Better Sound and More Room, but Less Charm Than the Average Bear

Most of those on hand spoke fairly enthusiastically about Peppers Golden Bear during Sunday’s debut concert, despite the fact that the club’s technical facilities were still being coaxed into service.

“The old place had a certain charm, but I like this better,” ex-Doors guitarist Robby Krieger said backstage after the first of his two shows with Eric Burdon. “The sound on stage was a little less than ideal. It was too loud--I think the (stage) monitors are too good,” he said with a laugh. “But people in the audience said it sounded good.”

“I like the energy, but I wish we were closer--we should have gotten here earlier,” said Joe Garnett, 51, of Eagle Rock, seated with friend Dan Diaz at the back of the room. They had traded their chairs for bar stools during the set to gain a better vantage point.

“It’s a little too glitzy,” said Diaz, 42, making a comparison with the old Golden Bear, which he said he had attended numerous times. “And it’s too bad it has such a low ceiling. But who cares once the music starts? . . . The sound is a little muted from here, but it is every bit as good as I expected.”

Ben Blonski, 30, of Mission Viejo, said: “It’s kind of upbeat. It has more room than the old Bear--I think they’re off to a really good start.” Despite living in South County, Blonski said he has never attended a show at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, which is considerably closer to him than the Golden Bear. “This is kind of like deja vu. It brings back a lot of memories.”

Younger ticket buyers who have no memories of the old Bear sounded even more impressed.

“This is nice,” said Dino Casillas, 23, of Huntington Beach. “It’s got good atmosphere and a good sound system. Let’s face it, most clubs are dives.”

“It’s nice to see the Bear back,” said Chuck Babiracki, former owner of the Golden Bear. Unlike his brother, Rick, Chuck is not involved with the new club.

“This worked out some karma,” Chuck Babiracki said. “But life goes on. I’ve gotten into other things.”

Rick Babiracki said club operators expect no problems with owners of neighboring condominiums, despite the fact that some balconies are less than a guitar-pick’s throw from Peppers’ main entrance. Most are vacant now, but Babiracki said the developer, the same company that developed Pierside Pavilion, advises buyers that they are moving in next to a nightclub and requires them to sign a release that they will not raise objections about its operation.