A HAPPY ENDING?: Operators of the Sunset...

A HAPPY ENDING?: Operators of the Sunset Pub in Sunset Beach, who have been battling for nearly three months to win a public dance permit from the County of Orange, received word this week that the permit has been approved.

Dancing at the small club was banned in September after Sheriff’s Department officials discovered that the club’s owner had never applied for the dance permit required by the county. Owner Clint Oberholzer, who said he did not know about the dance permit, claimed that the elimination of dancing caused a 50% drop in business while his permit application was under review.

But as of Tuesday, dancing is again legal at the Pub, which has showcased local jazz, blues, reggae, folk and rock bands.

Manager Susan Tyler said the good news “hasn’t sunk in yet. Everybody’s still kind of numb.” She said she expected the club’s dance floor to get its first real workout next week, with shows Monday by Reverend Bill & the Soul Believers and Thursday through next Saturday, when the Mighty Flyers return.

SOMEONE GIVE THAT BAND AN AWARD: During Timbuk 3’s utterly charming performance Sundayat the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, songwriter Pat McDonald told how he and his wife, Barbara, were nearly run off the road by a reckless driver while heading to the club on the San Diego Freeway.

Barbara then told how relieved she was when a state police officer pulled over both vehicles and arrested the driver of the truck who had threatened the two musicians. Barbara was so happy that justice had been dealt to the offender that she didn’t immediately realize that the officer, who apparently considered the McDonalds’ evasive maneuvers unsafe, also gave them a ticket.

“When he said he was giving us a citation,” Pat said, “she thought it was some kind of hero’s medal.” Despite the unsettling freeway encounter earlier that day, the McDonalds seemed genuinely overwhelmed at the crowd’s enthusiastic response to their show and said, “We’ll definitely be back here again.”

LIVE ACTION: Shadowfax will play the Coach House on Dec. 13. Stephen Stills will be at the Coach House on Dec. 16. . . . King Kobra will perform at Jezebel’s in Anaheim on Dec. 14. . . . Diane Schuur returns to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo for concerts Dec. 19-20.