Musings on the Most Ridiculous Band I Can't Stop Listening To

Down The Rabbit Hole

One of the fun things about Enthusiasm is that no matter how defunct the Dead gets, there’s always new crazy bullshit to discover. An offhanded comment in this interview with Jeff Chimenti led to this run-on paragraph from a drummer named Brian Melvin, which led to this show from 9/21/86 from a band called Nightfood which apparently featured Bobby and Jaco Pastorius.

13 Comments

  1. corry342

    Those are great links. Welcome to my world.

    I had always known about the Weir>Jaco>Nightfood gigs, but I had never figured out the connection between Weir and Melvin. Quite fascinating.

    Weir played several gigs with Nightfood in Fall 86. During that time, Jerry was recovering from his coma, so Weir had plenty of time on his hands. Unfortunately for Bob, he had injured his arm in a bicycling accident, so he was only a vocalist in the band, and did not play guitar.

    A picture can be seen here (from a show at The Stone, San Francisco, Sep 21 86)
    http://www.deadheadland.com/2015/10/17/420-treat-night-food-w-bob-weir-jaco-pastorius-brian-melvin-the-stone-san-francisco-ca-september-21-1986-audio-only/

    The implication is that there is a tape, but I think the link is deceased.

    • thoughtsonthedead

      The tape is fully extant! I’m listening to Misty right now, and Bobby can kinda croon.

  2. Adam O

    Jaco was involved in a few unusual collaborations during that period.
    I went to this one: http://i.imgur.com/zpBBUG7.jpg
    Unfortunately, Jaco didn’t show.

  3. mrcompletely

    this band is ok, they’re no Go Ahead tho

    • thoughtsonthedead

      Dude, when did I say that? Go Ahead is the best of the solo bands.

      • mrcompletely

        oh, I know we’re together on this. that message was for the n00bs

      • jk

        I gotta admit, it’s so weird to see shows that I attended as a young and eager Enthusiast discussed so many years later.

    • garretc

      For anybody needing context (as I did, being relatively noobly):

      http://hooterollin.blogspot.com/2012/11/go-ahead-with-brent-mydland-and-bill.html

      • mrcompletely

        Go Ahead has been one of my favorite running gags ever since my Brent-obsessed tour buddy from the late 80s started asserting they were the greatest of all side projects and scheming to put his favorite tape of them on at parties

  4. wilbard

    What? Can someone please explain to me why I’ve never been told about Nightfood?

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