We're nearing the end of this special collaboration between Denim-wrapped Nightmares and In Defense of Fandom. Devastating, we know, but we're going out with a bang 🥁

The final Supernatural Music Extravaganza Artist-on-Artist episode features Mark Sheppard and Richard Speight, Jr., in an unscripted conversation about accidentally building the best damn concert series in convention history.

Mark's Journey: From touring stadiums with Robyn Hitchcock at 17 and co-founding School of Fish to walking away from music entirely when he got sober in 1990. Two decades later, he's back behind the kit at Supernatural conventions, and now touring with Dick Jr. and the Volunteers because—why not?

Rich's Journey: This dreamboat drifted through dives in Nashville cover bands for free beer, had one record deal at 25 (RIP Fugitive Pope), then hung up his bass for dad life. Fast forward to conventions where he became a chaos agent—moving chairs against orders, turning sad karaoke into ragers, and masterminding the infiltration of Louden Swain disguised as "The Elastic Waistbands."

How Saturday Night Special Happened: The Elastic Waistbands (voted Las Vegas' fourth-best lounge act three years ago 🎭) was Rich's trojan horse to get a real band into conventions. Rob Benedict had a stroke (damn his doe eyes), which somehow led to the first big Saturday night concert. Mark showed up, took one look at the equipment situation, and basically said "if we're doing this, we're doing it RIGHT"—cue the 53-foot trailer, massive PA, and actual production value. Philosophy: "Come back when you don't suck." SNS ain't karaoke.

The Good Stuff: 🎵 Osric learning guitar in two weeks and destroying crowds with "Creep" 🎵 Jensen Ackles giving his stamp of approval and joining the show 🎵 14-minute "Raspberry Beret" featuring an 11-minute Grammy speech 🎵 Mark casually leaving $15K in drums in an unlocked storefront in Enterprise, Oregon 🎵 Billy Moran being an absolute virtuoso who makes everyone sound better

It's about the magic of live performance, the Supernatural family, why making music with your friends beats everything else, and how they accidentally created a convention model that changed the game.

Special thanks to Rich for allowing us to feature some of his band's music. Find tracks and more at https://www.dickjrandthevolunteers.com/.

Catchup on Supernatural Music Extravaganza episodes and find playlists at https://linktr.ee/SPN20

Follow Denim-wrapped Nightmares (if you're not already) and turn on notifications for new episodes. Find and follow In Defense of Fandom at https://www.geekscape.net/in-defense-of-fandom.

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