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.
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.
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.
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...
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!
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...
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
Support your local!
📸: @lexberko.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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
Support your local!
📸: @lexberko.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.
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.
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.
October 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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.
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.
October 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
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.
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.
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.
October 4, 2025 at 3:19 AM
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.
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.
From one Chicago guy to another, congrats @jasondiamond.bsky.social. Can’t wait to read.
September 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
From one Chicago guy to another, congrats @jasondiamond.bsky.social. Can’t wait to read.
Another artifact in flight. 🥲
September 25, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Another artifact in flight. 🥲
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
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
September 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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
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
Just signed a few copies of LOUD AND CLEAR at McNally Jackson in my old Williamsburg stomping ground.
September 20, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Just signed a few copies of LOUD AND CLEAR at McNally Jackson in my old Williamsburg stomping ground.
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
Come for the talk, stay for three young, heady, genius players—Sidney, Seamus, & Vincent—reinterpreting Dead music.
Tickets: m.bpt.me/event/6712059
August 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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
Come for the talk, stay for three young, heady, genius players—Sidney, Seamus, & Vincent—reinterpreting Dead music.
Tickets: m.bpt.me/event/6712059
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.
August 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
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.
Always appreciate a clean, locked off shot of the center cluster. Beauty.
August 28, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Always appreciate a clean, locked off shot of the center cluster. Beauty.
Love this sunset shot of the Wall scaffolding going up on the eve of the show. 🥲
August 28, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Love this sunset shot of the Wall scaffolding going up on the eve of the show. 🥲
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.
August 22, 2025 at 12:56 AM
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.
I’ve seen the Grateful Dead Movie more times than any other film. But I just got out of an IMAX viewing with my folks, and it like was seeing it anew. Wow.
Walking out of the theater, my mom said, “I felt like I was reliving my life.”
Walking out of the theater, my mom said, “I felt like I was reliving my life.”
August 16, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I’ve seen the Grateful Dead Movie more times than any other film. But I just got out of an IMAX viewing with my folks, and it like was seeing it anew. Wow.
Walking out of the theater, my mom said, “I felt like I was reliving my life.”
Walking out of the theater, my mom said, “I felt like I was reliving my life.”
August 15, 2025 at 1:02 AM