As you know by now, if you've been reading these e-missives, our album, This Town Is Wrong is coming out on January 13. Hoopla hoopla! Huzzah! (What does "huzzah" mean anyway? Is it just a funky ethnic version of "hurrah"?)* We are excited. We are getting our picture taken. We are getting our brows waxed, maybe. Maybe not. Ouch.

Some of the songs on This Town Is Wrong: "The Day I Let Glory Steer," "Glow in the Dark Plastic Angel," "Clairman Town," "This is the Work that We Do," "Paris," "When I'm Here," and a bunch of others. You'll like it. It's yummy. And we'll be doing some FULL BAND shows with the Crackerjack Band come 2004. We are PSYCHED!!

*the dictionary in Microsoft Word says "Huzzah" means Hooray" in "archaic." That seemed woefully inadequate, so I went online and found that Merriam -Webster says the origin is unknown, but it appeared in 1573 and is understood to be an expression or shout of acclaim -- often used interjectionally to express joy or approbation.

To celebrate the birth of yet another Nields CD (number 11)? We are having a big ole honkin' SALE! From now till Dec. 31, 2003, Bob on the Ceiling, Gotta Get Over Greta and 'Mousse will be a mere schmere $10, both online and at live shows! Also, to sweeten the pot even more, at our live shows, (as if we play dead shows) we will be selling the newly unearthed Abigail, our 5 song EP recorded in 1995 (includes studio versions of "Alfred Hitchcock," plus "Happy Ever After Afternoon," "Irene Goodnight" and an acoustic version of "Waco Lake.")

Our Club Helsinki show had a change in the date: it's now on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 8pm. The food is fabu, and the vibe is unbeatable. Come on down! If you drive from Boston, you can sing the second verse of "Sweet Baby James" like this: "Well, the seventh of December was covered with snow/And so was the Turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston." That is, if it snows.

Nerissa is continuing to teach writing workshops. The songwriting workshop which meets Wednesday nights is ongoing and meted out in 4 week at a time commitments. The next session starts January 7. The writing workshops on Mondays and Thursdays go for longer. The next adult writing group starts Jan 8 and the next young adult/teen group starts January 5. The teen group will meet from 5pm-6pm on Mondays and costs $200 for an eight week course. Workshops make great holiday gifts, hint hint. For more info, check out the Nields website.

Speaking of our Website, we will soon have music samples available, so you can listen to our tunes. Thanks to Meredith for this!

Love, Nerissa

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K, I know this might prove to be an unpopular thing to say, but for the first time in my life I am actually looking forward to when everyone gets their Christmas decorations up. I am not the slightest bit annoyed or disgusted by the aisle in my grocery store dedicated to fake greenery and plastic snowmen. This is in part because I have decided that after many years of refusing to join in, I am going to get a Christmas tree this year. Plus we had our first real snow last night. Amelia was thrilled. She asked to go sledding and I explained that sledding was reserved for when there was enough snow to actually COVER the grass. I was very reluctant to admit that fall was approaching but winter? The solstice? I cannot wait.

We have really wonderful fun shows coming up too. This weekend we are playing the Fez under Time Cafe. We always have a great time here and We're About Nine is opening. Did you hear their cover of Because at the Beatles workshop at Falcon Ridge. It was truly sublime. We love NYC. On Saturday we are off to our other favorite neighborhood: church basement circuit around the fine town of Boston. We are headed to The New Song Coffeehouse. What's better than a November evening at a coffeehouse near Boston? I bet they'll even have hot apple cider. If not, you're sure to get a piping hot cup of herbal tea. :-)

The following weekend we are having a serious treat. We are playing a couple of shows with Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines. They are amazing. I am a sucker for Terri's Texas twang voice and Lloyd's playing send chills up my spine. We have played with them a few times before and there will definitely be some hootenanny. Lloyd is the producer of the Dixie Chicks latest record and he is genetically responsible for Natalie. You gotta love that. Those shows are at the Point in Bryn Mawr (yes)! On Friday and Jammin' Java in Vienna V A (everyone has told us this place is deliciously fun) on Saturday night.

In December we only have two shows since we are laying low before our album comes out in January. Plus we have to take some time off to celebrate our Mom's 60th birthday! December's shows are at two of our favorite places. On Friday Dec 5. We are playing at the Acoustic Cafe in Bridgeport, CT and on Sun Dec 7. We are playing at Club Helsinki in Great Barrington, MA. These two clubs are almost cut from the same cloth. In fact I think they both have the same cool funky lights on their ceilings. But seriously they are both intimate listening rooms with yummy food and fantastic audience members.

We hope to see you all out on the road and don't be afraid to show up in your Santa hat or your crown of greenery or whatever....

Love, Katryna

© 2003, reproduced with permission