Radio Company Review: Jensen Ackles & Steve Carlson Debut – Impressive Live Show

An Impressive Show

Radio Company, in their first ever ticketed live performance at a sold-out venue in Nashville, TN on December 19, 2022, was in equal measure, predictable and exceptional.  For anyone who is following the ever-burgeoning musical success and popularity of Radio Company, it stands to reason that the talent on display would be the calibre any Radio Company fan has come to expect.  That’s the predictable element.  However, what every fan got that night, was exceptional.  And here’s why:

The Opening Act

Louden Swain is a group out of Los Angeles, California and is made up of Rob Benedict, Michael Borja, Billy Moran and Stephen Norton.  All four members share a creative and committed bond that began in 1997 and is standing the test of time.

Louden Swain-RC Concert Nashville-Courtesy YouTube

When they took the stage the audience could immediately feel the energy on tap, and it was a fantastic precursor to what followed.  There has been a long standing relationship between Louden Swain and Radio Company.  It’s immediately apparent that these two groups demonstrate their open love and support for each others work.  Music, just by its very nature is an act of giving, and Louden Swain did not hold any of that sentiment in check.  They gave it all to the audience in a wonderful performance.  They shared a mixture of old tunes, some fan favorites and played a few of their new songs from their 2022 anticipated album, “Feelings and Such” to the delight of all who attended.  Their contribution to this first ever Radio Company event was electric, exciting and queued up the high emotion that greeted the headliners when they took centre stage.

Louden Swains Setlist:  Trigger Finger-Sky Alive-2014, Pop Tart Heart-A Brand New Hurt-2009, Eskimo-Eskimo-2012, Guilty One-Feelings and Such-2022, Worlds Collide-Eskimo-2012, Crystal Ball-Feelings and Such-2022, She Waits-Eskimo-2012, Amazing-No Time Like the Present-2017, Medicated-A Brand New Hurt-2009, and Mamma’s Jam-Eskimo-2012.

The Venue

Analog-Courtesy of Analog Website

The locale for this gig was the Analog at Hutton Hotel.  The Analog straddles the line between high-end cocktail lounge and intimate music venue.  The space is stunning with double-height ceilings, a dramatic color palette, a beautiful mural on the acoustic panelling by Nashville artist Chris Zidek and the use of old analog electronics as decorative touches in a space that lauds admirably, all that is music and creativity.  It offers its guests an up-close-and-personal experience while boasting stellar acoustics.  It is well-appointed and just oozes that Nashville music vibe so many have come to love.

On a personal note, as an attendee of Radio Company’s first-ever concert, the venue played its part in the overall aesthetic.  Calling Analog an intimate music venue is a well-chosen phrase.  You feel as though you are actually sharing space with the artists and musicians in a way that is not possible otherwise.  It was like watching talented musicians picking up instruments and jamming while all their friends looked on.  We could easily have been at a friend’s backyard party and the vibe would have been the same. The only downside being that these two musical groups have more friends then this place could possibly handle.  Oh, and before I forget, the bar is wonderful, and they make a mean Margarita if that’s your thing.

The Crowd

While there was some jockeying for position to get a coveted piece of real estate that would give standing room only ticket holders full viewing access of the stage, things settled down once the music started.  Fans were immediately carried away.  It was at this time that all the light and love for these gentleman and their music, saturated the very air, and all focus turned to centre stage.

What an absolute gift it was, that Radio Company brought in Stage-It to livestream the concert for all those dedicated fans, friends and family who couldn’t be there.  It was especially heartwarming to hear the crowd cheer out “We love you Danneel” when Jensen waved hello to his wife and their kiddos watching from the west coast.

Jensen is an accomplished actor who spent fifteen years portraying Dean Winchester on Supernatural.  Understandably the majority of those in attendance at this concert are a part of that fandom.  Jensen introduced Steve by inviting him to sing at Supernatural conventions and he was immediately adopted into the fold.  For a musician as accomplished as Steve is, their adoration came naturally.  From the time that Radio Company formed in 2018, the band became intrinsically linked with the fandom.  Why is this important?

Jensen has on several occasions demonstrated a humbleness about his gifts as a singer and musician.  As such, a great many of his fans have watched him grow his then-untapped musical talents.  Not only have they watched him stretch those “confidence” muscles but have relished in, and felt a participatory support in his trajectory as a professional musician.  That success belongs to him, no doubt about it.  However, the following is also true; his Supernatural fans have watched, wooed, loved, nurtured, supported and ultimately felt the exultation and pride in the place he found himself on December 19, 2022 – the shared headliner of Radio Company’s first-ever sold-out show in Nashville.

This concert has been anticipated for some time and this crowd, collectively, took immense pride in the accomplishment unfolding before them.  It was deeply personal to many in attendance.  So personal in fact, that it was difficult to not become overwhelmed.  If the crowd didn’t cheer, stomp their feet and bang on every surface available, that emotion might well have found it’s way out in tears.  Instead, the crowd did the next best thing– they sang their hearts out.

The Concert

Stage-It live-streaming aside, nothing compares to live music.  The incredible love and enthusiasm that pulsates outward from the stage is pure generosity.  It is an intimate relationship that an artist shares with his or her fans.  It is an indescribable high, and these artists delivered.  Big time.

Steve and Jensen shared a wonderful mix of high energy and laid back sound that delivered all the feels.  It drew you in and kept you wanting more until the very last note.  Their complimentary voices are adept at delivering perfect harmony.  Both are equally proficient at singing everything from gritty rock, to the soothing dulcet tones of a ballad, to the clear twangy quality we all associate with good country, and all points in between.  To round out their repertoire, both of these men are capable of singing the sweet, soft musical quality reminiscent of crooners of old.

They came out of the gate double strong, starting with a fan favorite “All My Living Time” showcasing jazzy horns and rocking guitars topped off with the soulful harmonizing that Radio Company is so well known for.  The song continued to build with Steve’s raspy notes accompanied by Jensen’s clear baritone, belting out the powerhouse crescendo as the crowd paid homage.  Their next song, “Let Me Be” was delivered with Jensen on lead vocals as Steve harmonized.  Strong overtones of jazzy horns dominated once again.  This upbeat tune, switches tempo in the middle and levels out while Jensen sang those pensive lyrics until the song escalates to a sharp finish.

Next, the band slowed things down with “Watching Over Me” and delivered a beautiful rendition of this melancholy tune.  Then Jensen sang “Drowning” which included some powerful, throaty guitar riffs– a wonderful backdrop to buoy that clear baritone of his as he rendered those haunting lyrics.  I could go on and on.  Every song delivered better than the one before it.  It was such an incredible gift to hear this music performed live and to sing along with these talented gents.

Both of these men had an easy presence in front of the crowd, and their on-stage banter exuded the lighthearted confidence that comes from years of friendship.  Their good humor and unfettered camaraderie belies the stress inducing demands of a live performance.  Steve shared that choosing the setlist for this show took on a deeply personal tone as their intention was to choose the songs that chronicled the evolution of their friendship.  They have been writing songs together long before the band formed, and so they included music that predated Radio Company, like the tender love song “Pinata Novia,” the cover that Jensen sings so well “Angeles,” the title track from Steve’s vagabond journey album “Different Town” and a little taste of Christmas with “Auld Lang Syne.”

There are two songs that stand out in my mind that were dominated by audience participation, being “Quarter To” and “City Grown Willow.”  Both songs easily being fan favorites. “Truly Forgotten” and “Angeles” being delivered as vocal solos by Steve and Jensen respectively, also rank up there as high points in the show.  But I really have to give it up for their sweet rejuvenation of ’70’s Memphis Soul when Sheree Smith stepped up to the mic and belted out her rendition of Ann Peebles, “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”  She had the whole place vibing.

The rest of Radio Company’s songs that rounded out their performance were; “Dead to Rights,” “Any Way That You Want Me” and “Sounds of Someday.”  All beautifully done.  I love that Radio Company concluded their show the way they did.  While Graceland was home to Elvis, he was a familiar face in Nashville and came to this cradle of musical creativity to record new songs in the famed Studio B.  I thought Steve and Jensen’s rendition of “That’s All Right Mama” was a nice nod to the King.

And finally, to report on something really exciting, now is the time to make mention of the two new songs that Radio Company performed that will be on their album release coming in January 2023.  Those songs were “Every Light” and “Right Kind of Trouble.”  Both of these tunes have a country backbone, and come in strong with that familiar twang of the steel guitar.  While “Every Light” carries the sharp, crisp sounds from the fiddle in its medium tempo, “Right Kind of Trouble” diverges somewhat sans fiddle while it picks up speed and works in a rock-like flourish in it’s kicky up-beat rhythm.  Both these songs are destined to be sure-fire hits.

The Band

The talent up on stage were as follows; Steve Carlson-Lead Vocals/Mandolin/Guitars, Jensen Ackles-Lead Vocals/Guitars, Megan Jane-Drums/Percussion, Dean Moore-Bass, Harrison Finks-Keyboards, Jules Belmont-Guitar/Steel Guitar, Sheree Smith-Background Vocals, Angela Miller-Background Vocals, Josie Klein-Fiddle, Gideon Klein-Cello, Zakk Garner-Saxophone, Andrew Golden-Trumpet and Billy Moran-Bass.

The Future

Both Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles are family men with demanding careers so their fans will be mustering all their powers of manifestation for another live concert.  If all the stars align, perhaps we will see a small Radio Company tour.  For now, every fan is excited for the January 2023 release of their next album.