SPN20 Music Extravaganza / More Than Background Music – Creating the Convention Experience
While music is the central theme of the SPN20 Music Extravaganza’s collaborative podcast series hosted by In Defense of Fandom & Denim-Wrapped Nightmares, this podcast episode will clearly demonstrate that when it comes to conventions, music isn’t the cherry on top, but rather the ripple that runs through it. Interviews with Billy Moran and Chris Schmelke offer unique perspectives on how music underpins these events, influencing energy, tone, and emotion in ways that powerfully define a fan’s cherished memories.
Creating the convention experience is a tall order. Supernatural conventions, in particular, are a different breed. They didn’t start at zero. They are a product of all that came before. Over time, Supernatural conventions have evolved into an ecosystem where cast, crew, musicians, photographers, organizers, and fans all play interdependent roles that shape what feels familiar and unique. Music plays a significant part in that experience. It shapes mood, creating continuity, and deepening the fan connection. Each element, whether it’s performance or participation contributes to an environment where people don’t just attend, they belong.
If we’re going to view conventions through the lens of music, it’s important to know why Supernatural conventions, more than any other, stand apart from their contemporary counterparts. That didn’t happen by accident. To really understand their incredible exceptionality in the world of convention entertainment, we need to peel back a few layers to understand their evolution and how it all started with Eric Kripke. Not only because of the world he created, but how he identified that music was central to its mood, and ultimately, its identity. His admission of what he was willing to sacrifice to secure his vision for Supernatural’s musical tapestry became the catalyst that led our hosts to choose music for the series in the first place. So, let’s start there.
Holding out for what he really wanted, established Kripke’s clarity and vision for the kind of show that Supernatural was destined to become. Classic rock comes fully loaded with mythic weight. It speaks of rebellion, freedom, defiance, and movement. The needle drops deliver an emotional shorthand that audiences understand and connect with immediately. Pop music tends to date whatever it’s tied to, while classic rock has a timeless quality. The music is inherited rather than timestamped, and for that reason, it endures. Supernatural never feels locked to one era, even twenty years later.
And the single greatest benefit of using classic rock to help tell the Supernatural story is how perfectly it mirrored who Sam and Dean Winchester were, and the challenges they faced every day. Dean, motivated by duty, family and doing whatever was necessary to keep Sam safe are what anchored him in his reality. Sam’s desire for autonomy, morality and a life beyond hunting was the ever-present future, no matter how far beyond their reach it seemed to be. The show’s use of classic rock and roll reflected their roots, their attitude, and their existence as modern-day drifters. Raised on the road, living out of the Impala, and deeply influenced by their father’s generation, the brothers inhabit a blue-collar, old-school world where classic rock thrives, especially for Dean. The gritty, rebellious sound echoes their defiance of conventional authority as they answered a higher calling.
And no one could have told that story better than Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles did. No one. But they didn’t just build a show, they built a legacy. These gentleman demonstrated, with masterclass precision, what it means to curate an onset culture where co-workers became friends and friends became family. There are countless stories of cast and crew sharing what life was like on the set of Supernatural; a place where best idea wins, where fun eclipses tension and where generosity, kindness, safety, inclusiveness and collaboration are the order of the day.
And all that love, warmth, loyalty and friendship translated into the fandom. It all came full-circle into a place of belonging. A place where you can show up as a stranger and go home with a list of friends. A place where you can feel accepted, embraced and above all, safe. And what every Supernatural fan knows is that music is the connective tissue that links every single convention into a string of experiences rather than any one singular event. So, whether you attend every convention, parachute in to enjoy one or two a year, or whether you enjoy them vicariously through the generosity of fans who post their videos and photos, you are part of the tapestry. Part of the family. And this is where the music breathes, thrives, pulses with life and toe-tapping joy. Music is the river that runs through it.
Within this living ecosystem, music doesn’t move on its own. It is carried, shaped, and protected by people who understand its power. In this episode of the SPN20 Music Extravaganza, Billy Moran and Chris Schmelke step into focus not as background contributors, but as essential stewards of the convention experience through their particular genius and craft. Through their interviews, we begin to see how music is carefully woven into moments both large and intimate through their ability to guide energy, anchor memory, and help transform fleeting encounters into something lasting.
Episode two of the SPN20 Music Extravaganza is as wonderful a listening experience as episode one was, so kudos to our hosts for doing another bang-up job! If you haven’t listened yet, take the time, you’ll be glad you did. I will offer up some highlights from Billy’s interview and then move on to Chris.
Billy Moran – When the Music Found Its Way Home
Long before Billy Moran ever stepped onto a convention stage, he was already leaning in. What first drew him to Supernatural wasn’t the mythology or the monsters, but something much more personal. It was the music. And not just any music, but a familiar pulse. The unmistakable hum of classic rock threading its way through a television show. Newly transitioned to L.A., Billy stumbled across the show’s early Flash website, heard the classic rock and roll and was moved by a sentimental longing for what he felt had been missing from his life at the time. The music wasn’t window dressing in a horror genre show; it was identity and connection. He didn’t need to know the characters yet. The soundtrack told him everything he needed to know about the world he was stepping into.
Billy’s Interview Highlights:
- The soundtrack as an invitation
Before characters, before mythology, the music itself made Supernatural feel familiar, welcoming, and personal, especially since rock-and-roll was something he loved and missed. - Parallel life shifts
Billy’s early fandom overlaps uncannily with two major life changes; meeting his then girlfriend [now wife] Michelle and within two weeks of that serendipitous blessing, another fruitful twist of fate had him signing up with the band, Louden Swain, both would later intertwine with the Supernatural world in unexpected ways. - When worlds collide
Rob Benedict joining Supernatural wasn’t just a casting moment. Rob joining the cast of Supernatural became the bridge between the band, the show, and what eventually become a permanent convention presence. - From guest performers to house band
Louden Swain’s evolution at conventions was sporadic in the beginning but it grew from gigs that depended on availability and geography to eventually becoming the permanent convention entertainment they are today, and it all started with a fun piece of lore, where we learn about the Elastic Waste Band [Tango (Rob Benedict), Sweet Johnny High-Pockets (Billy Moran), Sir Richard Furlong (Michael Borja) and Hot Karl (Stephen Norton)]. - Music as connective tissue
Whether playing classic rock snippets, original material, or full Saturday Night Specials, Billy emphasizes music’s role in bridging screen and stage, performer and fan.
- Inhabiting the Convention Universe
Louden Swain’s songwriting remains rooted in lived experience, while honoring the show and maintaining their own identity and authenticity. Conventions create a parallel life that is immersive, intense, joyful, and sometimes demanding. Intentional decompression and self-care are important to stay grounded and rooted in life outside of the convention circuit. - Watching the show from the inside out
Once Billy became part of the Supernatural family, watching the show changed for him. Conventions were the playground where friendships with cast and crew flourished, so Swan Song felt like a natural ending. - Classic rock as destiny
Learning that Eric Kripke fought for classic rock music as a non-negotiable requirement, affirms everything Billy felt as a fan. Supernatural wouldn’t exist as it does without it. - Music as legacy, not nostalgia
Even after the show’s end, music continues to generate new creation, collaboration, and community, offering proof that the heartbeat of Supernatural is still very much alive.
Chris Schmelke – Curating the Space where Magic Happens
Chris Schmelke, being a musician himself, brings a depth and breadth of knowledge about music and how it has the power to curate atmosphere and joy. Not only does he share some of his own musical history, but we also get to hear and come to understand how Chris has, for nearly two decades, played a fundamental role in shaping the emotional tempo of Supernatural conventions from inside the photo-op room. The photo-op room is a place where music, joy, memory, anticipation and the jittery nerves of each visiting fan all collide in a matter of seconds.
Throughout his chat with our podcast hosts, Chris reflects on how sound, space, instinct, and care all work together to turn the fleeting interactions that fans experience into something that stays with them long after their photo-op is over. What follows are highlights from his interview that hint at the depth of intention behind the magic.
Chris’ Interview Highlights:
- A constant presence since the beginning
Chris has worked every Supernatural convention Creation has produced since 2007, bringing with him years of prior experience from photographing fandoms like Stargate and Lord of the Rings. - Rejecting the “assembly line” photo-op
From the start, Chris made a deliberate choice to treat photo-ops as experiences, not transactions, resisting the idea of fans being rushed through like interchangeable bodies in a line. - Music as the invisible architecture of the room
Music sets the tempo, masks intrusive commands like “next,” and protects the intimacy of brief fan/celebrity moments. It plays a unique role ensuring a little privacy in the personal exchanges, so they remain personal. - Curated sound, not background noise
Every playlist is intentional. Music acts as an emotional introduction between fan and actor, and between Chris and the people he’s photographing, helping everyone settle into the moment. - Reading the room through body language
Chris reads reactions instinctively. When actors are relaxed and comfortable, they engage more freely, which in turn ensures that ease carries directly into the fan experience. - The photo room as a living ecosystem
Chris describes the room as a “rain forest,” where everything depends on everything else: crew, music, actors, fans, energy. Remove even one element, especially the music and the entire experience falters. - A creative life rooted in both music and photography
Long before conventions, Chris was a bassist playing live shows and from an early age, he loved taking pictures, something that was very much shaped by his father’s influence. Both these disciplines taught him timing, anticipation, and emotional awareness. - Helping people see themselves differently
One of the most meaningful parts of his work is hearing fans say they love how they look in their photos. In that regard photography becomes an act of quiet empowerment. Chris knows when someone is ready and in that split second when a person’s face settles, his instincts kick in, resulting in photos that look genuine rather than posed. - Why Supernatural photos are different
Unlike other fandoms, Supernatural embraced creativity early. Fans shared their photos and their ideas and inspired one another. That openness became part of the culture. And what keeps people coming back isn’t just the actors. It’s the friendships, shared experiences, and the desire to feel something together again. - Stepping inside the music, not just documenting it
Chris talks about being invited beyond the lens, learning songs on the fly, carving out precious minutes between responsibilities, and sharing the Saturday night stage with Louden Swain. For him, those concerts are more than performance; they are moments of gratitude, togetherness, and celebration of the people he loves still being there, still creating, still walking out on stage. In particular, Chris talks lovingly about Rob Benedict’s continued presence.
- Presence, gratitude, and why this all endures
Chris’ awareness of not taking a single moment for granted becomes a quiet through-line in Chris’s story. It reinforces why Supernatural conventions have lasted as long as they have. They are built on genuine relationships, mutual care, and a shared commitment to showing up for one another. - Music as memory-maker
Songs playing during photo ops often become permanently attached to the moment, to be remembered years later as part of a fan’s Supernatural story. - Nearly 20 years of carefully curated playlists
With thousands of songs across dozens of playlists, Chris tailors music by time of day, energy level, and even specific cast members. And at the heart of it all is genuine love. It is what sustains these conventions. It is the love between cast, crew and fans. It is shared and protected.
Before we move on from all that Chris shared in his interview, I was a little blown away to learn he opened for the Libertines at CBGB in 2003. For anyone who is not aware of what CBGB/OMFUG is, I’ve included some fun links at the bottom of the article.
Guardians of Music, Memory and Magic
Through the SPN20 Music Extravaganza podcast series, In Defense of Fandom and Denim-Wrapped Nightmares have guided us behind the curtain to meet the people who make these conventions memorable. Billy Moran, along with Louden Swain, turn every song into a bridge between performer, cast, crew, staff and fan weaving lasting memories for all who attend. Chris Schmelke, curates backstage moments and the photo-op room, documenting and safeguarding the laughter, jitters and joy that make each convention feel alive and personal. Together, these stewards of sound, image, and experience transform fleeting minutes into lasting memories, proving that Supernatural conventions are not just events, they are living, breathing celebrations of fandom and family long after the music fades.
Our Podcast Hosts
In Defense of Fandom
In Defense of Fandom explores the world of fandom, focusing on creativity, community and collaboration. The show, pulling from interviews with creators and fandom research, illuminates the ways that fandom can be an incredibly positive influence in our lives. In season one, the podcast focused on the creative output of the SPN Family, as Supernatural fans call themselves, a lens to understand fandom activities as a whole. Season two broadened the premise by exploring how the ending of a TV series can affect its fandom. Topics ranged from whether the ending is good/terrible/divisive to whether it matters if the show is cancelled or goes out on its own terms to attempted revivals and reboots. Season three took a step back from television and expanded the scope even further, looking at parasocial relationships. The third season examined how and why we form parasocial bonds, how these bonds can be beneficial (and detrimental), and what a parasocial relationship looks like from the side of the star/musician/creator.
Season four, created in collaboration with Denim-Wrapped Nightmares, celebrates the 20th anniversary of Supernatural by taking a look at the music of the show; the music that made the show, music inspired by the show, and music from the show’s cast, writers, and crew.
Denim-Wrapped Nightmares
Do you like Supernatural Then and Now? Well, one of our guests called Denim-Wrapped Nightmares their “bratty, little sister.” And you know what? Accurate!
Join SPN family newcomers, Berly and LA, as they explore the Warner Bros. CW TV series, Supernatural, episode by episode. Over drinks, they’ll discuss lore, gore, and what they adore about the Winchesters and their adventures.
As a way to keep in touch during the 2020 pandemic, Berly and LA started podcasting with their debut, anything-goes talk show, The Tipsy Exchange. During those discussions, Berly and LA realized that they most enjoy talking humorously about TV/Film, mythology, suspense, and hot guys.
Supernatural seemed a natural fit. It’s a match made in heaven… or hell… you decide! Now, let’s get tipsy! CW/TW for violent and lewd commentary; listeners beware!
Links, Source Material and Credits
For anyone who wishes to follow the links for my source material… knock your socks off! These are listed in no particular order.
- Eric Kripke – IMDb page
- Eric Kripke on Music for Supernatural Courtesy Paley Center for Media – Full Video
- Sam Dean Impala Photo-Courtesy CW
- Jared Padalecki – IMDb page
- Jensen Ackles – IMDb page
- Billy Moran Photo – Courtesy of Jenna Perry Photography
- Supernatural’s Original, Official Flash Website – See Supernatural Wiki Page for Details
- Elastic Waste Band Promo Pic, Courtesy Supernatural Wiki
- All Other Electric Waste Band Pics Courtesy Electronic Waste Band X Account
- Louden Swain Pics Courtesy Louden Swain Site and HUB Productions Respectively
- List of Louden Swain Songs Used In Supernatural
- Season 07, Episode 13 – The Slice Girls / Worlds Collide
- Season 11, Episode 03 – The Bad Seed / Big One (Episode version is Instrumental)
- Season 15, Episode 12 – Galaxy Brain / Pop Tart Heart
- Season 11, Episode 20 – Don’t Call Me Shurley / Fare Thee Well
- Chris Schmelke Solo Pic Lifted from Photo Courtesy In Defense of Fandom + Denim-Wrapped Nightmares
- Article Feature Banner Pic Comprised of Elements Supplied Courtesy of In Defense of Fandom / Denim-Wrapped Nightmares
- More Than Background Music-Creating the Convention Experience-DOF EP02
- Chris Schmelke Photo Courtesy Chris Schmelke X Account – Holly Diane Photography
- Chris Schmelke Photo Courtesy Chris Schmelke X Account – Photo by Angela YoMeAng
- Chris Schmelke with Louden Swain Courtesy of Chris Schmelke X Account
- Michael Rosenbaum Inside of You Interview with R.Benedict, R.Speight Jr – Full Episode
- Apple Podcast Link: In Defense of Fandom
- Apple Podcast Link: Denim-Wrapped Nightmares
- CBGB Pic Courtesy of The Libertines Archive
- YouTube Video of CBGB Libertines – 2003.04.30 (Poor Quality but the only one I could find)
- For any music fan who wants to learn more about CBGB Check Out Some Fun Links Below
- The Story of CBGB’s – LINK
- History by Hilly
- Watch if you can, this is a good movie: CBGB Theatrical Trailer
- The Rolling Stones HBO Vinyl: 1973 Shaping The Culture – CBGBs
