Brian A. Anderson
@thebanderson.bsky.social
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.
Pinned
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...
www.nytimes.com/books/best-s...
I was there. Core memories.
November 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I was there. Core memories.
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.
Support your local.
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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.
Support your local.
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
I totally get this approach to things. I couldn't do it with a band, but have done/am doing similar with decades-long runs of newspaper comic strips and similar... (next up on that list, the complete runs of Pogo and MAD.)
A few months ago, something occurred to me: While I’ve listened to nearly every Dead show for which there is a publicly available recording, many of them too many times to count (to the point they’re in my bones), I’ve never consumed the full 30-year run in chronological order.
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I totally get this approach to things. I couldn't do it with a band, but have done/am doing similar with decades-long runs of newspaper comic strips and similar... (next up on that list, the complete runs of Pogo and MAD.)
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
This is hardcore.
A few months ago, something occurred to me: While I’ve listened to nearly every Dead show for which there is a publicly available recording, many of them too many times to count (to the point they’re in my bones), I’ve never consumed the full 30-year run in chronological order.
November 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This is hardcore.
A few months ago, something occurred to me: While I’ve listened to nearly every Dead show for which there is a publicly available recording, many of them too many times to count (to the point they’re in my bones), I’ve never consumed the full 30-year run in chronological order.
November 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
A few months ago, something occurred to me: While I’ve listened to nearly every Dead show for which there is a publicly available recording, many of them too many times to count (to the point they’re in my bones), I’ve never consumed the full 30-year run in chronological order.
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
I started @thebanderson.bsky.social's new book a couple of days ago, and I'm really enjoying it. (Audiobook read by the author) Check it out if you're into the Dead (obviously), music tours in the 70s, the history of concert sound, and more.
November 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I started @thebanderson.bsky.social's new book a couple of days ago, and I'm really enjoying it. (Audiobook read by the author) Check it out if you're into the Dead (obviously), music tours in the 70s, the history of concert sound, and more.
Honored to have been interviewed for this obit. www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Donna Jean Godchaux, Who Backed Up Elvis and Brought Soul to the Dead, Dies at 78
Raised in studios around Muscle Shoals, Ala., she was with the Grateful Dead for some of its most celebrated—and infamous—eras.
www.wsj.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Honored to have been interviewed for this obit. www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Fascinating. If only there was an entire book written on this very wall of speakers.
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Fascinating. If only there was an entire book written on this very wall of speakers.
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
To capture psychedelic sounds in their purest form, the Grateful Dead developed a mammoth PA system called the "Wall of The Sound."
Henry Carrigan's latest READING ROOM considers a new book by Brian Anderson that explores the Dead's audio experiment.
Read here:
nodepression.org/the-reading-...
Henry Carrigan's latest READING ROOM considers a new book by Brian Anderson that explores the Dead's audio experiment.
Read here:
nodepression.org/the-reading-...
THE READING ROOM: The Dead’s Epic Wall of Sound in Minute, Exquisite Detail on Brian Anderson’s ‘Loud and Clear’
Once upon a time, the Grateful Dead hung out in trees, dropping acid, and leading bands of Merry Pranksters dreamily along that golden road to eternal devotion. The darlings of psychedelic rock—or…
nodepression.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:26 PM
To capture psychedelic sounds in their purest form, the Grateful Dead developed a mammoth PA system called the "Wall of The Sound."
Henry Carrigan's latest READING ROOM considers a new book by Brian Anderson that explores the Dead's audio experiment.
Read here:
nodepression.org/the-reading-...
Henry Carrigan's latest READING ROOM considers a new book by Brian Anderson that explores the Dead's audio experiment.
Read here:
nodepression.org/the-reading-...
The older I get, the more I realize the true enduring lesson of the Dead—for me, at least—is one of compassionate worldbuilding and imagining better possible future tomorrows, even (especially) in times of confusion, darkness, and tragedy.
November 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The older I get, the more I realize the true enduring lesson of the Dead—for me, at least—is one of compassionate worldbuilding and imagining better possible future tomorrows, even (especially) in times of confusion, darkness, and tragedy.
This time last year, my editor, publisher, and I were finalizing the book. Been a ride.
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This time last year, my editor, publisher, and I were finalizing the book. Been a ride.
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...
Watch the full program: m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCuT...
November 8, 2025 at 6:08 PM
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...
Watch the full program: m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCuT...
“I mean, shit, man” - Garcia
November 8, 2025 at 12:59 AM
“I mean, shit, man” - Garcia
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!
November 5, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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!
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
Really great chat- Brian’s so good at this, and of course, my wife is the best at what she does- so put it in your earholes!
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...
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
November 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Really great chat- Brian’s so good at this, and of course, my wife is the best at what she does- so put it in your earholes!
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...
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
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...
Listen: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
In the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast, listen in on my chat with Brian Anderson, author of the page-turning book “Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection” about this fascinating subject.
🎧 Listen where ever you get your podcasts!
🎧 Listen where ever you get your podcasts!
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
In the new episode of the Behind The Song podcast, listen in on my chat with Brian Anderson, author of the page-turning book “Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection” about this fascinating subject.
🎧 Listen where ever you get your podcasts!
🎧 Listen where ever you get your podcasts!
Thank you, Donna Jean. Sleep in the stars.
November 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Thank you, Donna Jean. Sleep in the stars.
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
Incredible out of context observation
“Nonfiction” titles that make the list are usually culture war books by ghoulish right wingers, whatever the hot Civil War history book is, Big Idea books by DC policy wonks, and ghost written memoirs by high profile mainstream Dems about what they learned from losing an election.
November 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Incredible out of context observation
I’ve been reflecting on the book now that it’s been out in the world for a few months. And the more time goes on the more I consider it a miracle that it made the NYT Bestsellers List, even for just a week.
November 2, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I’ve been reflecting on the book now that it’s been out in the world for a few months. And the more time goes on the more I consider it a miracle that it made the NYT Bestsellers List, even for just a week.
This conversation was a blast. Thanks for having me Janda!
Episode drops next week.
Episode drops next week.
Can’t wait for you to hear my chat with Brian Anderson, author of Loud And Clear: The Grateful Dead’s Wall Of Sound And The Quest For Audio Perfection! Listen for next week’s bonus ep of the Behind The Song podcast to hear him explain the ways The Dead innovated how we hear live music!
October 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
This conversation was a blast. Thanks for having me Janda!
Episode drops next week.
Episode drops next week.
Reposted by Brian A. Anderson
Change the whole vibe of a book by adding a word to a title.
SPEAKER FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD
SPEAKER FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD
Change the whole vibe of a book by adding a word to a title.
THE PRIME DIRECTIVE OF MISS JEAN BRODIE
THE PRIME DIRECTIVE OF MISS JEAN BRODIE
Game time, Booksky.
Change the whole vibe of a book by adding a word to a title. I’ll start:
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Thatcher.
Change the whole vibe of a book by adding a word to a title. I’ll start:
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Thatcher.
October 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Change the whole vibe of a book by adding a word to a title.
SPEAKER FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD
SPEAKER FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD
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.
Big thanks to Rosie & Wizard.
October 21, 2025 at 12:32 AM
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.
Big thanks to Rosie & Wizard.