The JamBase Podcast: Wilco Guitarist Nels Cline

By Team JamBase Dec 12, 2019 • 9:03 am PST

The latest episode of The JamBase Podcast, a member of the Osiris podcast network, is now available to stream on your prefered platform. Episode 52 features a “Musical Mentors” interview with Wilco guitarist Nels Cline.

Cline met up with JamBase’s Andy Kahn during Wilco’s recent three-night run in St. Paul, Minnesota. The interview starts with a discussion about Wilco’s tour in support of their new album, Ode To Joy. The pair also touch on Spinning Creature, the new album by Cline’s project with his wife Yuka Honda called CUP.

Nels then revisits his childhood growing up with his identical twin brother Alex Cline, who plays drums and has collaborated with Nels often, and how they were encouraged to by their parents to pursue artistic endeavors. Nels describes the circumstances that led to getting his first guitar and how hearing Jimi Hendrix on the radio changed his life. Nels reveals that he was negatively affected by an unpleasant occurrence taking guitar lessons.

Nels talks about the guidance he received from Rule Beasley, a teacher who was integral in helping the guitarist find confidence following his previous negative instructional experience. Nels describes learning about jazz and more from trumpet/cornet player Bobby Bradford and saxophonist John Carter. Nels goes into extensive detail about his important relationship with the late Eric Von Essen who was essential and perhaps most important to Nels’ development as a musician. The interview wraps with Cline discussing how he interacts with younger musicians he’s met in recent years.

Listen to Episode 52 of The JamBase Podcast featuring Nels Cline below or via the podcast provider of your choice: