Due To COVID-19, Wilco Plays First Show Without Lead Guitarist Nels Cline In 18 Years

Last night, at Teatro Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain, Wilco performed their first show in 18 years without lead guitarist, Nels Cline. Earlier that day, Cline had tested positive for COVID-19, but insisted that the band go on without him. Jeff Tweedy noted Cline’s absence, and expressed hope that there wouldn’t many shows missed by the master axeman. Cline’s coronavirus episode has occurred just six shows into Wilco’s tour for their recently released 12th studio album, Cruel Country.

 

Cline in recovery posted this on social media (twitter, Instagram, Facebook):

And now, the setlist for the first Nels Cline-less Wilco show since he joined the band, with multi-instrumentalist, Pat Sansone, onstage at Otto’s in Dekalb, Illinois, on May 19, 2004. (Of course, there’s no “Impossible Germany):

Teatro Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain 6/20/22

“I Am My Mother” / “Cruel Country” / “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” / “Kamera” / “Story to Tell” / “Ambulance” (Jeff solo) / “Sunken Treasure” / “Hummingbird” / “Poor Places” / “War on War” / “At Least That’s What You Said” / “Passenger Side” / “The Universe” / “How to Fight Loneliness” / “Hearts Hard to Find” / “Box Full of Letters” / “Jesus, Etc.” / “Forget the Flowers” / “California Stars” / “A Lifetime to Find” / “Heavy Metal Drummer” / “I’m the Man Who Loves You”

 

Encore: “Red-Eyed and Blue” / “I Got You (At the End of the Century)” / “Monday” / “Outtasite (Outta Mind)”

To get a taste of a Cline-less Wilco, here's a clip from last night's show of “Sunken Treasure”:

For information (tickets, schedule, etc.) on Wilco’s current Cruel Country tour please visit their official website, wilcoworld.net.

Wilcopedia (The Blog) wishes Cline a full, and speedy recovery. Here’s hoping he won’t miss the entire Spain leg (seven shows) of the tour.

More later...