“Four or five years ago, I started doing symphony shows, and [they were] going so well, we wanted to try to take that format to smaller markets,” explained John Ondrasik, the singer/songwriter who records under the moniker Five for Fighting, who will perform March 19 at the Lobero Theatre.
Ondrasik (aka Five for Fighting) burst on the scene in the early 2000s with his mega hit songs “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” and “100 Years.” In the 15 years since, he has not only maintained a thriving career in music but has also branched out to public speaking gigs (check out his TEDx talk), charity work, and is even dabbling in television.
In a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles, Ondrasik and I spoke about writing hit songs, touring with an orchestra, adapting to the ever-changing music business, and playing for the NHL’s 100th-anniversary gala, among other topics. The following are some snippets of our conversation.