Columbia Records will release “Back Country,” the first official live concert recording from the platinum certified and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter John Ondrasik and his band Five For Fighting, on Tuesday, November 6.
“Back Country” — the first new release from Five For Fighting since the group’s last album, “Two Lights,” entered the Billboard Top 200 at #8 in August 2006 — will be available in three physical configurations: a DVD, an audio CD, and a deluxe CD/DVD combination pack.
Recorded live in concert in Orlando, “Back Country” is a showcase of definitive performances of classic songs and personal favorites from the Five For Fighting catalog including “100 Years,” “Freedom Never Cries,” “Superman,” “Two Lights,” “The Riddle” and many more.
A compelling selection of bonus material on the “Back Country” DVD includes films from participating charities on John’s groundbreaking website, “What Kind Of World Do You Want?” (WhatKindOfWorldDoYouWant.com), as well as John’s unforgettable performance of “Superman” (from 2001’s “The Concert For New York City” benefit) and an interview with the Vietnam veteran whose concern for his Iraq-bound son inspired the Five For Fighting song, “Two Lights.”
Song included on “Back Country”: “Freedom Never Cries,” “World,” “California Justice,” “The Riddle,” “’65 Mustang,” “NYC Weather Report,” “Two Lights,” “I Just Love You,” “God Made You,” “Easy Tonight,” “Superman,” “100 Years,” “Nobody,” “Road To Heaven,” and “Policeman’s Christmas Party.”
Music videos included on “Back Country” DVD: “Superman,” “Easy Tonight,” “100 Years,” “The Devil In The Wishing Well,” “The Riddle,” and “World.”
Bonus material included on “Back Country” DVD: “Autism Speaks” video, “Augie’s Quest” charity video, “Caring Kids” video (Save The Children), “Fisher House” video, “Superman” from “The Concert For New York City”; interview with the father who inspired “Two Lights”; and behind-the-scenes “making of ” footage of Five For Fighting on set and in the studio,
The brainchild of singer-songwriter-performer John Ondrasik, Five for Fighting signed with Columbia Records in 2000, releasing the platinum-certified album, “America Town” in September of that year. “America Town” premiered two of Five For Fighting’s signature tracks: the international hit, “Easy Tonight” and the Grammy-nominated “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” a song offering solace and comfort which became an American anthem following the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The next Five For Fighting album, 2004’s “The Battle For Everything” introduced “100 Years,” an Ondrasik-penned metaphysical rumination which found its way into America’s musical scrapbook and continues to be a source of inspiration and reflection.
Five For Fighting’s “Two Lights,” released in August 2006, became Ondrasik’s first Top 10 album and debuted the artist’s third Top 5 Adult single, “The Riddle.” To John’s delight, the album’s second single, “World,” was used in the HBO promotional video preceding the final four episodes of “The Sopranos.”
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n February 2007, after receiving hundreds of unsolicited homemade videos for his hit singles “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” and “100 Years,” John Ondrasik launched “What Kind Of World Do You Want?,” a pioneering website allowing visitors to the site to make a charitable donation in two ways: by posting a homemade video for the song, “World,” or by watching videos made and uploaded by others. Participating charities include Fisher House, Save The Children, Autism Speaks, and Augie’s Quest. For more information, please visit WhatKindOfWorldDoYouWant.com.