Hello friends and fans of Nerissa & Katryna Nields, not to be confused with that other folk duo, Bratilda and Ferocia Shields;

What a fun way to start the year. It has been about a week since our new record hit the street. I like the idea of our album being hocked by boys singing "Extra! Extra! Hey, Look at the headlines. Historical news is being made!" on every street corner. We could be more ubiquitous than even John Edwards in Iowa or Wesley Clark's sweater in New Hampshire. Seriously though, we are pleased as punch to have our new record available to you.

We spent last week celebrating with a performance at B Side records in Northampton, a taping of Here and Now at WBUR in Boston, (I think you can hear us this week. Try Thursday) and a trip to Oxford NY to sing at the Night Eagle Cafe and hang with our Aunt Elizabeth and cousin John. We topped off the week with the first CrackerJack band rehearsal and we could not be more excited. We haven't been so jazzed with anticipation since we were booked to play Newport for the first time. You will love this band. I know it. Dave Chalfant plays 4 different instruments. Dave Hower was glad to play the tom toms on certain old Nields songs again, and we all agreed that his fill on the last verse of "Glory" is one of his all time best. Paul Kochanski is AMAZING on bass, and Dave Chalfant was amused to hear his old parts coming back at him from across the room. Nerissa got to play her Les Paul through her new amp, a weird Sears thing from the '50s that looks cool and sounds like THUNDER! We also did the dance remix version of "The Enemy Called Pants." Katryna and Nerissa kept looking at each other, mouthing "Oh my God this is so much FUN." Meredith and Nerissa put pictures up on our web site so you can see what we looked like as we played together. Full schedule of band shows is up there too.

This weekend, we have gigs in Florida, which is definitely good timing seeing as we're FREEZING up here in coldest New England. Then we're celebrating Dave's birthday on January 31, and on Feb. 6, we do our first full band show, at the Point in Bryn Mawr. PA. Also, we're singing at the UConn Women's basketball game on Feb. 8. This is an early birthday present for Patty; it was the only way she could get tickets. And the week after, we're part of a Beatles Tribute in Noho. Nerissa is practicing her parts on "Ticket To Ride." Katryna is perfecting her Liverpudlian accent.

So Happy New Year! Happy Presidential Election! Happy new Nields release!
See You at the shows.
Love, Katryna and Nerissa

© 2004, reproduced with permission