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Brian A. Anderson

@thebanderson.bsky.social

1.5K followers 120 following 930 posts

NYT bestselling author. Pulitzer-winning editor. LOUD AND CLEAR, my book on the Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound, out now on St. Martin's Press. Also teach journalism at Northwestern.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · Jun 26

Pinching myself. LOUD AND CLEAR made the New York Times Best Seller List for Nonfiction. I’m grateful beyond words. If you purchased a copy, know it means the world.

www.nytimes.com/books/best-s...

Screenshot or LOUD AND CLEAR on the New York Times Best Seller List for Nonfiction Hardcover

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Reposted by Brian A. Anderson

Christian Lane is my name not a preachy road @chrstianlane.bsky.social · 15h

Haven’t been posting as much about head shit and other fun stuff so here’s a sticker for @thebanderson.bsky.social book Loud & Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection. A NYT’s bestseller, I might add. It looks like a sheet of acid- you know how much I love it

Sticker for wall of sound book. Looks like sheet of acid

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 4d

Had a total blast talking about the book, the Dead, the Wall, and where all of those things collide with cannabis (and other consciousness-expanding substances) with David Bienenstock on the Great Moments in Weed History pod.

Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

LSD Fueled the Grateful Dead's 'Wall of Sound'

Podcast Episode · Great Moments in Weed History · 10/08/2025 · 1h 6m

podcasts.apple.com

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

Indeed, they are.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

I headed back out in the rain, en route to this new location. The front door to the building was unlocked. I poked my head inside, and there was the package. At long last, The Trinket. I will treasure it always.

Looking down the barrel of an early 70s era JBL speaker horn from the Dead soundsystem

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

This morning I walked a mile in the rain to the post office to see what was up. After some sleuthing, a helpful postal employee informed me that the package had been delivered to the wrong address, just a few blocks from my place.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

To most people, it’s just an old cut of metal, a piece of junk. But to me it’s a precious artifact, a haunted and energized object. The thought of it being lost was too much to bear.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

So imagine my stress and dismay when the package didn’t show up in the mail when it should have. At one point, I received tracking information that placed it in Georgia. Then I received notification that it had been delivered at my place, and yet it had not.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

The places this thing went! The songs that were debuted through it! My head spins and explodes into a ball of light just thinking about it.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

The slant plate diffuser was often taken off of the top horn. That made it “long throw.” (The diffusion plate attached to the wood box with Velcro.) Each box of two ran off a McIntosh 75 vacuum tube amp. These horns were part of the rig from as early as 1970 through 1973.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

The horn was one of two that were housed in custom speaker boxes like that seen in the above photo taken by Rosie McGee, being lifted into place by the late Dead roadies Rex Jackson and Mark “Sparky” Raizene (on step ladder) at the Chateau d’Herouville, France, on June 21, 1971.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

This iteration of the soundsystem was known, fittingly, as The Alembic PA. It was a stereo set up adorned in custom mandala-style tie-dyes, and would expand and morph into an early version of the Wall of Sound. You can read more about that evolution in LOUD AND CLEAR.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

Turns out the trinket is a JBL speaker horn from the early 70s Dead soundsystem. By then, the band had purchased the PA-for-rent that was being built by Alembic, an audio company that worked closely with the Dead. (My source worked for Alembic, and by extension the Dead, in this era.)

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 5d

A few months back, a source from the book—someone I’ve been talking to, on and off, for years—asked for my mailing address. He said he had something to send me. “It’s just a trinket,” he explained.

Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 17d

Another artifact in flight. 🥲

Grateful Dead roadie Rex Jackson lifts a square speaker cabinet up to fellow Dead roadie Mark “Sparky” Raizene, who stands on a step-ladder to stack up part of the band’s tie-dye sound system at the Chateau d’Herouville in France, on June 21, 1971.

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Reposted by Brian A. Anderson

wook+ @wookplus.bsky.social · 7d

WOOK CLUB: 10/31/91 #GratefulDead is up on YouTube (minus the musical clips because al-go-rhythm / the uncut in on Volume)

@thebanderson.bsky.social joined us to break down one of the greatest late era Grateful Dead shows (with Gary Duncan and Ken Kesey on set 2)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOWW...

WOOK CLUB | 10/31/91 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, OAKLAND, CA| Grateful Dead

YouTube video by wook plus

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Brian A. Anderson

Christian Lane is my name not a preachy road @chrstianlane.bsky.social · 7d

Video proof of Brian’s Bears. Two guitars and big saxy. This past Friday at Rattleback Records

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 8d

Nothing wrong with straight karaoke style cover versions, but more out-of-the-box interpretations of the Dead songbook are where it’s at. Using the tunes as launching pads to explore new space(s) is always exciting. A three-piece composed of dueling guitars and sax? You have my attention.

Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 9d

Brian’s Bears
10/3/25 @ Rattleback Records, Chicago, IL

Eyes of the World
Ripple
Ramble on Rose

Short and sweet. Really wonderful arrangements. The kids are alright.

A musical trio performs Grateful Dead songs in a nighttime record store window. Two of the musicians play guitars and the other plays saxophone.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 9d

Brian’s Bears
10/3/25 @ Rattleback Records, Chicago, IL

Eyes of the World
Ripple
Ramble on Rose

Short and sweet. Really wonderful arrangements. The kids are alright.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 9d

Q: What’s the greatest Dead show opener?

A: “Feedback”

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 10d

See y’all tomorrow night in the beautiful city of Chicago.

Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 20d

Chicago! Catch me chatting about the book on Friday 10/3 @ Rattleback Records in Andersonville.

Come for the talk, stay for three young, heady, genius players—Sydney Cramer, Seamus Moore, & Vincent Byas—reinterpreting Dead music.

7 pm! Free! Books for sale onsite!

RSVP: m.bpt.me/event/6712059

Event flyer: “A Grateful Dead book talk - featuring Brian Anderson, discussing his debut New York Times bestselling book. 10.3.25, 7:00-10:00 PM. Hosted by Rattleback Records, 5405 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60640. With performances by Brian’s Bears”

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 11d

This was fun. Got to use the phrase “welcome to the haunted house of your mind”

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕎𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕥 @radiator9987.bsky.social · 12d

We had a very nice time getting halloween 2025 month off to a spooky start with @thebanderson.bsky.social talking one of the best late era #GratefulDead shows 10/31/91 with Ken Kesey and Gary Duncan

Check it out

volume.com/wookplus/v/r/3kcJPV/

Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 12d

This band has been haunting (complimentary) me my whole life. Looking forward to hanging, getting freaky, and talking Halloween Dead tonight. Join us.

wook+ @wookplus.bsky.social · 12d

We will be starting off October and our look back at favorite Halloween shows with 10/31/91 Grateful Dead with Wall Of Sound author @thebanderson.bsky.social

Join us at 6P / 9E tonight for Wook Club as we break it all down, plus talk Gary Duncan, Ken Kesey, and Bill Graham

volume.com/t/mdc8Vt/

WOOK CLUB | 10/31/91 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, OAKLAND, CA| Grateful Dead

We breakdown the Grateful Dead at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on 10/31/91

volume.com

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 13d

Surely anyone who has ever published a book knows this, but it’s the kind and thoughtful words and messages from readers, total strangers, who engaged with the work that mean the most. Thank you.

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 15d

From one Chicago guy to another, congrats @jasondiamond.bsky.social. Can’t wait to read.

The cover of “Kaplan’s Plot” by Jason Diamond, depicting a rose and a shovel in a grave, set against the Chicago skyline

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 17d

This was great. Thanks for writing it!

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Brian A. Anderson @thebanderson.bsky.social · 17d

My favorite music newsletter.

Actually just my favorite newsletter, period.

josh terry @joshterry.bsky.social · 17d

New No Expectations today. Read and subscribe, and you'll get

A short essay on getting out of a rut by surrounding yourself with things that make you feel human.

5 great album recs

4 gig recaps, including Goose at Northerly Island

and a 15-song playlist www.noexpectations.fyi/p/wednesday-...

No Expectations 122: Phish Pepsi

Read about great recent LPs from Golden Apples, Lawn, Wednesday, and more. Plus, a 15-song playlist and a few gig recaps, including Goose at Northerly Island.

www.noexpectations.fyi

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