bernardine Street, Reading, PA, for their warmth and kindness – and a  most delicious dinner – before our December 18 concert.

Our thanks also to Pastor Mike McCabe of the Kenhorst Boulevard Seventh-day Adventist Church (www.kenhorst.church.org), 333 Kenhorst Boulevard, Reading PA 19607 for inviting us to fill his December 19 sermon time with some easy Gospel and Christmas mix.  However,  due to an overnight snowfall and resulting slick road conditions, we were two  band members short.  So instead of providing the music, Pastor McCabe invited Lee to deliver the message of the morning, “Israel, The Overcomer”.   Pastor McCabe will reschedule The NEW EARTH BAND early in the New Year.

Our gratitude to the Young at Heart group at Wyomissing Church of the Brethren (www.fcotb.org), 2200 State Hill Road, Wyomissing PA for their courtesy and kindness on Saturday evening, December 12, as The NEW EARTH BAND presented a bouncing-good pre-Christmas gig in their beautiful, brand-new church building, following the Young at Heart’s sumptuous dinner.

What a wonderful night! Friday, December 4  was a most enjoyable time for The NEW EARTH BAND .  And according to all appearances,  the residents at Stabon Manor, 16th and Haak Streets, Reading PA,  agree.  The singing and the laughter made it all worthwhile!

To Rick Knerr and staff at the Manor at Market Square (www.manoratms.com), 803 Penn Street, Reading, PA,  belong our most enthusiastic kudos for a great reception, a full room, lots of singing-along, and genuine response to our matinee program on November 18.

Muchos gracias, Amigos! to Kass Kantner and the residents of the Sencit Townhouse Apartments, 20 South Summit Avenue, Shillington PA, for their lively welcome and rousing response to our “Opry at The Sencit” , Wednesday evening, November 11.   The Band was asked to “please play a little longer” and our man Mose, with his rich baritone “pipes” and blazing fiddle, acquired quite a stable of Sencit groupies.

We want to thank Pastor Don Ellwanger and the especially “folksy” congregation of The Community Bible Church (www.communitybibleberks.net) , at 333 Kenhorst Boulevard, Reading, PA, for inviting us to provide all the music  – just pure, old-time, throwback, Country Gospel Music - for  their  Sunday, November 8 worship service.

A monstrous “Thank You!” to Pastor John and Clara VanDenburgh and their  Bible Explorations (www.BibleExplorations.com) staff for their incredible kindness and hospitality during Lee’s 10-day visit to provide music (70+ songs!!)  for The Feast of Tabernacles celebration at Terra Bella, CA.  Attendees came from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Honduras, and Russia to enjoy this delightful 8-day convocation/camp-meeting  in sunny Central California.  Please, why not click on their web-link, above, and see how you, too, can be a living part of  the up-coming 8-day Passover Celebration with saints from across the globe, this coming Spring!

Thanks go out to the Chaplain Eileen for her trust and support,  as The New Earth Band’s Lee Schappell accompanied Dave and Jackie Reinwald, and the trio brought an hour of Gospel music and encouragement  to  the women inmates at Berks County Prison, Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

Our condolences to the family of  Country Rhythm and Blues pioneer Billy Lee Riley, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BillyLee Riley) on his passing, August 2, 2009, following a brief battle with cancer.  Singer, songwriter, session musician, record producer, recording company executive - Riley did it all.   His band, The Little Green Men,  served as The Sun Record Company’s (www.sunstudio.com) studio band, and was in verity “The Sun Sound”,  for which icon Sam Phillips became world renowned.   Billy Lee Riley accompanied such greats and roots performers as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Warren Smith, and Carl Mann, in the wake of Elvis Presley’s departure from the Memphis-based company.  Pocahontas, Arkansas, native, Billy Lee Riley, dead at 75.

Welcome back to Pastor Bill Giersch, of the South Seventh Street Mennonite Church (www.southseventhstreet.pa.us.mennonite.net), 415 S. 7th Street, Reading, PA 19602 on his successful recovery from coronary bypass surgery.

We shout out a boisterous “Thanks!” to Marty Benson and the Assisted Living residents of The Villa at Morlatton, 1152 Ben Franklin Highway, Douglassville PA (www.villaatmorlatton.com) for a warm and fuzzy evening, September 13.

Muchos Gracias! to Activities Director Marlene Maguire and her staff and residents at Elmcroft (www.elmcroftal.com), 9 Colin Court, in Exeter Township, for a most pleasant and memorable afternoon of loose and easy rural Gospel music, September 14.

From The NEW EARTH BAND, a genuine Thank-You to the boosters, Your Berks County (www.yourberkscounty.com), headed by Al Clouser and Jay Dotterer,  for their kind invitation and inclusion in their Independence Day Carnival at Ozzy’s Family Fun Center, 5411 Pottsville Pike,  Leesport, PA.   Yooze guys are dah stimulators – yeah!

We wish to thank Lorraine Hubiak and her staff, and the residents of Spruce Manor, 220 South 4th Avenue, West Reading, PA, for their extra measure of warmth and friendliness during our October 21 mid-afternoon, hopping-good-time GospelFest.

Thanks a great big bunch to Activities Director Kim Shreve, of the  HearthStone at Amity (see www.hearthstonehealthgroup.com)  located at 139 Old Swede Road, Douglassville, PA for a first-class reception during The NEW EARTH BAND’s Sunday afternoon, May 17, concert.

A sincere Thank-You to Pastor Frantz St. Iago-Peretz and to the center-city Reading  Hopewell Mennonite Church congregation for inviting  The NEW EARTH BAND to bring our rral Gospel music to the morning worship hour, Sunday, April 19, 2009.   You are welcome to visit the Reading Hopewell Mennonite Church folks at their web address: www.hopewell–reading.pa.us.mennonite.net, or contact them via email at: hopewellmennonite@dejazzd.com.)

Gracias, Amigos! to the residents and staff at the Wyomissing Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (www.wyomissingnursing.com), 1000 East Wyomissing Boulevard, Reading, PA, for their warm welcome and for singing along with The NEW EARTH BAND during our September 25,  2009, matinee concert.

We gratefully acknowledge Pastor Bill Giersch, and the congregation of the South Seventh Street Mennonite Church, 415 S. 7th Street, Reading, PA 19602 (www.southseventhstreet.pa.us.mennonite.net) for their genuinely warm reception Sunday, March 29, 2009, as The NEW EARTH BAND delivered  a short program of Country Gospel music, sandwiched around the “Israel, the Overcomer” morning message.

The NEW EARTH BAND is grateful for the invitation extended by Penn Avenue Music, 2610 Penn Avenue, West Lawn, (www.pennavemusic.com)  to join an array of bands from a broad variety of genres in providing music for the Benefit Concert for the family of Eric Santore, which was held Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the West Lawn UMC Community Center.

We wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the staff and to those dear Sisters who reside at the Villa St. Joseph for their warmth and genuineness during our matinee concert on January 19, 2009.

Wholehearted thanks go out to Pastor Ken Hoffer and his kind and gentle congregation at Mt. Culmen E.C. Church, tucked away on the hillside, up Turkey Hill Road, in East Earl, PA, for their hospitality and heart-felt response to our most-recent presentation of special music during their Sunday morning worship hour.

The NEW EARTH BAND SALUTES Manager Jay Cole and his first-class staff at the Adventist Book Center (email: pa.abc@pacificpress.com) for their relentless preparation and gracious hospitality during our pre-Christmas in-store concert, just prior to the Holidays.  Gracias, Amigos!!

A very special Thank-you to Pastor Dave Woodruff, of the  Hanover (PA) SDA Church (www.hanoversdachurch.org) for his encouragement and support of  The NEW EARTH BAND and our Gospel ministry.  

A warm Thank-you to Pastor Brian Cassell and the Hampden Heights SDA congregation (www.hampdenheightssdachurch.org), Pricetown Road at Spring Valley Road, Reading, PA, for their gracious response to our half-hour program prior to, and featured musical selection during, their Revelation Bible prophecy seminar.

The NEW EARTH BAND offers its sincere condolences to the family of Reading radio station WRAW 1340 AM (www.wraw1340.com) disc jockey Phil Long on his passing. The son of Country Music legends Shorty and Dolly Long, Phil played with several well-known recording groups, including The Indruders, The Ethics, and The Stylistics, as well as with local bands The Romans, Little Barry & The Barons, The Santa Fe Rangers, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, The Me & Him Duo, Phil Long & The Sticky Buns, and The Freddie Cole Show. Phil also created and hosted the BCTV favorite “Dance Party”, featuring music and dancing from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Most recently, Phil hosted the WRAW radio classics “DooWop After Dark” and “The DooWop Shop”.

The BAND says: THANK YOU ! MERCI ! DANKE ! GRACIAS ! to WEEU 830 AM (www.weeu.com) for giving us the unique opportunity to be a part of Reading and Berks County history! The NEW EARTH BAND provided a “happy-hour” of bouncy, good-time, purely accoustic Country Gospel Music at the 100th Anniversary celebration of our beloved landmark, The Pagoda.