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Nels interview in the LAist


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http://laist.com/2009/06/19/laist_interview_wilco_guitartist_ne_1.php

 

>Now that you're a part of the band, has anything changed in terms of your personal music or your approach to music? Do you see yourself changing the way you play?

 

Well, let's see. Wow. Tough question to answer succinctly. I'll have to say yeah, there's a lot of things I'm working on musically that are apropos to Wilco's palate that I'd like to get better at. One of those things is a more country influenced style. But also, in terms of playing my own music, it's always difficult to [find a balance]. I don't work as much with my own band as much as I'd like to, but at the same time, it was never a goal of mine to work as much as Wilco worked and play in my own band. Sometimes I wonder if I even like my own music anymore. But we do have a new series of recordings: we have a new studio album and a live album...so there's stuff coming out that makes it look like I still play with them [haha]. But it's all a challenge; everyday is a challenge. I don't think that playing guitar is that easy for me. Everyday I try to hunker down and play the best I can.

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I posted a link to this in the Watt & Nels thread yesterday, along with a link to a good video interview with him from Bonnaroo. I never know whether to start a new thread when I find that kind of stuff (or when someone sends it my way, which was the case with both of these pieces) or to just put it in a thread where we're already talking about him.

 

I hate to hear him doubting himself a bit, too, though he may have been joking. And even if he wasn't, I think he's one of those artists who uses self-doubt to propel him forward instead of hold him back. If he's not happy with what he's already created, he's just going to keep creating more music until he finds something he's happy with. I wish I could take my lack of self-confidence about my writing and use it that way, because that tireless work ethic is something I've always admired about him.

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he's probably just burned out from the kind of workload that Wilco does as opposed to his workload pre-Wilco. I think, and I don't mean this in a mean way or anything, that he's kind of just decided to coast at times during shows. Nothing wrong with it, but you can kind of tell when he starts tremolo picking in a solo that that's his fastball.

 

That said, i love Nels. However, I'll be standing on John and Pat's side at the next concert.

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he's probably just burned out from the kind of workload that Wilco does as opposed to his workload pre-Wilco.

 

You mean, like:

 

Traveling in a climate controlled bus and playing catered venues after the equipment was loaded, set up and maintained by roadies, while getting a nice, steady paycheck.

 

vs.

 

Traveling in a crowded van which may or may not be tourworthy or air conditioned, loading and maintaining all his own gear and playing sweaty dumps, only to arrive home with less money than he had before the tour started?

 

I'm just giving you a hard time. You have a valid point. I would think being away from his own music for so long, and only getting to play with his own band during breaks from Wilco could result in having doubts. Maybe he feels his band as a unit doesn't play at the level they would if they were able to play and rehearse together with more regularity.

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I posted a link to this in the Watt & Nels thread yesterday, along with a link to a good video interview with him from Bonnaroo. I never know whether to start a new thread when I find that kind of stuff (or when someone sends it my way, which was the case with both of these pieces) or to just put it in a thread where we're already talking about him.

 

 

 

I never know either. Maybe it'd be easier if there was an all encompasing Nels thread (and same for Pat, Mikael, Glen, etc.), for posting Nels news, interviews, concert dates, etc. That might get cumbersome, though. And stalkerish.

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>That said, i love Nels. However, I'll be standing on John and Pat's side at the next concert.

 

Interesting. My last show was McCarren Pool, and I'm looking forward to planting myself (and a Wilco newbie friend) in front of Nels for the Keyspan park show in July.

 

>Maybe it'd be easier if there was an all encompasing Nels thread (and same for Pat, Mikael, Glen, etc.), for posting Nels news, interviews, concert dates, etc

 

Good idea, like the thread for reviews of the new album.

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I don't think that playing guitar is that easy for me. Everyday I try to hunker down and play the best I can.

 

This quote in particular interests me. Nels never makes it look easy. He attacks the guitar like it's a ferocious, wild animal that is gnawing his leg. He always seems like he's trying to demolish the guitar, or hurt himself, or both. And based on the Ashes DVD, he is indeed hurting himself out there. Sometimes I wish he'd just take it easy and not be so hyperintensive in his approach to every solo, just kinda stand there and allow the music to flow out of him. For someone who has the entire vocabulary of guitar at his fingertips, who can play any chromatic / diatonic / pentatonic scale you can name, you would think he would get up there and just be comfortable with his playing.

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This quote in particular interests me. Nels never makes it look easy. He attacks the guitar like it's a ferocious, wild animal that is gnawing his leg. He always seems like he's trying to demolish the guitar, or hurt himself, or both. And based on the Ashes DVD, he is indeed hurting himself out there. Sometimes I wish he'd just take it easy and not be so hyperintensive in his approach to every solo, just kinda stand there and allow the music to flow out of him. For someone who has the entire vocabulary of guitar at his fingertips, who can play any chromatic / diatonic / pentatonic scale you can name, you would think he would get up there and just be comfortable with his playing.

 

 

I think there are plenty of examples of him doing exactly this. The solo in Ashes being an obvious example. Either Way is another. There were numerous examples of this when I saw him with the Singers and with Carla Bozulich. I don't think he should be limited to doing just that, though. Some somgs call for a more violent approach.

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I think there are plenty of examples of him doing exactly this. The solo in Ashes being an obvious example. Either Way is another. There were numerous examples of this when I saw him with the Singers and with Carla Bozulich. I don't think he should be limited to doing just that, though. Some somgs call for a more violent approach.

 

Yeah, Ashes he completely soars on. Other solos, it really seems like it's a fight to get the solo out, if that makes any sense, and the struggle isn't due to a lack of skill, but more like he's fighting his own intensity.

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Yeah, Ashes he completely soars on. Other solos, it really seems like it's a fight to get the solo out, if that makes any sense, and the struggle isn't due to a lack of skill, but more like he's fighting his own intensity.

 

Well, try closing your eyes. If you like what you hear, then who cares what he has to do with his body to reate the sound?

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You mean, like:

 

Traveling in a climate controlled bus and playing catered venues after the equipment was loaded, set up and maintained by roadies, while getting a nice, steady paycheck.

 

vs.

 

Traveling in a crowded van which may or may not be tourworthy or air conditioned, loading and maintaining all his own gear and playing sweaty dumps, only to arrive home with less money than he had before the tour started?

 

I'm just giving you a hard time. You have a valid point. I would think being away from his own music for so long, and only getting to play with his own band during breaks from Wilco could result in having doubts. Maybe he feels his band as a unit doesn't play at the level they would if they were able to play and rehearse together with more regularity.

 

touring is still a bitch, no matter what you're touring in. plus he's obviously been doing it a long time and it's taken its toll on him...look at the Ashes DVD.

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If Coward proved anything, it is that he is really a master on acoustic guitar as well as electric and should be allowed to do some of that with Wilco as well.

 

LouieB

 

I agree. It's always surprised me that he doesn't play much (any?) acoustic guitar with Wilco, since albums like The Inkling and Coward and even a few of the quieter pieces on the Singers' last album show his acoustic skill. This reminds me that I still haven't gotten around to getting a copy of his acoustic trio album with Jim McAuley (sp?) and the late Rod Poole, which I've been meaning to.

 

Also, it would be great if this wouldn't turn into yet another "let's complain about Nels" thread, because haven't we had enough of those already? It's not there yet, but it seems like it's heading in that direction.

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touring is still a bitch, no matter what you're touring in. plus he's obviously been doing it a long time and it's taken its toll on him...look at the Ashes DVD.

 

You'll get no argument from me. I presented those two touring scenario mostly as a joke. Touring is definitely a grind, no matter how much luxury you afford yourself (unless you're Paul McCartney, or Madonna or something, then it's probably pretty cushy). Hell, how many times does Nels switch guitars in a typical show? That alone is probably enough to cause aches and pains after a while.

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the Acoustic Guitar Trio stuff is just awesome, get it now! it really is unlike anything I've ever heard before, but then again I don't really know of a lot of guys doing improv/avant garde on acoustic guitars.

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You'll get no argument from me. I presented those two touring scenario mostly as a joke. Touring is definitely a grind, no matter how much luxury you afford yourself (unless you're Paul McCartney, or Madonna or something, then it's probably pretty cushy). Hell, how many times does Nels switch guitars in a typical show? That alone is probably enough to cause aches and pains after a while.

 

he switches a lot. plus he goes crazy sometimes...i saw them last monday in oklahoma city and he just went off. i love them.

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