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.

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

My favorite music newsletter. Actually just my favorite newsletter, period.

Another artifact in flight. 🥲

It’s funny, after writing and releasing an entire book on the Wall of Sound, a system known for its distortion-free clarity, I’m just zoning Feedback Dead hard.

Dead chuffed to be one of the guest lecturers in this class led by @dgans.bsky.social liveforlivemusic.com/news/david-g...

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

Another new book to go into the “must get around to reading” pile. @gratefuldead.bsky.social

Looking forward to reading my first library book in years @thebanderson.bsky.social

“Professor, do you have a favorite Grateful Dead show?”

Fall quarter begins tomorrow. I usually hit my students with a “you ain’t gonna learn what you don’t wanna know” on the first day of class, but I’m thinking about switching it up this time to “there ain’t a winner in the game.”

“Feedback”!!

“Hey, man, I know” -Garcia

Not a new or novel thought, but every live recording of the Grateful Dead is a gift.

Doing my annual rewatch of Steve Brown’s Europe 1974 home movies. The Dead and a slimmed-down Wall of Sound overseas. It’s remarkable that they pulled it off. m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab5I...

Tickled anytime I meet someone and they go, “Wait, are you the guy responsible for getting @joshterry.bsky.social into the Dead?”

Can’t wait to listen to this ep on Iowa 74, an all-time Wall of Sound show for me. Some months back, I got my hands on these vibey photos, taken by a family friend, that offer a glimpse of the action behind the scenes at that tour stop. bsky.app/profile/radi...

I took this one slow, listening to a lot of shows Along the way. Excellent book.

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

Ed Perlstein, whose serene photo of the Dead, the Wall of Sound, and the blue, blue sky at UC Santa Barbara (5/25/74) graces the back cover of LOUD AND CLEAR, just added a special Wall section to his site. Ed helped build the scaffolding for that show, too. www.musicimages.com/gallery/1974...

Part of the Dead will always be in a field in Oregon, baking in the late August heat, but then slipping into “Dark Star” as the Sun was going down. As Prankster and Veneta emcee Ken Babbs told me recently, “it went on forever.” Here’s to another lap. m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Juk...

Yesterday's library run @ DPL #booksky

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.

A long shot, but I’m looking to speak with anyone who saw the Dead perform at the Muir Beach Acid Test in late December ‘65. Or if that’s not you, but you know of someone who attended that event, direct them my way or hit me up. DMs open. This is for a story I’m writing for Alta Journal. Thanks ✌🏼

Thursday, 7:43 AM. Sitting on a bench, gazing out over the lake on a brilliant late summer morning, listening to the Dew, having myself a cry.

Back when he was chatty on stage b/t songs, Bob Weir loved to workshop a bit over years. 3/12/66, Pico Acid Test, Danish Center, LA: “…there goes another speaker cone. Another rock and roll casualty.” 6/28/74 (full Wall), Boston Garden: “Another candidate for rock and roll speaker Heaven.” Etc.

Honored to be in such company among these other guest authors/speakers in the upcoming (fall, virtual) Dead studies CE class out of Stanford led by @dgans.bsky.social. Really looking forward. continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/libe...

Just now realizing I posted this on the two month anniversary of the book’s release. Time, man. Where does it go? us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Has anyone coined the term “Wall-timer” or am I gonna be the one that has to?

As a first time book author, I’m learning that the best answer to that most dreaded of questions you get from all sides after release—“So what’s next?”—is a three-word response: “I don’t know.” Nothing wrong with that.

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.”

If you’ve caught the Dead movie in theaters, or plan to this weekend (like me), and want the behind-the-scenes story of the mountain of sound gear behind the musicians, that serves as a backdrop to that groundbreaking concert film, well, do I have the book for you. us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Classic. deadessays.blogspot.com/2024/10/whos...

First run VHS of The Grateful Dead Movie (1977), from the family archive. A classic concert film capturing the last stand of the Wall of Sound. The cinematography and editing were also way ahead of the times. An essential audio-visual document. 📼

This, from a very good and honest GD60 scene report by @passionweiss.bsky.social, nails it. www.passionweiss.com/2025/08/12/y...

Good chat between @thebanderson.bsky.social and @marcissist.bsky.social about Anderson’s new book on the Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” and the impact that their innovations had on the band’s shows, recordings, and live music broadly podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Part 2 live now. Philm the Podcast. Dig in: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Feels like a lot of folks are reading / rereading Vineland in this moment. Shoutout Owsley. P knew.

Just completed "Loud and Clear". I don't usually read books about the Dead but being a little bit of a HiFi freq i wanted to get a little bit of the story and mythos behind one of the most insane quests to get it right for fans that moved an industry and culture to do better with live concerts.

Big RIP to George Mundy, who designed the electronics of Phil Lesh’s “Osiris,” aka “Mission Control” bass, itself a quadraphonic limb of the Wall of Sound. A one of a kind instrument. Thanks for your work in the search for the sound, George.

I’m still in the reentry phase but just wanna state on the record that Sturgill’s sit in on “Morning Dew” was absolutely a standout from last weekend. I’m a big “Dew” guy and don’t take these matters lightly. Powerful stuff—and if you’re getting it twisted you’re missing the point.

Had such a great time chatting with Brian H. on the Philm podcast last week that we decided to record a part 2, which we’re doing this afternoon. Listen to part 1, up now: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...

Couldn’t ask for a more appropriate anniversary vibe upon reentry. 8/5/70 Golden Hall, San Diego. Probably my all-time top live acoustic Dead. relisten.net/grateful-dea...

Authors surprise signing their books in airports is one of my favorite genres of social media posts.

Cool people, cool weekend in the park. ✌🏼

Great read by @thebanderson.bsky.social A must read for any head, especially this 1974 fan.

Thank you, Betty Cantor-Jackson.

Nothing like a plane full of wooks.

Only like 80 pages in but this is fantastic. I was worried that it would be too tech-y but I’ve been enthralled all along. A few rare “wow I never knew that!” moments as well.

Reading @thebanderson.bsky.social ‘s book has done wonders for my Dead listening. So many late 60s/early 70s shows that have never been on my radar.