You and me we're goin' Rockin' Tonight at Rainbow Gardens, where Friction will help ring in the New Year. But not tonight.
In the 80s and early 90s, we had a Love to Live By, courtesy of Friction. Sure, we were younger then, but as we said, we ain't bad kids, we're just tryin' to fake it. So when the ball drops, At Midnight I Go Punk. It's Too Late to Cry, and this ain't no Broken Heart Charity Ball.
Rockin' my baby on the tree top, Baby Talk. You couldn't turn on the radio and not hear a Friction tune, especially if you listened to K-104. Nobody was Down & Lonely when these guys were around.
Bob Michel, Marty Scott, Marlon Coe and the boys in Friction packed them in at Rainbow Gardens at Waldameer Park, and at practically any other gig they played in Erie, PA and the Tri-state area. If you followed the band you always had a chance to Wave Goodbye to a Friend at the end of the night.
Friction performed a reunion gig at Rainbow Gardens in 2008.
Enjoy more fun and puns about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
Remember Rockin' in the New Year with the Moonlighters at Rainbow Gardens in Erie, PA?
This poster is probably from 1989, since guitarist Keith Veschecco is in this photo, second from the left. Wendy Stevens was the lead vocalist, and Tim Papotnik (far right) played keyboards.
The musician on the far left is drummer John Portonova, and Steve Witkowski might be the third man from the left.
The Moonlighters were a very popular local Top 40 rock band in the 1980s. Their New Year's Eve show at Rainbow Gardens at Waldameer Park was usually performed in front of a packed house.
Bill McLean opened for the Moonlighters for this show.
Here is a link to a 1990 article about the late Keith Veschecco:
http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/keith-veschecco-trs-audio-1990-profile.html
John Portonova was in Vertical Union prior to joining the Moonlighters. You can read about Vertical Union here: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/vertical-union-rocked-erie-circa-1975.html
