How Much Longer For Nels Cline?

[blrssp]

If this wasn't roughly the three hundredth time someone posted a Nels thread along these lines and if the original poster wasn't such a raving asshat, you'd have a point.

 

--Mike

 

I apologize if this issue has been raised a bunch of times previously. I did try to search the board previous to making the post, but searching "Nels Cline" yielded results too broad to wade through.

 

"Raving asshat?"

[indy81]

The original problem was the OP's implication that Nels would be booted out of the band because of "Mr. Tweedy's" big ego. You can't expect to post something that contentious on a Wilco fan board and not be met with a little hostility.

 

No one has ever left Wilco because he was in danger of becoming "bigger" than Tweedy, and there's no evidence that Tweedy feels threatened in that way (even though the OP stated this as fact.) I'm pretty sure Jay Bennett wasn't kicked out because more people were standing on his side at live shows.

[Three dollars and 63 cents]

I vote we rename this thread "Let's speculate about something none of us can possibly know anything about, since we're neither psychic nor members of Wilco." None of us can possibly know the answer to this. I don't think Nels even knows right now.

 

And if you think Nels is getting "bigger" than Jeff, try going to see him play in any of his non-Wilco projects. Last summer I saw the Singers play to a crowd of 32, including venue employees. This isn't unusual. You're kidding yourself if you think Nels is going to go off and become ridiculously famous after Wilco. He'll go back to his jazz and experimental work, which means he'll get critical acclaim but will also probably go back to barely making any money.

[Livin' in New Orleans]

I think Jeffs guitar work has improved 100% sense the addition of Nels. Nels has brought more to the band then just his superb play but also his influence and technique on the way Tweedy approaches the guitar.

 

Agreed... Nels is comparable to a great power hitter in a baseball lineup... he makes the players around him better

[blrssp]

"And if you think Nels is getting "bigger" than Jeff, try going to see him play in any of his non-Wilco projects. Last summer I saw the Singers play to a crowd of 32, including venue employees. This isn't unusual. You're kidding yourself if you think Nels is going to go off and become ridiculously famous after Wilco."

 

I was not suggesting this at all -- NC doesn't play commericially viable music on his own. What I was suggesting is that in the context of Wilco music -- which was JT's long before it was ever NC's -- NC is clearly thrilling audiences and putting very significant creative stamps on the songs. Some bandleaders might tire of this, especially when the bandleader is a founder and the other guy is a hired hand. Again, given the band's history, I don't think it was unfair to wonder about this issue. Personally, I hope that this partnership remains intact for many years to come.

[SeattleC]

 

I was not suggesting this at all -- NC doesn't play commericially viable music on his own. What I was suggesting is that in the context of Wilco music -- which was JT's long before it was ever NC's -- NC is clearly thrilling audiences and putting very significant creative stamps on the songs. Some bandleaders might tire of this, especially when the bandleader is a founder and the other guy is a hired hand. Again, given the band's history, I don't think it was unfair to wonder about this issue. Personally, I hope that this partnership remains intact for many years to come.

 

Until Nels learns to sing, I don't think either of them have too much to worry about. Now the merger of Porsche and Audi, on the other hand....I see some redundancy there.

[Guest Speed Racer]

NC is clearly thrilling audiences

 

You said when you searched for "nels cline" on VC you came up with too many responses to wade through. Read a few of those, and you'll definitely see that isn't the case for a lot of fans. A LOT of fans.

[Livin' in New Orleans]

You said when you searched for "nels cline" on VC you came up with too many responses to wade through. Read a few of those, and you'll definitely see that isn't the case for a lot of fans. A LOT of fans.

 

I gotta be honest... the bandmember I watch the most = Pat Sansone... he's just so cool to watch

[Guest Speed Racer]

I gotta be honest... the bandmember I watch the most = Pat Sansone... he's just so cool to watch

 

Most people want to stand by Nels mostly so they don't get kicked in the head by Pat.

[Three dollars and 63 cents]

What I was suggesting is that in the context of Wilco music -- which was JT's long before it was ever NC's -- NC is clearly thrilling audiences and putting very significant creative stamps on the songs. Some bandleaders might tire of this, especially when the bandleader is a founder and the other guy is a hired hand. Again, given the band's history, I don't think it was unfair to wonder about this issue. Personally, I hope that this partnership remains intact for many years to come.

 

Wilco is not Jeff Tweedy and five hired hands. This is something you don't seem to get. Don't feel bad--much of the mainstream media doesn't seem to get it, either.

[choo-choo-charlie]

I'd like to point out that Jeff Tweedy was working on his lead guitar work long before Nels Cline joined the band. Just check out the 2001-2003 live recordings...real sloppy in some areas, but constantly improving.

 

I also have to point this out, because apparently some people miss this: Nels Cline was not in Wilco during the recording of AGIB. That's all Tweedy's guitar work on there too. When asked to join the band, after Jeff sent him a copy of AGIB, Nels even said "I'm not sure what I'd do. Jeff's playing so much rad [or other dorky word] guitar on there." Nels joined after AGIB was finished and they were going on the road.

 

So - to say that Jeff's guitar playing has improved 100% after Nels joined, in my opinion, isn't entirely accurate. I'm sure that it's improved, but not by 100%. Maybe 37.5%.

[SeattleC]

I gotta be honest... the bandmember I watch the most = Pat Sansone... he's just so cool to watch

 

 

Indeed!

 

[aricandover]

 

I also have to point this out, because apparently some people miss this: Nels Cline was not in Wilco during the recording of AGIB. That's all Tweedy's guitar work on there too.

 

guitars on A Ghost is Born are split between Jeff, John, and Jim.

[kidsmoke]

Wilco is not Jeff Tweedy and five hired hands. This is something you don't seem to get. Don't feel bad--much of the mainstream media doesn't seem to get it, either.

 

Exactly so.

[thejokeexplained]

 

So - to say that Jeff's guitar playing has improved 100% after Nels joined, in my opinion, isn't entirely accurate. I'm sure that it's improved, but not by 100%. Maybe 37.5%.

 

Maybe 100% was a bit of a exaggeration. I have never thought Jeff was a bad guitar player just a average one. But sense the arrival of Nels his live play in particular has shown improvement. And the live setting is how i judge the work of guitarist.

[SeattleC]

I remember when AGIB came out, a review said Jeff Tweedy must have taking voice and guitar lessons, based on the quality of the recording. I think it was the New York Times, but I haven't tracked it down.

 

 

[OOO]

I think there was an interview somewhere where Jeff said his wife got him guitar lessons from some guitar god or something around that time, as a birthday present or something.

 

edit: It was richard lloyd from Television.

[Gobias Industries]

To be entirely dishonest, I think Nels will leave Wilco in ten minutes.

[Three dollars and 63 cents]

And then Jeff will kick out Glenn and replace him with Spencer? I agree with you, to be entirely dishonest.

[kidsmoke]

To be completely insincere, both of these developments seem highy probable.

[SeattleC]

and then Jeff and Jay Farrar will regroup and produce the greatest album since Revolver, after Jay goes on the media circuit and outdoes Sarah Palin and Mark Sanford in outspokeness about his excitement about things, and says 'will the media just leave them alone to be great already?'

[choo-choo-charlie]

guitars on A Ghost is Born are split between Jeff, John, and Jim.

 

Very, very true - thanks for pointing it out. I guess I was stuck in Jeff/Nels comparison and forgot to mention that...I knew that. I think most of the solos played on the record are Tweedy though. Regardless, my point was that Nels wasn't on AGIB and is not entirely responsible for the meatier guitar sound they have now...

 

[The High Heat]

guitars on A Ghost is Born are split between Jeff, John, and Jim.

 

According to my in-hand credits Leroy Bach played guitar on:

Muzzle of Bees ~ bass

-says John played piano & background vocals (Is this true? I'm not reading it backwards, I swear.)

I'm a Wheel ~ electric guitar

Theologians ~ accoustic guitar

Less Than You Think ~ accoustic guitar, loops, filters & synths

 

Wishful Thinking lists Bach as playing vibes. What are vibes? Are they in the percussion group?

[Dude]

Wishful Thinking lists Bach as playing vibes. What are vibes? Are they in the percussion group?

 

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

I think there was an interview somewhere where Jeff said his wife got him guitar lessons from some guitar god or something around that time, as a birthday present or something.

 

edit: It was richard lloyd from Television.

 

 

Richard Lloyd...guitar god indeed.