June 21, 2026 – Steelhouse – Omaha, NE
Sunday night, June 21, 2026, turned out to be an amazing night of music at Steelhouse in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, as Five For Fighting and Edwin McCain brought their 2026 tour to town. It was the kind of show that reminded everyone in the room how powerful a great song can be when it is performed by someone who truly knows how to connect with an audience.
The night kicked off with Edwin McCain, and from the moment he walked out, he had the crowd with him.
McCain has been a familiar voice for decades, first gaining major attention with his 1995 album Honor Among Thieves. His second album, Misguided Roses, gave the world “I’ll Be,” which became a huge hit in 1998 and remains one of those songs that people instantly recognize. A year later, his album Messenger featured another Top 40 hit, “I Could Not Ask For More,” which was also included on the soundtrack for the film Message in a Bottle.
Over the years, McCain has continued releasing music, touring, and finding new ways to connect with fans. He has released live DVDs, acoustic projects, a Christmas album, and several studio albums, including Lost in America, Mercy Bound, and his newer album Lucky. In 2025, he also appeared on season thirteen of The Masked Singer as Nessy, where he performed “I’ll Be” during his encore after being eliminated in the Top 5.
McCain currently has over 2.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and his latest single, “Carolina When I Die” featuring Darius Rucker, is definitely worth a listen. The song, which is also The Official South Carolina State Song, feels like a perfect fit for his voice and storytelling style.
His set at Steelhouse was fantastic. Between songs, he told stories about his music, his wife, his kids, and his bandmates, and he had the audience laughing throughout the night. He was funny, warm, and completely comfortable onstage. Some artists play their songs and move on. McCain made the whole set feel personal.
Of course, the audience popped big time for “I Could Not Ask For More” and “I’ll Be.” Those songs still hit hard, especially when you hear a room full of people singing along. His voice has definitely stood the test of time, and he looked and sounded great.
The last two songs of his set were something special. He performed covers of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and Seal’s “Crazy,” and both were phenomenal. It was one of those moments where you could feel the crowd realizing they were getting more than just a typical opening set.
This was my second time seeing Edwin McCain live. The last time was at Whiskey Roadhouse in Council Bluffs with a much smaller crowd. He was great then, but this performance at Steelhouse was spectacular.
Edwin McCain Setlist:
- I’ve Seen a Love
- Jesters Dreamers and Thieves
- I Could Not Ask For More
- Walk With You
- Take Me
- Kool Miles
- Love T.K.O. (David Oliver cover)
- I’ll Be
- In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel cover)
- Crazy (Seal cover)
After a brief intermission, it was time for Five For Fighting.
Five For Fighting is the stage name of singer-songwriter and pianist Vladimir John Ondrasik III. He is best known for piano-driven songs like “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “World,” and “Chances.” Over the years, Ondrasik has recorded six studio albums, an EP, and several live projects. His music has been featured in hundreds of films, television shows, and advertisements, and as of 2025, Five For Fighting’s catalog has earned more than one billion streams.
“Superman” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2002, and Five For Fighting has also been nominated for an American Music Award. The project currently has over 2.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, which is not surprising when you consider how many of these songs have become part of people’s lives.
Ondrasik sounded absolutely amazing. His voice was clear, emotional, and strong all night, and his piano playing gave the set an intimate feeling, even inside a packed venue like Steelhouse.
What stood out just as much as the music was the way he talked to the audience. Throughout the set, he shared stories about how the songs came together, his children, his wife, and his love for the United States. He had a charm about him that the audience really connected with. It felt sincere and never forced.
One of the most powerful moments of the night came when he talked about doing something special with “Superman” for this year’s Independence Day. He shared the story behind a reimagined version of the song, created in honor of Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old pianist who was taken from the Nova music festival during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Hearing that story before the song gave it a completely different weight. Ondrasik spoke about the strength and perseverance of the hostage families, and you could feel the room getting quiet as everyone took it in.
Another emotional moment came when he performed “Two Lights” in honor of the military and their families. He talked about the fear and uncertainty families feel when they do not know whether their loved one serving in the military is okay. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. After the song, he asked the members of the audience who had served in the military to stand and be recognized. It was a beautiful moment, and his patriotism came through in a way that felt heartfelt and genuine.
His set was already incredible, but before he said goodbye, he brought Edwin McCain back out to the stage. The two performed a cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and it was amazing. The crowd was on its feet, singing along and soaking up every second of it. It was the perfect way to end the night.
Five For Fighting Setlist:
- America Town
- The Riddle
- Easy Tonight
- ‘65 Mustang
- Two Lights
- 100 Years
- Chances
- Superman
- Bohemian Rhapsody with Edwin McCain (Queen cover)
This was an amazing concert from start to finish. Edwin McCain brought humor, heart, and a voice that still sounds fantastic. Five For Fighting brought emotion, storytelling, and songs that have clearly meant a lot to people for a long time.
Steelhouse was the perfect setting for this show, and I left feeling like I had seen something really special. I cannot wait to see either of these guys again.
