It was a time warp back to the 1970s as the sounds of The Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays” reverberated through Van Meter Auditorium Saturday evening.

Bowling Green concertgoers sang along with the familiar tune at “Retromadness: The ’70s Show.”

“Retromadness,” now in its second year, features singers accompanied by the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra in performances of classic ’70s tunes.

Conductor Jeff Reed, who wore a red tuxedo vest under his suit, directed the BGCO and introduced the songs to a nostalgic audience.

“I’m a product of the ’70s, and I know many of you are, too” Reed said before introducing a Carole King song.

Retromadness is Reed’s assemblage of musicians and vocalists he has worked with in the past as well as some newcomers who heard about the opportunity by word-of-mouth. Reed held closed tryouts.

Seven of the guest artists were from the Rewinders, a rock group that performed in the BGCO’s 2002 “Beatlemadness” concert. Reed’s idea for them to play rock music was inspired by the chamber orchestras that played behind the Beatles in some of their recordings.

Singer Tyrone Dunn brought the audience to their feet with his rendition of the O’Jays soul hit “Love Train.”

Some of the other singers who were familiar with Dunn’s voice in the Billy Graham Crusade Choir and the Hillvue Heights Church Choir had recommended him to Reed.

“I listened to a lot of Motown, but when Jeff presented this opportunity to me I started listening to some ’70s,” Dunn said. “It grew on me.”

Reed said he was happy with the show, considering that “Retromadness” members don’t play together very often, the last time being the Motown show last November.

“All the singers and members of rock bands have other jobs,” Reed said. “If they were on the road a lot touring they would sound a little more polished.”

The guest artists included businessmen, lawyers, teachers and freelance musicians.

The show moved along from soft rock favorites by James Taylor and the Eagles to a disco atmosphere of multicolored lights, a smoke machine and stacks of amplifiers blasting out Saturday Night Fever.

“Retromadness” vocalist Angie Neeper graduated from Western with a bachelors degree in Spanish with a minor in psychology and now teaches Spanish at Bowling Green High School.

“Knowing it was the last night, we really put a lot of energy into it,” Neeper said.

The first showing was Friday evening.

Neeper performed with the BGCO in “Motownmadness” as well.

“It depends on how the crowd is, but (Saturday) was fun,” she said.

Reach Scott Hamilton at features@wkuherald.com.