On Dead Set Live, every track we spin is a live version, capturing the raw energy, improvisation, and spirit that only the stage can deliver. Tonight, we’re shining a spotlight on Bobby & The Midnites, Bob Weir’s adventurous side project from the early 1980s, where the Grateful Dead guitarist took his sound into jazz-rock fusion territory.
This wasn’t just a side gig—it was a laboratory for new sounds. With Billy Cobham (jazz drumming legend) and Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report bassist) locking down the rhythm section, the Midnites delivered performances that were equal parts experimental and electrifying. The studio albums were solid, but the live shows? That’s where the magic happened.
Bobby & The Midnites Live: The Brandywine Club, Jan 26, 1982
Let’s start with a real gem: the Brandywine Club in Chadds Ford, PA, on January 26, 1982. The setlist shows just how wide-ranging the band’s musical vision was:
- Poison Ivy (The Coasters cover)
- Big Iron (Marty Robbins cover)
- (I Want to) Fly Away
- Far Away
- The Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon cover)
- Easy to Slip (Little Feat cover)
- Bahama Mama (Alphonso Johnson original)
- Me, Without You
- Rock in the ’80s
- Man Smart, Woman Smarter (King Radio cover)
- Bombs Away (Bob Weir original)
- Salt Lake City (Bob Weir original)
- Milk Cow Blues (Kokomo Arnold cover)
- Book of Rules (The Heptones cover)
- Minglewood Blues (Cannon’s Jug Stompers cover)
This set captures everything that made Bobby & The Midnites special. Originals like Bombs Away and Me, Without You sat right alongside reggae-infused covers like Book of Rules and blues staples like Little Red Rooster. The diversity in song choices reflects not only Weir’s broad influences but also the musical muscle of the band behind him. Bobby started to play on our table in the club just off the stage. It was funny.
Tower Theatre Memories
You caught them twice at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, PA—first on November 2, 1980, and again on February 10, 1982. Both shows are remembered for their intensity and adventurous setlists. The Tower Theatre, with its warm acoustics and intimate feel, became a perfect setting for the Midnites’ blend of rock, reggae, and jazz-fusion fireworks.
The Calderone Concert Hall Broadcast
One of the band’s defining moments came on February 6, 1982, at the Calderone Concert Hall in Hempstead, NY. WLIR FM broadcast the performance, making it one of the most widely heard Midnites shows at the time. With Cobham and Johnson driving the groove, Weir leaned into material like Heaven Help the Fool and Josephine. It was a night where the Midnites didn’t just experiment—they delivered.
You mentioned seeing both Calderone shows, including the two-in-one-night gig. For fans lucky enough to be there, it was the Midnites at full tilt: a blast of technical prowess mixed with Bob’s unique storytelling and stage presence.
Capitol Theatre: The Band at Its Peak
The Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ was another key venue for Bobby & The Midnites. On February 5, 1982, the band put on a powerhouse performance that fans still talk about. It was later preserved and released through Wolfgang’s Vault, solidifying its status as one of their most important live documents.
The August 1, 1984 show at the Capitol, preserved in full high-quality video, gives fans today a chance to witness the Midnites’ later-era sound. Watching Bob and the band dig into tracks like Bombs Away and Rock in the ’80s feels like opening a time capsule from the early ’80s jam-rock scene.
Jamaica World Music Festival, 1982
One of the Midnites’ biggest stages was at the Jamaica World Music Festival on November 27, 1982 in Montego Bay. Sharing a bill with legends like Peter Tosh, Aretha Franklin, The Clash, and the Grateful Dead, the Midnites proved they could stand tall on the world stage. Billy Cobham’s drum solo introduction became a highlight of the night, and songs like Man Smart, Woman Smarter and Josephine carried tropical vibes perfect for the Caribbean backdrop.
The Final Show: Rio Theatre, 1984
The band wrapped things up on September 30, 1984, at the Rio in Valley Stream, NY. It wasn’t their flashiest night, but it marked the end of a four-year run where Bob Weir boldly stretched his creative muscles outside the Grateful Dead.
The Legacy of Bobby & The Midnites
Though they only released two albums—Bobby & The Midnites (1981) and Where the Beat Meets the Street (1984)—the band’s true legacy is their live shows. Fans and collectors still seek out tapes, broadcasts, and videos because that’s where the Midnites’ experimental jazz-rock blend truly shined.
From Little Red Rooster to Bombs Away, from Calderone broadcasts to Jamaica festival jams, Bobby & The Midnites remain a fascinating chapter in Bob Weir’s career—a band that thrived in the live setting, fueled by improvisation and fearless musicianship.
Where’s Bobby Now?
Bob Weir hasn’t slowed down. After the Midnites, he dove back into the Dead full-time before branching into projects like RatDog, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros, and most recently, Dead & Company, who wrapped a major Las Vegas residency in 2024 and are set for another in spring 2025. The Wolf Bros, often accompanied by the horn-and-string ensemble The Wolfpack, continue to reinvent Weir’s catalog in ways that echo the spirit of the Midnites—always pushing boundaries, always keeping it live.
Tonight on Dead Set Live: The Ace Radio Show
Stick around after tonight’s Midnites deep dive for The Ace Radio Show, a mesmerizing journey into the musical world of Bob Weir. This broadcast celebrates Bobby’s solo projects, highlighting his distinctive mix of rock, folk, Americana, and improvisation that’s captivated audiences for decades. Expect live cuts, rare gems, and the kind of performances that remind us why Weir has been an anchor of American music for over half a century.
Final Jam
Bobby & The Midnites may be gone, but their live spirit continues to thrive on shows like Dead Set Live. The band’s fusion of jazz, rock, blues, and reggae made them one of the most adventurous offshoots of the Grateful Dead family tree. Whether it was a Brandywine blues, a Calderone broadcast, or a Jamaican sunrise, the Midnites kept the stage alive. And on Dead Set Live, that’s the only way we remember them—live, loud, and unforgettable.
