Steve Carlson – Fangasm

Last Supernatural Creation Con of 2025 – Nashville!

November 24, 2025spnfans

The last Supernatural Creation con (on land anyway) of 2025 was in Nashville, as it usually is – but this time it was earlier than it has been in the past, starting on Halloween. I have too many little kids in the family to let me disappear on actual Halloween, so I flew in early on Saturday for a quick in-and-out weekend in Nashville.

Here are some highlights and photos (and some tweets with short videos of some of the panels too).

Made it in time to catch a glimpse of the lovely Felicia Day.

And for Misha’s panel!

Someone asked Misha for advice on how to keep going in these very difficult times.

Misha: You just have to keep doing what you can to fight for good. That’s what drew us all to Supernatural too.

He went on to say that we can pass down the stories that inspire us – like Supernatural.

Misha: So we can fight the demons in this world.

That is so much of what makes this Show so special, and so inspiring to so many of us.

Misha talked about his kids getting older – his son now answers his phone calls with “whaddya want?” But then he comes to him for comfort when he has a bad dream, so Misha takes solace in that. I can relate.

Misha shared his favorite memory of accomplishment – when he and Jared and Jensen were wrestling and Jared tapped out lol.

Misha: I guess the best moment I had in all the cons I’ve been to and all the time I was working on Supernatural, onscreen and off, a feeling of like vanquishing accomplishment that came from this moment, I believe an Orlando convention years ago, where we got drunk and wrestled and Jared tapped out, and it just felt so unbelievably good.

Supernatural Con Returns to Austin, Texas – 2025!

September 19, 2025spnfans

Last year’s Creation Supernatural con in Austin was very memorable – for a few reasons. One was the Radio Company concert at Sagebrush, and the other was the fact that everyone there almost melted thanks to it being the most absurd temperature I’ve ever experienced.

Of course, I returned to Austin for yet another Supernatural con in the same month. Luckily it wasn’t quite as absurdly hot – and not so luckily, there was no Radio Company concert.

There was, however, a mini Radio Company “show” when Jensen Ackles and Steve Carlson and the Scott sisters joined Louden Swain at the Saturday Night Special, and a Radio Company panel with Steve and Jensen, so at least we got our Radio Company fix – without melting!

The flight there was uneventful but an entire box of books hadn’t made it to the con unfortunately. That meant I sold out of books by Saturday – my apologies to anyone who came by to purchase a copy of Family Don’t End With Blood or There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done and I didn’t have any left. Thanks to everyone who did come by – it was lovely to meet everyone!

I did a few more panels than I usually get to do since I wasn’t needed in the vendor room the entire time, so that was the silver lining. One of the best things about a con in Austin is that I love the city. My son used to live in Houston and we’d pop over to Austin for the day, and I fell in love with its weirdness – and its delicious food. Thursday I had tacos and queso with my friend Sadie, and some good conversation to go with it. Another night after dark when it cooled off, I joined a friend at the hotel’s rooftop pool (best part about the con hotel!) to lounge poolside and catch up (though the lounge chairs were out to get both of us by periodically collapsing…)

Friday I caught most of Chad Lindberg’s panel because I just love Chad. I’ve known him since way back in 2008, when he was starring in a film called “My Big Break”. He introduced me and Kathy (my Fangasm co-author) to the filmmakers, Tony and Elizabeth, and we became fast friends. When they took ‘My Big Break’ on the road, we came along for some of the screenings along with Chad – which is how we ended up on Bourbon Street in the middle of the night for Chad’s first trip to New Orleans, and several other memorable adventures.

I also adore his character of Ash on Supernatural. Chad wrote a chapter for There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done all about portraying Ash, with lots of priceless behind the scenes insights.

Adventures in Oklahoma City – SPNOKC 2025!

August 7, 2025spnfans

In June of this year, we had the first Supernatural con at OKC – and yes, it was quite an adventure (for me, anyway!)

Getting to Oklahoma City from Philly (and back) was quite an adventure in itself – a little too much adventure in fact. After multiple delays in Charlotte (which were made more bearable with some good company from Creation’s Jen and Jenn, who I ran into in the airport), I finally arrived with barely enough time to get the vendor table set up – and just as an impressive thunderstorm hit. Our Lyft driver on the way to the convention center kept the three of us entertained on the drive there, though part of that was his repeated implication that a tornado was imminent.

No tornado, but he also couldn’t figure out how to drop me off AT the convention center instead of the hotel, so I ended up trudging up the street in a rainstorm getting wetter by the second and having no idea where I was going. To make things more challenging, the street was blocked off by an impressive number of law enforcement vehicles, which totally confused me because I’m not very good at following basketball so I had no idea there were big time basketball things going on. Finally in sight of the convention center, my way was blocked by a news reporter doing a live report about the big time basketball things. I was by this time in no mood to stand in the rain a second longer, so I cut through the shot apologizing but determined. I must have looked like a woman who should not be trifled with, because they didn’t.

I quickly got set up (trying not to drip all over everything) – at least it was a nicer convention center than NJ, though I will never be happy to be in a convention center. At least the books were dry, thanks to my friend Betty delivering them safe and sound!

I was happy to be there in time to catch some of Chad Lindberg’s panel. I’ve known Chad since way way back in 2008, and I’m thrilled to have him back at some cons this year. He wrote a fascinating chapter for There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done with all kinds of behind the scenes information about filming with Jared and Jensen and creating the character of Ash. And his mullet.

A fan asked what role he’d love to play.

Chad: I’d like to play an alien, ala Starman – like an alien love story.

Chad is known for being a ghosthunter in real life, as well as for playing Ash on Supernatural.

Chad: People ask, did Supernatural get you into ghosts? No, we lived in a haunted house when I was growing up.

How to de-stress from a ghost hunt?

Chad: connect with those you love. And a little weed. Okay, maybe a lot…

He said that filming October Sky was a very emotional experience – they got to know the real life rocket boys.

What monster would Ash love to be?

Chad: He’d love to be a werewolf. He’s already got the hair for it!

Seriously, nobody tells a ghost story like Chad. He put out a bell that senses spirits, and every time he mentioned the haunted Stanley Hotel, it went off!

Clearly he needs to go visit.

Two of my other favorite Supernatural actors were also onstage – Gil McKinney and Matt Cohen, who both wrote very personal chapters in Family Don’t End With Blood about their experience as actors and on Supernatural.

Matt Cohen talked about his new movie, Exes, also starring Briana Buckmaster, Mark Shepherd, Felicia Day and Ricky Whittle. He said his favorite scene to direct with Briana was a terrible tough limo scene of them getting beaten up and then it being finally over!

Mark plays an American, which should be interesting – I’m so used to his Crowley accent (or his actual real life one)

Gil portrays the Mad Hatter on Matt Cohen’s other exciting new project, the animated series Public Domain – along with lots of other SPNFamily.

Gil to a clowning around Matt: You are so weird!

(They are actually entirely amusing together onstage)

Radio Company Live in Austin 2024!

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024spnfans

It’s a rare event when Radio Company, the band that consists of musician Steve Carlson and actor Jensen Ackles (he would dispute it if I called him a musician, even though….), does a live show. I was fortunate to be at their first two years ago in Nashville, which was amazing. So I felt extra lucky to be at their second live show, this time in Austin at Sagebrush. It was another amazing show, just as joyous as the first, but also completely different.

Sagebrush is an Austin music institution. It’s not fancy – it’s a Texas dance hall with wood floors that you can stomp on and pool tables and colorful lights strung around the place for some ambience. The stage was very low and the dance floor pretty much right at the foot of it, so once the place started to fill up, the people who were able to both stand for hours and endure the heat and stood up front were literally at Steve and Jensen’s feet.

(Sagebrush photos by @waywrdaughter67)

Ten years ago, I would’ve probably been one of those people crowded up front, but that isn’t possible anymore. I had a bit of a saga with the management beforehand about how they would provide accommodations to people who needed them, got conflicting advice, and finally just gave up. The venue did end up having a table off to the far right with chairs so I sat there with others who couldn’t stand for a long time, but unfortunately the rest is standing room only so that meant we couldn’t actually see anything at all other than the occasional glimpse of a singing head onstage.

I’m fortunate to be able to stand up for short periods of time, so even though I was far away I was able to see the bands (well, their heads) at least for a bit when standing. It was approximately 8000 degrees inside so standing was extra hard, however. Those of us in the seats all passed around those little portable fans that look like something else and wrapped paper towels soaked in water around our necks and several friends were lovely enough to bring me cold club sodas with lime, but it was … challenging.

That’s not to say I didn’t have a great time. I most definitely did.

Before I was a passionate Supernatural fan, I was a passionate music fan of a couple of bands who I saw live many times, often happily crushed up against the stage. I love live music, it’s one of my favorite things. There are few things more joyous than singing along with a crowd of people who all love the music and the band playing.

I love Louden Swain, alot.

And I love Radio Company, alot. I’ve been a fan of Steve Carlson’s music since the year I discovered it, back in 2007 – the same time I fell head over heels in love with Supernatural. And now that he’s teamed up with Jensen – I mean, who doesn’t love Jensen singing?? I was blown away the first time I witnessed him turn into a rockstar in front of our astonished eyes at that long ago Vegas con, and he continues to evolve as a performer.

Sidebar: Long ago, even before that night in Vegas, I was part of a group of twenty people who got to hear Jensen and Steve play some songs for us at (I think) the first Nashville convention. He was nervous, although it was the most receptive audience ever and they actually sounded amazing. Later that day I was in the green room and he came over to ask me to tell him honestly how he was, was he any good? I think I convinced him that a) he was great and b) he should do that more often.

I’m really glad he eventually believed it.

So while I considered saying nope and leaving to find some AC, once the music started, I was captivated enough to put my discomfort aside for the most part (and privileged to be physically able to do so at least for a limited time). Swain was amazing as always, and then there was a huge cheer as Jensen and Steve and their awesome back-up band took the stage.

Apologies for being shallow, but WHOA. Everyone knows I love Jensen’s long hair, and along with mostly-bare-arms-black-tee-shirt, hair blowing in his face – let’s just say I was screaming my enthusiasm right along with everyone else.

I thank Chuck every day that Danneel loves his long hair and Kripke kept it for Soldier Boy, because nobody cares what I think, but do I ever agree with them!

Creation Supernatural Convention Kansas City 2022

November 23, 2022spnfans

It’s been a busy couple of months! It’s almost Thanksgiving as I write this, and I’m finally trying to catch up on Supernatural convention posts – first up, Kansas City Con!

Three days after getting back from the Supernatural convention at Denver, I headed blearily to the airport again on Thursday night to fly to the next one in Kansas City. I’d never been there, and there had never been a convention there, so that was exciting – enough to keep me awake at least. My lovely roommates had a delicious burger and fries waiting for me, so that helped too. So did a good night’s sleep!

I am rarely able to be at a con on Friday morning, so it was a treat to get to see Gabe Tigerman’s panel. Gabe has a chapter in There’ll Be Peace When You Are Done, and he’s also part of our earliest books, both Fangasm Supernatural Fangirls and Fandom At The Crossroads, so it made me all kinds of happy to catch up with him. A fan asked what he would do if he had mind control like his character, Andy?

Gabe: I’d do the same thing he did – steal Baby!

Favorite line?

Gabe: I have an evil twin! Though I wish it was identical twins so it could be like me fighting me with a mustache.

Like so many guest actors on the show, Gabe said that Supernatural was his favorite job.

Gabe: As guest actors on that show, we really got to act – and then do these conventions!

He wishes Andy didn’t have to die, because it made so much sense for Sam and Dean to just take Andy’s van and go hunting with him.

I was extra thrilled to hear him tell the infamous 5-legged steer story, about the time he and some buddies went to see the world’s largest groundhog and found it stuffed – and then were chased by a cow with a whole ass extra leg hanging off its side!

He also told the story of him fanboying Michael C Hall at a restaurant, and taking out his Invisalign at the exact moment that Hall walked by and said hello, so that Gabe looked up at him with a spit string attached to his Invisalign hahaha.

Gabe took an informal poll of how many times people in the audience had watched Supernatural start to finish – the winner was 35!!

It’s been a while since I’ve seen Julian Richings too – only in the Supernatural fandom does Death exuberantly take the stage like this!

Supernatural Rewatch – A Classic (and Scary) MotW Episode with Provenance

May 30, 2021spnfans

Provenance is a Phil Sgriccia directed episode, and it shows. It’s creepy and scary and memorable in multiple ways, starting out with a close shot of a decidedly creepy old painting in a giant antique frame. A young couple, for some inexplicable reason, just bought it – though the wife has the good sense to say it’s “kinda creepy”. The husband reassures her that he’ll keep her safe, so we’re fairly certain he’s about to die.

Wife: Maybe you’re the one I ought to be scared of…

He is actually kinda creepy and keeps pinching her, but she seems into it and heads upstairs. The old man in the painting turns his head and watches her go up the stairs and OMG that is super creepy!

The husband locks up, sets the alarm and turns out the lights while the wife lights some candles and gets into bed.

“Hurry up or I’m gonna start without you,” she teases, as someone makes their way up the stairs and slowly comes into her room. A gust of breeze blows out the candle and we see her husband just starting to climb the stairs and UH OH that’s not the husband in the room with her…. The clueless husband comes into the room telling her to get the lights, then pauses.

Husband: You smell something?

When the lights come on, his wife is dead on the bed, covered in blood. He falls to his knees, looks up at something we can’t see, and screams.

Cut to a bar and a band playing Steve Carlson’s “Nighttime”, which I wrote about in my recent look back article on some of my early chats with Mr. Carlson, so check those articles out here if you missed them. Here’s what Steve had to say about how that song came to be in this episode:

I had seen my friend Chris, who co-wrote the song, one night at a birthday party and he was dancing using the drink as his prop and I was like, that would be a great beer commercial! We put the song together and I got back and played it for Jensen and he asked me to burn him a copy. He was playing it in his trailer one day and a producer was like oh, who’s that? He said it’s my roommate, Steve, and the producer said, that would be perfect for the bar scene in our next episode. Their people called my people and negotiated it and worked fast to get it in and sign a contract, and the next thing I know I was flying to Boston and it aired. I was on the phone with someone because I couldn’t watch it live and he was watching and telling me oh, it was loud (on the show) – I was going through security and the guy was like, you have to get off the phone, so I threw it in the Xray machine and then grabbed it back and was like, so it was loud? And he was like yeah, and it’s still on! I had it on Tivo but it sucked because I was in Boston and no one I knew had Tivo so I had to wait a week to watch it when I got home – that was the first thing I did!

You can read that full article here fyi:

Radio Company Vol 2! A Look Back at Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles’ Musical History

Anyway, Dean’s flirting with a young woman (Brandy with a y or an ‘i’?) while Sam’s reading in the newspaper about a couple’s throats being slashed. Sam tries to call Dean over and he keeps ignoring him until Sam in exasperation says ‘Come ON’

Dean: I gotta go, be right back…

Celebrating Radio Company Vol 2 – Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles Part 2!

May 8, 2021May 19, 2021spnfans

We left off in Part I of our look back at the history of Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles’ friendship and musical collaboration somewhere around 2009. We saw Steve play a few times in between – once at a con in New Jersey, if I’m remembering correctly, where I actually took a picture for a change!

In 2011, Jensen and Steve did a little jam session that was one of the highlights of the Nashville convention. Jensen was still clearly nervous about playing and singing in front of people (but not as nervous as he was for his first jam with Jason Manns). Here are a few of my recollections about that first ‘public’ performance of Steve and Jensen:

Steve shared more backstory to how the two friends ended up playing together, and even doing some recording. Whenever they were both in town they’d get together at Steve’s house and the guitars would come out. Apparently wherever Steve is living, something gets turned into a makeshift studio – when Jensen and Steve lived together, it was the hall closet, wired up and soundproofed with foam, and probably looking very …. Interesting. In Steve’s place before that, it was the garden shed, similarly outfitted but alas, sans air conditioning. Steve would lure friends out to record there and they’d emerge sweat-soaked and bedraggled, asking plaintively, “was that okay?” (And hoping it was so they could come out of the garden shed!)

I remember they played a really haunting version of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” full of emotion – if I heard that one now it would be even more emotional, post Supernatural finale. They also played the first song that Jensen had learned to play, “If I Had a Million”, which they actually recorded at one time with Steve on mandolin, but there’s some backstory there so they swear no one will ever hear it.

Steve and Jensen also played “Bad Company,” one of my favorite songs. Jensen said that the crew had asked The Impalas (the cast and crew band) to learn that one because it was so perfect for the show – “I was born, six gun in my hand…” He should totally sing that again one day.

I also remember that Jensen asked the fans to excuse the mistakes. And then didn’t make any.

Radio Company Vol 2! A Look Back at Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles’ Musical History

May 7, 2021June 3, 2021spnfans

Most of my fandom friends and pretty much my entire twitter timeline have been listening to the new Radio Company album on repeat since it dropped last night — shortly after midnight here on the east coast U.S. (Yes, I ended up staying up far too late doing that same thing). I love the new CD so much, and it reminded me of not just how much I love Jensen Ackles’ voice and singing, but how much I also love Steve Carlson and the way the two of them harmonize together – and have for a very long time.

So I thought I’d share some chats I’ve had with Steve over the years about his music and making music with Jensen, as we all enjoy their latest collaboration.

I was introduced to Steve’s music way back in 2007, when my friend and Fangasm co-author Kathy and I fell head over heels in love with Supernatural and Dean Winchester, and impulsively flew to Fort Worth Texas to see Jensen Ackles in a community theater production of A Few Good Men. We met and bonded with other fangirls there, and somehow ended up driving around listening to music in someone’s jeep and singing along – to a song called ‘Wasted Jamie’ by Steve Carlson, with Jensen singing backup vocals. I was hooked on Steve’s music from that memorable day, and also on Jensen’s surprising ability to do yet another thing really well – go figure!

Steve used to come to many of the early Creation Supernatural cons, so we often were treated to a Carlson concert as the precursor of the Saturday Night Special. (Jensen never got onstage to sing with him like he did at Asylum with both Steve and Jason Manns, but oh well). My LA friends often went to hear him play at the Hotel Café, and sometimes we joined them, always a little dismayed we lived on the ‘wrong coast’ so we couldn’t be there more often. One of my favorite Steve concerts was in Vancouver, during one of the very first Creation cons there. Back in the day, we often enjoyed the shows alongside Danneel and Jensen, and pretty much every show was amazing. I am SO hoping Radio Co. starts touring because it’s been too long since I’ve been treated to a live Steve performance!

A Family Affair – Jensen Ackles at DallasCon

September 24, 2012June 10, 2017spnfans

There were a few more people in the room than usual at Jensen’s Q and A this afternoon – his parents, sister and brother in law. What a treat to be able to experience them experiencing Jensen ‘doing his thing’ and fans appreciating him for it.



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