One of the best things about catching a live guest performer at NextDoor is proximity.

A low stage puts you just about in the face of whoever's spinning, dropping flow or just plain jamming. On many nights, guest artists drop into the crowd to meet us common folk.

New York-based dancehall reggae artist Rocker T mixed with the small crowd gathered pre-show at NextDoor's The HNL last Thursday, shaking hands, offering thanks for showing. Sporting a hospital-white track suit, spotless white sneaks and a red, gold and green hip-hop cap, he talked story for a bit before slipping back into the shadows.

HNL resident mixmaster DJ Zacharijah's soundtrack had long moved from chill early-evening roots rock to a more restless late night dancehall groove. Among folks taking to the floor to skank were soloists, couples and three- and foursomes.

Launched last September, NextDoor's weekly mix of live and DJed Island roots music already boasts an impressive history of local guest artists: Microscopic Syllables, Paula Fuga, Makana, Ooklah the Moc, THC, Humble Soul and Natural Vibrations. NextDoor co-partner Chris Kahunahana said that turnout has been consistent enough to warrant adding occasional out-of-town roots and dancehall acts like Rocker T into the HNL mix.

NextDoor is looking forward to a busy summer for its other evening events as well. Expect return visits from Blackalicious and DJ Z-Trip and possible gigs from Aesop Rock, Cascade and Hollertronix's DJ Diplo, among others, at Saturday Chinatown Sessions and Friday Pacific Standard nights.

A weekly Summer Cinema Series every second Saturday from June 10 through Sept. 9 will offer indie films, jazz, cocktails and eats. Funds raised will benefit the return of the Cinema Paradise Independent Film Festival to NextDoor for a second year, from Nov. 3 to 11.

"I think we've finally established ourselves as a go-to club venue. That generates most of the income," said Kahunahana. "But now we'll be able to actually do more of the artsy things that we've always wanted to do with the space — things that inspired us to open NextDoor in the first place."

Or as Rocker T, finally taking the HNL stage post-midnight, said: "Everything fine, mon."

A quarter-century of Wave Waikiki-style debauchery ends this weekend with the final Friday and Saturday nights for the venerable club "always on the edge of Waikiki."

Expect tears, beers and mostly R-rated stories to flow like Manoa Stream effluence into the Ala Wai Canal once Wave characters past and present start ambling in for one last chance to bid farewell to the club that Jack Law built.

Acclimate yourself tonight with the return of the Planet of the Drums tour from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Then return on Saturday when Wave Waikiki Last Call brings home some of the club kids who made the place famous. Performing live: Missing Dave, Pimpbot, Sonya Mendez and Oriental Love Ring. On the tables: DJs KSM, BTF, Racer-X, Sub-Zero, Jrama, G-Dog, DMFD and Swurv. Doors open at 8 p.m. Pick up a Wave Waikiki commemorative tee. Wave Waikiki at 1877 Kalakaua Ave. closes forever at 4 a.m.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.