http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html Mike Corrado: Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:40:37 -0800 http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html/opening_for_bon_jovithe_recap
We showed up at the arena yesterday and the place was just buzzing from Bon Jovi’s sold out show the night before and all the workings of prepping for Friday night’s show. We loaded in, got staged and settled ready for our time to hit the stage for line check and sound check. From stage left, we got to see some of Bon Jovi’s sound check as they worked through some of their new songs. This was about as close as we got to the band throughout the night. Unfortunately, we did not get to meet them but we knew that going in, no complaints here though, the crew that we did interact with were totally professional and cool to us. I have had the chance to play with some other big acts and it’s not always the case.

Thanks to my band and our crew we were ready to go which allowed us to get not only the standard line check but also to run a song prior to doors opening. To stand there on the arena stage and run a song full blast was awesome, the sound was great, the feel was great and we knew we were in for a killer show. The band which consisted of Matt Cole-drums, Ikaika “Ike” Tecson-keys, Jason Nobriga-lead guitar, Chazz Harbison-bass, Keith Algeo-sax & Bill Watson-trombone were on point, amped and ready to crush it! Just before doors, as we were running “cut me loose” the production guys, Bon Jovi road crew and arena staff were all prepping for the show. Running through the song, it was cool to look out and see everyone stop what they were doing and check us out. The Marines from Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe and Combat Camera were there to capture every move from back stage to sound check an throughout the show. I can’t wait to share the pictures and video they captured.

6:30pm sharp, sound check ends and the doors open as people made their way into the Blaisdell Arena for the sold out show. We get our final instructions for the show, went over the timing and lighting cues with the production folks, then it was off to catering for dinner. They had a great spread backstage for all of us, with some great local food and warm hospitality filled with aloha.

At 7:15pm the band and crew assemble in our dressing area, we go over some last minute things and get hyped for the show as if we weren’t hyped enough. From here on out it is all surreal. 7:25pm we are standing by lower stage left and the house lights go to half, 7:29 house lights out and 7:30 lights are full on with the downbeat and thundering tom beats leading into “Start Saving Me.”

We had a 30-minute set and made the most of it. After each song the crowd noise got increasing louder. After “Start Saving Me” we rolled into “Sometimes it rains” then into a song from the upcoming album called “Lucky One.” At this point we’re playing as a five piece then after a quick intro we rolled into “Three Words (You Were Right)” we brought in the horn section Keith and Bill. Horn section at a rock show, heck yah! After a quick guitar change and knowing we were filming, I introduced and dedicated “On My Watch Tonight” to all our troops deployed overseas and asked the crowd to light the place up with their cell phones so when the troops see it on youtube they’ll know the folks back home are thinking about them. A truly unbelievable sight to be center stage in a packed arena and see a sea of cell phones lit up waving back and forth along with an amazing energy the crowd was sending out. For the rest of my life I will cherish that moment. The roar of the crowd after “My Watch” was killer. From there, we rolled into our final song “cut me loose” with full on band, horns and all. Right on time, we ended our set and made our way back stage. That 30 minutes felt like 10, it all went by so fast.

Then like clockwork, 8:20pm Bon Jovi hit the stage and blew the roof of that mutha! I went and grabbed dinner back stage then headed out to my seat to take in a great show. As they rolled through their set of songs that spanned 20 years of hits past and present, I had flashbacks of high school and prom as one of my prom theme songs was “I’ll be there for you” along with other songs that are still timeless rockers today. As they ended their show and before their encore, I headed backstage to stage left again and captured (snuck) a video of “wanted dead or alive” on my cell phone. UNREAL! That was the first song I ever sang in public at a karaoke night in Charleston, SC, before I started singing and playing guitar, before the fist CD and before it all. To hear everyone sing “wanted” you know the part I’m talking about, was awesome. No, magical!

Finally got home around midnight, trying to take in all that happened that night. Mike Corrado-you just shared the stage with one of the biggest bands in Rock’n’Roll what are you going to do now? “I’m going to take my daughters to play putt-putt and ride some bumper boats!

For all of you on the “mainland” who could not be with us last night, thank you for all the support, e-mails and kind words posted on Facebook. We felt your excitement and encouragement all the way here in Honolulu!

Until next time”¦.]]> http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html/opening_for_bon_jovithe_recap Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:40:37 -0800 Official Mike Corrado Website - Mike Corrado - Blog http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html/bon_jovi_contest
Had a great time recording the new album a few weeks ago in Greenville, SC with producer Noel Golden (matchbox twenty, Edwin McCain, Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Womack, to name a few.) More news on that coming soon.

While in Greenville, I received an e-mail from a production company here in Hawaii inviting me to enter a contest to win an opening slot for Bon Jovi during their 2 night stay in Honolulu. I entered, and have made it into the top 5 out of 50 bands. 2 lucky bands will be chosen, one to open each night of their sold out shows at the Blaisdell Arena so please cross your fingers, think positive thoughts and wish me luck.

If you’re on facebook and have not already done so please become a fan of Mike Corrado by going to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Corrado/32686546673?ref=ts and click on “become a fan” to keep up on all the latest.

Here’s more on the Bon Jovi contest. Even though most of you are on the “mainland,” on Feb 3rd, log on and show some love! Remember Hawaii is 5 hours behind EST, 4 hours behind CST and 2 Hrs behind PST.

Here’s more:

Feb. 1 - Feb. 5, 2010: Each band will have their music/video clip featured as part of Hawaii’s KHON Channel 2's morning show during this week, Mike Corrado will be featured on Wednesday Feb 3. Each band will be featured on a different day of the week. We need you to log-on to KHON's website and weigh in with your comments

http://www.khon2.com/content/contest/bonjovi/default.aspx

Feb. 5, 2010: The two winning bands will be picked on the afternoon of Feb. 5th, and notified.

Feb. 6, 2010: The two winning bands will be interviewed and be performing live at The Perry & Price Saturday Morning Show at Jimmy Buffet's in Waikiki. The time is not confirmed just yet but stay tuned for details

http://perryandprice.com/saturdaymorningshow.asp

Feb. 11/12, 2010:
One winning band will be the opening act for Bon Jovi on Feb. 11th, and the second winning band will be opening act for Bon Jovi on Feb. 12th.

How cool is that? It would be great to start of 2010 with a new EP and an opening set in front of Bon Jovi!

Thanks for all the support and stay tuned for more details.

Mike

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http://www.myspace.com/mikecorrado]]> http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html/bon_jovi_contest Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:09:33 -0800 Official Mike Corrado Website - Mike Corrado - Blog http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html/new_year_new_album
2009 wound up being a pretty cool year for me musically. It is often difficult being an active duty Marine to be able to get out and play as much as I’d like too so I make do when and where I can. Considering the circumstances and the fact that I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in 2009, I was fortunate to do shows in Washington, DC on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, play a show as well as appear in a John Rich video in Nashville, TN, open up for the Black Eyed Peas in Hawaii and perform multiple shows around the island of Oahu.

2010 is already off to a good start. On Jan 15th, I traveled to Greenville, SC to begin work on the new album. I am fortunate to work with Noel Golden (matchbox twenty, Edwin McCain, Tom Cochrane, Sister Hazel, Willie Nelson, Williams Riley, Benton Blount and Lee Ann Womack just to name a few) and record at Whitestone Studios, which is owned by Edwin McCain and the studio he recorded his last two albums. I have been friends with Edwin for a long time and look forward to recording at Whitestone. Fortunately, he will be on a rare break from his busy touring schedule and may stop by to lend some of his amazing vocals to the album.

Over the past couple of years, I have been taking inventory of my life, my career and my music. With music, I have been focusing all three of these things in the songwriting. I have written a bunch of new material and Noel and I have narrowed it down to a few in order to create this new album.

We just wrapped the first day of pre-production, which encompassed walking through the songs, talking about the feel, sounds and production. It’s always fun creating and recording music but I must say, I have never been so excited about a project. I look forward to it’s released. This album is tentatively titled “Stand” which will likely be the lead off single.

I appreciate all of you die hards who have been with me from the start and all the new folks who have recently tuned in. Going to need everyone’s help in getting the word out about the new album once it comes out. Stay tuned, lot’s more details coming soon.

Thanks for your continued support. Mike


http://www.mikecorrado.com
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http://www/twitter.com/mjcorrado
http://www.myspace.com/mikecorrado]]> http://mikecorrado.com/blog.html/new_year_new_album Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:45:40 -0800 Official Mike Corrado Website - Mike Corrado - Blog