Five for Fighting, Edwin McCain bringing 2000s nostalgia to SKyPAC

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY)— A pair of artists whose songs became part of the soundtrack of the early 2000s are coming to Bowling Green this summer. Five for Fighting and Edwin McCain are scheduled to perform June 6 at SKyPAC.

For Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik, the tour is a chance to revisit songs that have followed fans through different seasons of life — and continue to find new listeners.

“It is funny that I’ve kind of now rolled into that nostalgia artist zone,” Ondrasik says. “‘Superman’ actually turned 25 this year. It’s wonderful to have songs that, you know, mark people’s memories. And also there’s a whole new group of fans who weren’t frankly born when we wrote them. So I think both me and Edwin are just grateful to still be doing it. And we have a lot of fun.”

Ondrasik adds fans can expect a night filled with familiar songs, including Five for Fighting’s “100 Years” and Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be.”

He says the show is meant to be something the whole family can enjoy.

“I think we pride ourselves on this is a family show. So, you know, feel free to bring the kids, bring the grandparents, bring the dog,” Ondrasik says. “I’m definitely going to hit the Corvette Museum. I’m a huge Corvette fan. And as I said, I think there’s something for everyone. We have so much fun and, you know, hopefully have a laugh, shed a tear and sing a lot of songs, you know?”

The Bowling Green stop also carries some added meaning for Ondrasik, who shares it will be his first time performing in the city.

“So it’s very special for us to come to Bowling Green because it’s the first time I will be playing in your beautiful city,” Ondrasik says. “So for me, coming to kind of these small heartland towns for the first time is always really exciting. And so we have a circle around the date, no doubt about it.”

Away from the stage, Ondrasik’s life looks a little different. He also helps manage his family’s shopping cart business.

“I can basically look at a cart and in five seconds, tell you if it’s worthy and many of them are not,” Ondrasik noted. “We’ve designed the Tesla of shopping carts and of course I’m a little biased. But yeah, that is my strange world selling shopping carts by day and singing rock songs at night.”

Tickets for the June 6 concert at SKyPAC are on sale now.