Erie Summer Festival of the Arts 1977-1978

Inside cover of Debbi's autograph book circa 1979. ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

The Erie Summer Festival of the Arts was a great place for to see local bands, especially for someone like me who was too young to catch a bar show. The City of Erie blocked off State Street and set up the main stage near the crosswalk of North Park Row on State between the two parks at Perry Square. Bands played from noon until 11 p.m. or so.

The following bands performed on the main stage on June 23, 1978:
Noon: Smitty and Kenny (country rock)
1 p.m. To Be Announced (they got a lot of gigs)
2 p.m. Jack Anderson (folk guitar)
6 p.m. B. B. Wolf (rock and roll)
7 p.m. Jordan (white soul)
8 p.m. Pistol Whip (punk rock)
9 p.m. Guardian (original rock)
10 p.m. Justin Time (classic rock)

The following bands performed on the main stage on June 25, 1977:
Noon: Osiris
1 p.m. Easy
2 p.m. Omega
3 p.m. Thieves
4 p.m. The Sky's the Limit
6 p.m. Pistol Whip
7 p.m. B. B. Wolf
8 p.m. OPRA
9 p.m. Calypso
10 p.m. Jordan

Johnny Pistol Whip & Tune Klahr

Johnny & Tune. Photo by Debbi Lyon.

Johnny Pistol Whip & Tune Klahr

Johnny Pistol Whip, also known as John Drumm (left), hanging out in Perry Square with Jeff 'Tune' Klahr. I took this photo near the information booth at the Erie Summer Festival of the Arts. John was the snarly keyboardist and singer for Pistol Whip, the Frenchmen and Drumm/McDowell. Jeff played drums for a number of bands, including the Pulse, the Moonlighters, the Cattle Cruisers, etc. He also published an awesome zine called "Moods for Moderns."