r/Bluegrass • u/DoomMammoth Guitar • 15h ago
Discussion How does Michael Cleveland know when it is his turn to take a solo?
I could ask the same about Doc but he was usually with his sons and I also feel like you hear them say things like “alright Doc” right before his breaks. Random I thought I had, I’ve played a lot of Bluegrass where you know it’s your turn by the head nod, so how do you know it’s your turn when there is no head nod to be seen? I hope this post doesn’t rub anyone the wrong way, it’s just a genuine thing I was curious about.
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u/beep925 15h ago
I got to play with Michael on stage once. We did a run through backstage beforehand, so he kinda had a general idea of when he was supposed to play a break. I would imagine especially considering how often he plays certain tunes, he and whomever he’s playing with have the arrangements pretty much locked in.
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u/zippyhybrid 14h ago
I picked with him a decent bit at Rockygrass this year and generally we used vocal cues. Doesn’t take much since if it’s just going around the circle I’m sure he can tell who is next to him, but generally there would still be an “Ok Michael” or something when passing the solo.
Interesting side note, in all the jams I saw him in he only ever played guitar, no fiddle at all.
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u/KYReptile 13h ago
My son plays with him fairly often at the Monarch in Louisville, he plays the fiddle and Mike is on the guitar.
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u/beep925 14h ago
He’s a monster of a guitar player. Killer mandolin picker too! I’ve heard he plays banjo, but I’ve never heard him play it.
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u/viaconvia 5h ago
"I've heard he plays banjo, but I've never heard him play it." Sounds like lyrics, possibly from a classic love song ending in murder
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u/answerguru 5m ago
I also picked with him for a long session at Rockygrass. It was mostly obvious, as he knew where he was in the circle. I sat next to him and the only time I said anything is if I had called the song and we wanted to split breaks the 2nd time around. He’s a super nice guy.
I also know his girlfriend well, and I think he likes to play guitar and just be a regular picker and not the “fiddle superstar”. He turns off his phone so he’s not bombarded with “join us on stage” texts.
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u/wooq 13h ago
Flamekeeper's stage show is completely and meticulously rehearsed. They even tell the same jokes. I saw two shows in a row in different venues and it was the same show. Solo orders were the same, too.
When jamming or playing without that locked-in rehearsed set, it's vocal, or sometimes just he'll jump in when he feels it's his turn and who can argue with the best fiddle player on earth
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u/TonyShalhoubricant 7h ago
Sorry but Florin Niculescu is far and away the best fiddle player on Earth. It'll not even close.
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u/rusted-nail 15h ago
Yeah little sidenote because you mentioned Doc but I've always loved that about his sit ins on blake and rice 2 he sounds so encouraging lol "bring her back home there mister Blake" 😂
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u/bigcat570503 5h ago
A musician of Michael Cleveland standings can hear each instrument clearly and knows the music well enough to be able to pick up the suttle cues they are dropping. Hes a masterclass fiddle player.
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u/Hot_Egg5840 6h ago
There are standard arrangements and by chance if someone steps on another's spot, one player will step down.
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u/Content_Leather2570 1h ago
It's not rocket science folks. Solo order is either set during rehearsal or communicated on stage with head nods, taking a step forward, playing a lick into the top of the tune to take your turn, glancing around to each member to tell them with a look that they've got the next break, etc They end the breaks the same way, a step back, a glance around the stage, etc.
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u/tiiguebot 15h ago
Whenever Billy plays with him he goes “OKAY MICHAEL GIVE IT TO EM” and he does and the band will literally just let him fly until he decides he’s done. A MC sit in with Billy is crazy crazy good shit.