Nels Cline had been playing guitar for decades before he was "that totally awesome dude who wails for Wilco." In fact, the L.A.-born Cline has been working as a guitarist and songwriter since 1967. And so it makes sense that between promoting last year’s Sky Blue Sky with the band, Cline is playing a few shows with his Nels Cline Singers, showing off the experimental jazz he loves best.
If you won’t be in New York City this April, or near the northern border this June, you can also listen to Cline’s audible genius on Cryptogramophone labelmates The Jeff Gauthier Goatette’s next release, House of Return. Cline contributed two new songs to the album, which will be released in the summer.
In related news, tickets for Wilco’s August 13 Brooklyn show, which is a benefit for the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn, went on pre-sale today via MusicToday , and go on regular sale Friday via Ticketmaster .
Meanwhile, watch Cline wail, jazz style:
April
23 - New York, N.Y. @ Jazz Standard
24 - New York, N.Y. @ Jazz Standard
25 - New York, N.Y. @ Jazz Standard
27 - Echo Park, Calif. @ EchoPlex
June
1 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ Dakota Jazz Club
2 - Madison, Wisc. @ High Noon Saloon
3 - Chicago, Ill. @ Martyrs
4 - Indianapolis, Ind. @ The Jazz Kitchen
5 - Ann Arbor, Mich. @ The Ark
6 - Charlottesville, Va. @ The Paramount Theater
8 - Montreal, Quebec @ Suooni Per Il Popolo
Related links:
WilcoWorld.net
Nels Cline on MySpace
The Nels Cline Singers on YouTube
Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.

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