As per the headline, it appears that the former Geraldine Fibber, present Nels Cline Singer, free music’s hired gun du jour, twin to Alex, new guy in Wilco that’s not Pat Sansone, etc. ad naus. has contracted that dreaded scourge of childhood known as chicken pox (Varicella zoster). And according to one of those annoying MySpace bulletins that eat up both your inbox and leisure time, perennial dad rockers Wilco have had to cancel two upcoming shows – tomorrow night (8/14/07) in Duluth, MN and Wednesday in Winnipeg, Manitoba – as a result.

The bulletin goes on to say, somewhat vaguely, that Cline is “slowly on the mend” and getting “over the hump.” The Duluth show has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 4^th, and refunds will be made available to those who can’t attend (no word yet on a rain date and/or refund for the Canucks). Here’s hoping an Aveeno Oatmeal Bath does the trick, and that the ever busy Cline recovers faster than Morrissey does.

By far, Nels Cline is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever heard, in my Top 10 of those I’ve actually seen – and as his kick-ass website can most certainly attest – thee most literate and candid guitarist working today. Wanna see pics of his touring rig in all it’s electronically processed grandeur, along with a detailed technical discussion of it? Ever wonder who his own Top 200 guitarists are or what he really thinks about Jeff Tweedy? Check out www.nelscline.com for all this and more.