When Bowling for Soup were invited to record the theme song for the TBS reality TV show “Gilligan's Island,” singer Jaret Reddick says he thought it was a joke. But he quickly found out it wasn't.

“They had pretty much decided that they were going to use us from the start,’’ Reddick says of the network. “It was exciting for us because that was my brother's favorite TV show as a kid and I had pretty much grown up watching it myself and drooling over Ginger and Mary Ann.’’

Aside from the show, Reddick says that the band — who were nominated for a Grammy in 2003 for best performance pop by a duo or group for their power pop-punk singalong “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” — have been staying busy performing at radio station holiday shows where they've shared the stage with a diverse array of artists.

“We were always the go-to guys because we pretty much go with everything and we can always adapt to our environment,’’ Reddick says. “So sometimes opening up for LL Cool J isn't the worst thing in the world for us.’’

The group is also in the middle of a headlining tour in support of their latest album, “A Hangover You Don't Deserve.” As on their previous releases, the band peppers their new songs with amusing lyrics. The single, “1985,” reflects on the spandex-wearing, hair-metal ’80s era.
“1985 was adolescence for us,’’ Reddick says. “Those were the movies we were into. That was the music we were into. If you hang around Bowling for Soup long enough, you start to think you're in a John Hughes movie because that's how we all talk. That time shaped us.’’

Reddick says comedy has always been a part of the band's performance.
“When we started out 10 and a half years ago, we played as a cover band and a rock band,’’ he says. “When we would play for four hours (as a cover band), sometimes so we would play our own music, too ... We really weren't that great of musicians so we started doing magic tricks and jokes and anything really that would just pass the time.’’

Bowling For Soup
With: American Hi-Fi, Riddlin Kids, MC Lars When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe
How much: $14
Info: