Tight Lungs and Bright and Early Reunion Show / Benefit Show for the Corrao Family

May 27th, Oaklyn, NJ

By Alex Bradley

If you live in the South Jersey area, you have probably been to a show where Mike Corrao has been playing drums.  Mike has been playing in a variety of bands that have fueled the South Jersey music scene since 2008.  This past weekend, Mike and his family suffered a horrible loss.  Mike’s father, Anthony, passed away.  For the past few months, Anthony was in and out of the hospital, and as one can imagine, bills have managed to add up.  This show is a wonderful opportunity to give back to someone who has been giving his all to the South Jersey music scene for years.  This will be a landmark show for the South Jersey music community as well.  Two bands that once dominated the local scene will be returning to play one more show to help support the cause.  The two bands will be Tight Lungs (formerly Youth) and Bright and Early.  Mike previously played drums for Tight Lungs, and Bright and Early was a band that he looked up to, and drew inspiration from.  This show is an important one to be apart of and experience.  This line-up will never be seen again.  It will not only be special to Mike and the Corrao family, but also to all of us as well.

Anthony’s obituary - 
http://giosafuneralhome.com/tribute/details/400/Anthony-Corrao/obituary.html#tribute-start

This show will be happening at Ovations Dance Studio (215 W Clinton Ave, Oaklyn, NJ) on Friday, May 27th at 6pm.  The donation price will be $10 and pizza as well as baked goods, including vegan desserts, will be for sale.  There will also be a variety of bundles to be raffled off.  All proceeds made from this show will directly go to the Corrao family. 

The four piece alternative, punk band Reward, from Philadelphia, will be kicking off the show.  The band consists of Rob Blackwell, Will Higgins, Joe McLaughlin, and Dave Machado.  Reward has released 2 singles, a split with Breaking Tradition, and two EPs, one being their latest release Painted Desperation which was put out in June 2014 with Mutant League Records. 

Next on the lineup is Breaking Tradition from National Park, NJ.  They are a five piece alternative/emo band that consists of Sean McCall, Mike Corrao, Kyle Lloyd, and Jorge Estrada.  With three EPs under their belt, Breaking Tradition is currently preparing their new release which is a collection of older songs that never made it onto previous releases.

Following Breaking Tradition is Bright and Early, who will be playing a reunion set. Bright and Early played their last show October 19th, 2013 at Red Dwarf Studios in Sewell, NJ.  Their last release was a single titled “Always On My Mind” which was released July 13th, 2011. 

Tight Lungs will be getting back together to close this show. This alternative / emo band is Dave Hurban, Rob Rich, Rob Gaudisoi, and Mike Corrao, also formally known as Youth.  The last show Tight Lungs played was August 15th, 2014 at Grace Church in Haddonfeild, NJ, and ironically enough, was their release show for their album You Will If You Love Me.  Tight Lungs will be playing songs off their last release You Will If You Love Me as well as previous Youth releases.

About the Writer

Alex Bradley is a student at Camden County College.  For years she has been attending local shows and much larger concerts. At only 18 years old, with a passion for music and all things included, she has been consistently booking performances under Grandaire Booking, both around Hammonton, NJ and also at Coffee Works Too.  With years of experience under her belt already of being involved in the local music scene, Alex is beginning to book her own shows independently as well as writing about her experiences and adding music journalism to her repertoire.