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So last night I went to see Louden Swain (fronted by Rob Benedict, aka Chuck from Supernatural) at Eddie's Attic in Decatur. Unfortunately, Rob got called away for work at the last minute, so the show I saw was fronted by Briana Buckmaster (also from Supernatural). I went alone, because, well, I just kind of wanted to see if I could. I don't do a lot of things in my life alone, and I just wanted to go by myself and have the experience without anyone else there with me.
I knew Louden Swain kind of served as the house band for the SPN convention circuit, but I was NOT prepared for the crowd to have the makeup that it did. I'm talking almost entirely women, mostly queer, and a handful of trans and/or queer dudes. Most of the women were 30s+. Everybody was in all their Supernatural swag. It was one of the few times in my life where I was NOT the biggest groupie EVAR at an event. I recognized several faces from DragonCon (including a guy whose picture I took two years ago because he was cosplaying an adorable Dean with a REALLY STELLAR ace Castiel with giant ace flag wings).
The show was decent. Briana has a great voice, though not really my type of singing, and she was hilarious. Since I don't do the SPN convention circuit, I didn't know the in-jokes, didn't know the deal with the kazoos, etc. It's probably how my family feels when I start talking about fandom stuff, honestly. Like the get the general shape, but not the full-blown insanity of it.
Overall, the band without Rob fronting is what I would call "good wedding band good," and the experience was WAY more like going to one of the smaller celebrity panels at a con than it was like going to a show at a club! Once I accepted that, I got the same warm fuzzies I get from con-going, which is the "yes, everyone here IS as excited about things as I am!" feeling, which is the best part of conventions and also why I crash so hard after them.
Would I go back and see Louden Swain again, knowing what I know? Possibly.
Have I redefined how I view the extremity of my own fandom? For sure.
Did I almost have a panic attack driving back from Decatur on cold, wet streets at midnight? Most definitely.
Also, the bartender gave me a free Coke. Bonus!
I knew Louden Swain kind of served as the house band for the SPN convention circuit, but I was NOT prepared for the crowd to have the makeup that it did. I'm talking almost entirely women, mostly queer, and a handful of trans and/or queer dudes. Most of the women were 30s+. Everybody was in all their Supernatural swag. It was one of the few times in my life where I was NOT the biggest groupie EVAR at an event. I recognized several faces from DragonCon (including a guy whose picture I took two years ago because he was cosplaying an adorable Dean with a REALLY STELLAR ace Castiel with giant ace flag wings).
The show was decent. Briana has a great voice, though not really my type of singing, and she was hilarious. Since I don't do the SPN convention circuit, I didn't know the in-jokes, didn't know the deal with the kazoos, etc. It's probably how my family feels when I start talking about fandom stuff, honestly. Like the get the general shape, but not the full-blown insanity of it.
Overall, the band without Rob fronting is what I would call "good wedding band good," and the experience was WAY more like going to one of the smaller celebrity panels at a con than it was like going to a show at a club! Once I accepted that, I got the same warm fuzzies I get from con-going, which is the "yes, everyone here IS as excited about things as I am!" feeling, which is the best part of conventions and also why I crash so hard after them.
Would I go back and see Louden Swain again, knowing what I know? Possibly.
Have I redefined how I view the extremity of my own fandom? For sure.
Did I almost have a panic attack driving back from Decatur on cold, wet streets at midnight? Most definitely.
Also, the bartender gave me a free Coke. Bonus!
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