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Brian McTear started Bitter bitter weeks some time around 2001 as a solo performer. He always knew it would need to become a band, though. Now, the third record, Peace is burning like a river, has just been completed. Release details are to be announced.

McTear is a record producer, who has worked with many great bands over the last ten years (Matt Pond PA, Mazarin, Danielson, The A-sides, Hail Social, ....).

Amy Morrissey is the singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitar player for the Novenas. She is also an artist. Her work is exceptional and unique. She will never sell it, though it can be viewed at Amymorrissey.com. Her work has been featured on all three Bitter bitter weeks albums. Amy is also an engineer and co-owner of Miner Street Recordings in Philadelphia with McTear. She produced and engineered Peace is burning... with McTear at their studio.

Mike Fleming played bass guitar. After quitting the A-sides, Mike went on an open-ended trip to Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, he received an email from McTear asking if he'd like to play bass for the record. Already under pressure from his girlfriend to return, he came home and wrote excellent bass lines. Then, thankfully, he rejoined the A-sides (which is where we all knew he should be). Mike is also an incredibly sophisticated photographer. See his work at mikeflemingphotography.com.

Ric Menck played drums on the album. Long before ever meeting him, Brian pointed out Ric's fantasticly powerful drumming to his friend Quentin from the band Mazarin. Years later Amy would introduce Brian and Ric when he flew in from L.A. to play on the Novenas record ("flew in" sounds very glamorous, though it was hardly first class... it may not even have been a direct flight). Ric also plays with his band The Velvet Crush, as well as Matthew Sweet, The Tyde, and many others. He is also writing a book about the Byrds' Notorious Byrd Brothers album for Continuum Publishing's 33 1/3 series (out in 2006).

Jesse Gallagher drove in from Boston with fellow Apollo Sunshine bandmate, Sean Aylward at around 11pm. By around 4am he had made his way through the organ parts on 8 Bitter bitter weeks songs, 5 of which are on this new album. He was the first person to be recorded in the new Miner Street Studios. The next morning, he and Sean sang on the album as well. Jesse is massively talented. He dropped out of Berklee because it wasn't even remotely comparable to his own greatness. Jesse has a wonderfully good heart.

Brian Christinzio played piano and a couple of organ tracks, as well. Brian is the main force behind BC Camplight (One Little Indian records). He lives about two blocks from Miner Street, and frequently comes by to play on many an album. He has a voice like an angel, and a wonderfully generous soul.