Folgner Pulls Plug on S.D. Coach House

Gary Folgner has closed the Coach House’s sister concert club in San Diego rather than pay for officially mandated improvements to the building’s fire safety system.

Folgner, who also owns the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana and the Ventura Theatre, took over an existing club last December and renamed it the Coach House-San Diego, booking some of the same attractions that play his other venues.

He said local fire officials recently slashed the club’s capacity from 471 to 268, saying that Folgner would have to install new alarms and other safety gear in order to regain full seating capacity. Folgner balked at the upgrade, saying it amounted to a needless expense of $150,000.

Folgner does not expect the San Diego closing to have any financial or booking impact on his other operations. Meanwhile, he still has plans for a new club in Fresno, although he hasn’t yet found a site.

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MUSICAL CHAIRS: Social Distortion, at work on its next album, has parted with drummer Randy Carr, who had replaced longtime member Chris Reece last November. Carr, a veteran Fullerton rocker who was impressive onstage with SD at last spring’s “Board in O.C.” fest, says differences with producer Michael Beinhorn, rather than with the other band members, led to his departure. No word yet on Carr’s replacement. . . . Burnin’ Groove, enjoying its first airplay with the song “Anybody See,” has dropped bassist Greg Johnson in favor of David Guilfong, who had played a previous hitch in the band several years ago. . . . Doctor Dream Records says that “mutual differences” between Grabbers singer Tommy Macke (he of the clear plastic, see-through shorts) and the rest of the band led to his exit midway through a national tour opening for Face to Face and Guttermouth. Jonny VerPlanck, formerly of the band Old Nick, has stepped in for Macke. . . . Supernovice is temporarily down from a trio to a solo; front man David Turbow says the band’s drummer and bassist recently quit, leaving him to search for new members. Turbow will play a free acoustic gig Tuesday at 9 p.m. at Koo’s Cafe in Santa Ana.

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TICKET TO AUSTIN: The annual South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Tex., is accepting applications from musicians for next year. Acts interested in playing at the ballyhooed March 13-17 industry showcase can get information by calling (512) 467-7979, e-mailing 72662.2465@compuserve.com, or writing to SXSW, P.O. Box 4999, Austin, Tex. 78765. The deadline is Oct. 15.