Brian A. Anderson
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thebanderson.bsky.social
Brian A. Anderson
@thebanderson.bsky.social
1.5K followers 120 following 990 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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thebanderson.bsky.social
Mark your calendars. I’ve got a hot stack of books for the 12/20 Dead Inside holiday market at Sleeping Village. Snag a copy. Happy to personal inscriptions.
A photo of a stack of LOUD AND CLEAR book spines
November 28, 2025 at 7:17 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Stoked to be part of the 5-year anniversary meltdown of Dead Inside, Chicago’s finest Dead Night. I’ll be slinging and signing copies of LOUD AND CLEAR alongside a bunch of other righteous vendors.

Sat 12/20 @ Sleeping Village. 8-12. 21+.

Come hang. Guaranteed deep trip.

🎨: @longyaaawn (IG)
Yellow, brown, and green flyer depicting a Dead bear riding a reindeer with holiday lights in its antlers: “Dead Inside 12/20, Five Year Anniversary Melt-Down & Holiday Market + visuals by Hydrosonic Light Show, 8-12 at Sleeping Village, 21+” Alternate flyer with vendor list: “Dead Inside 5-Year-Anniversary-Melt-Down & Holiday Market, 12/20, Featuring Fox and the Cobra, Dunning Dye Co., Brian Anderson (Loud and Clear book signing), Permanent Marker Dyes, Golden Heart Soap, Tommy’s Abstract World, Sunshine Roadkill, Typical Daydream Dyes, Lo-Fi Supply, Mirrorball Cards, …and more.”
November 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Shoutout Bookshop Santa Cruz for including LOUD AND CLEAR on its best of 2025 nonfiction list. A real honor to get a nod from a longtime indie bookseller in Dead country.

Support your local.
Flyer for best nonfiction of 2025 from Bookshop Santa Cruz, including LOUD AND CLEAR and nine other titles
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Quote from story: “John Kadlecik, who has performed extensively with members of the Dead and co-founded Dark Star Orchestra, a band that re-creates Dead concerts, said that much of the ‘less than stellar moments’ from Godchaux came during the Wall of Sound years, when she had trouble hearing herself on stage. “Anderson said sexism was also at play. ‘You mean to tell me that Jerry Garcia or Bob Weir or Phil Lesh, the other vocalists in the band, were technically perfect vocalists who never flubbed a line?’ he asked.”
November 15, 2025 at 2:52 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Quote from story: “The Godchauxs joined the Dead as the band was in transition. Its audience was expanding, and artistically, moving from what Anderson called its ‘dusty, Bakersfield country-fried’ sound into ‘what was essentially and avid jazz band that was playing rock ‘n’ roll.”
November 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Quote from story: “Listen to any of the shows in May 1977, which a lot of Deadheads will say was the greatest month in Grateful Dead history—it’s Donna that makes a lot of those songs just so sweet,” said Brian Anderson, author of ‘Loud and Clear,’ a recent book about the Wall of Sound.”
November 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Fascinating. If only there was an entire book written on this very wall of speakers.
Dave Lemieux talking about the Wall of Sound on a Grateful Dead Facebook reel
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
An invite to join the parade of authors at this year’s Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards was a highlight of my year. You know I had to hit ‘em with the double peace sign followed by the doom metal prayer hands.

Watch the full program: m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCuT...
Brian Anderson in a black suit giving double peace sign during the parade of authors at the 2025 Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards Brian Anderson in a black suit giving prayer hands during the parade of authors at the 2025 Chicago Public Library Awards
November 8, 2025 at 6:08 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Thanks to Jim Schutt for sending over this Wall-inspired painting. Hazy tie-dye acrylic on canvas. 24x32 inch. Phone camera doesn’t do it justice but I love how this captures Bear’s original visions of sound as “interacting waves of color.” That has to be my artifact in there, too. Heady!
A framed tie-dye painting of a portion of the Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound
November 5, 2025 at 8:35 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Had a great time chatting about the Dead, the Wall of Sound, and LOUD AND CLEAR on the Behind the Song pod. Thanks for having me, Janda!

Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Pull quote graphic: “They were always at the cutting edge of technology…a very sort of futuristic band.” - author Brian Anderson on the Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Donna Jean Godchaux’s early/mid 1970s Grateful Dead tour laminate
November 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Had a blast at the Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards last night. Signed a few copies of the book beforehand for CPLF’s raffle.

Support your local!

📸: @lexberko.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Another photo for the wall. If you saw my recent post about The Trinket, you’ll recognize this Rosie McGee shot. Peace to the late Dead roadies Mark “Sparky” Raizene & Rex Jackson, seen here setting up the band’s tie-dye rig on 6/21/71, Château d’Hérouville, France.

Big thanks to Rosie & Wizard.
Rosie McGee photo of Grateful Dead roadies Mark “Sparky” Raizene and Rex Jackson setting up the Dead’s colorful tie-dye rig on June 20, 1971, at the Château d’Hérouville in France.
October 21, 2025 at 12:32 AM
thebanderson.bsky.social
These aren’t signed but a few copies of LOUD AND CLEAR are on the shelf at the flagship Amoeba Records shop in Hollywood. (Spotted by an acquaintance.) Big shoutout to Amoeba for stocking the book at all of its locations.
Two copies of LOUD AND CLEAR on the shelf at Amoeba Records in Hollywood
October 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
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.
A profile view of an early 70s era JBL speaker horn from the Grateful Dead soundsystem Looking down the barrel of an early 70s era JBL speaker horn from the Dead soundsystem
October 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
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.
October 4, 2025 at 3:19 AM
thebanderson.bsky.social
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
September 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
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.
September 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
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”
September 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Just signed a few copies of LOUD AND CLEAR at McNally Jackson in my old Williamsburg stomping ground.
Author Brian Anderson holding a signed copy of the book LOUD AND CLEAR at McNally Jackson in Williamsburg, NYC
September 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Chicago! I’ll be yapping about the book with Paul Ruffino on Friday 10/3 @ Rattleback Records, where I happen to work a few chill hours every week.

Come for the talk, stay for three young, heady, genius players—Sidney, Seamus, & Vincent—reinterpreting Dead music.

Tickets: m.bpt.me/event/6712059
Flyer: “A Grateful Dead book talk, featuring Brian Anderson discussing his debut New York Times Best Selling Book ‘Loud and Clear.’ 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.”
August 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
thebanderson.bsky.social
The best stabilizer for a rack of a dozen of the 40+ heavy duty McIntosh amps that powered the Wall? A rack of Heineken, of course.
A backside view of a dozen McIntosh Amos powering part of the Wall of Sound, with a rack of Heineken beer on top
August 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Always appreciate a clean, locked off shot of the center cluster. Beauty.
Wall of Sound center cluster suspended in the air with heavy duty winches
August 28, 2025 at 12:20 AM
thebanderson.bsky.social
Love this sunset shot of the Wall scaffolding going up on the eve of the show. 🥲
Silhouettes of five workers setting up Wall of Sound scaffolding against trees and sunset
August 28, 2025 at 12:19 AM
thebanderson.bsky.social
The non-profit Positive Legacy is running a special online auction to help out legendary recording engineer Betty Cantor-Jackson, with her blessing. Begins September 1.
“Betty Cantor-Jackson. If you’ve ever been moved by a legendary Betty Board, you know the magic Betty Cantor-Jackson brought to the world. Her iconic recordings of the Grateful Dead and others have preserved live music history. Now, she needs our help. Betty is recovering from hip surgery and dealing with flood damage to her rental home. *JOIN THE CAUSE: ONLINE AUCTION* Positive Legacy is seeking donations of: Music memorabilia & artwork VIP experiences & tickets Vacation rentals and hotel stays Custom goods and services Let’s give back to the woman who continues to give so much. To donate or learn more, contact Sadie Miller — sadie@positivelegacy.org”
August 22, 2025 at 12:56 AM