“Feedback”!!
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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“Feedback”!!
“Hey, man, I know” -Garcia
Not a new or novel thought, but every live recording of the Grateful Dead is a gift.
Roadies taking a J break behind the stacks during set up. Countrysides and cities through bus windows and scenic overlooks. Classic stuff.
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?”
I salute your efforts, anyway 🫡
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...
And here is a list of all the shows mentioned in the book, in case you missed it: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
I took this one slow, listening to a lot of shows Along the way. Excellent book.
Thanks for engaging with it! Glad you dig.
Hell yes!
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
Check out all of Ed’s UCSB Wall photos—some previously seen, but some new ones, too. Really sweet. History. www.musicimages.com/gallery/1974...
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.
Love this sunset shot of the Wall scaffolding going up on the eve of the show. 🥲
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...
diabolical
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
Like a certain species of salamander that only emerges at night under the right conditions
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.
That one’s all @joshterry.bsky.social!
This really means a lot—thank you so much. Glad you dug the book.
Don’t even get me started on that one. A classic from the Weir School of Mindnumbing.
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?
Classic
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.
Boots*
He came prepared!
The small child at green room catering who takes a single grape.
Boot Jaffee, pyrotechnician.
The payoff we get as viewers when we link back up inside with any number of heads we meet out front (or in back) of Winterland before or during any of the shows at which the movie was filmed.
The crowd! Heads at various points in their journeys, shots of shuffling/dancing feet, tracking footage of people out in the hallways who then dissolve back into the soundfield, all traveling separately *and* together. Such a masterful capture of a deep subculture. Just a really vivid slice of life.
Eye contact/communication/telepathy among the band.
Ned Lagin during “Morning Dew.”
The Wall of Sound set up sequence. Need I say more?
Other things I’ve always dug about the movie that really popped on the big screen:
The cinematography and editing choices behind that film give you the sensation that you’re right there “in it,” even if you weren’t. As someone born after that time and place, I’ve always appreciated that approach.
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.”
Can’t wait!
Hope you dig it!
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...
One of many classic characters. Wonder where he is now?
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...
Thanks! Marc is a great interviewer.
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...
It was a great honor to present a copy of LOUD AND CLEAR to Bear’s son, Starfinder Stanley, last weekend. I should’ve asked if his dad had any run ins or correspondence with you-know-who.
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.
Thank you for reading. And peace to George.
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...
Whatever the case may be, that’s a sick and dusty Deep Elem Blues.
Ohh, good catch!
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.
Just signed a copy of LOUD AND CLEAR for a lucky fellow traveler at Compass Books in SFO. (ft. @themikeayers.bsky.social and his excellent new oral history SHARING IN THE GROOVE.)
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!!
Thank you, Betty Cantor-Jackson.
Just signed a bunch more copies of the book at Amoeba SF.
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.
Healy seems to have a knack for impressions. His imitation of Garcia is likewise spot on.
This makes my day! Thanks for reading and engaging with the book. If you don’t already have, here’s a chronological list of every show mentioned: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
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.
The ever on-point Deadcast is back! Thanks @bourgwick.bsky.social & Co. for the shoutout in the new episode with Dan Healy, a huge character in the book, the story of the Wall of Sound, and really the Dead’s entire audio project from the 60s to the 90s. Listen: www.dead.net/deadcast/dan...
And let the record show that aside from the Dead (obviously), I probably listened to Sunn O))) more than anything else while working on the book in earnest. All of their records were a part of my daily practice. (I also maintain that Sunn’s sound and mission is on the same continuum as “Seastones.”)
Grateful to have this convo with my buddy Laura Feinstein for @thecreativeindependent.com on the ultra marathon of writing a book. thecreativeindependent.com/people/journ...
🙏🏼
Could be!
An eagle-eyed reader pointed out something I somehow haven’t noticed. In the book’s front cover photo (taken by Ron Rakow @ the Hollywood Bowl 7/21/74), a child stands behind Weir, beside the drum riser. Who is it? Same kid as seen (@ right) dancing in the GD Movie? Where are they now? Anyone know?
I could live inside the moment, two or two-and-a-half minutes into most any “Playin in the Band,” when Garcia hits the wah and the Dead drift from the straight lane and onto the “scenic route.”
Opinions are like the Grateful Dead. Sometimes they’re loud. Sometimes they’re quiet. Sometimes they’re clear. Sometimes they’re distorted. Sometimes they’re on point. Sometimes they’re off. Sometimes they’re righteous. Sometimes they’re just kidding. Sometimes they’re all these things at once.
Love to hear it—mine too :) Thanks for reading!
[guy overheard on audience tape during “Seastones”] “DINOSAUR MUSIC!”
Many eyes and ears will be on San Francisco this weekend for the Dead’s 60th anniversary celebration, but I want scene reports from those states the band somehow never hit during the active years: Arkansas Delaware North Dakota South Dakota Wyoming
Big shouts out to the folks at Meyer Sound.
I will be in SF for GD60 next weekend. Don’t be a stranger.
“We don’t like it, and you don’t like it. But, you know, that’s what’s happening.” - Garcia
Sending all the good vibes your way! Thanks for the support and the kind words.
The book, by the way. Available at your bookseller.
Great stuff in here for writers!
Sat down with Bill from Three Point Four to chat about the economics and process of writing a book, teaching journalism in the year 2025, and how to convert a Dead skeptic. theloop.substack.com/p/i-always-t...
Thanks for the kind words and support! Means a lot. Glad you’re digging the book.
