Last Supper Club: Let The Rivalry Begin

William R.M. Wheeler is climbing up an ice machine, his feet kicking in the air.

After he gives up on his search for a remote control, Wheeler starts talking about this elegant new place, the Last Supper Club. Almost instantly, the young promoter is tossing off the kind of verbal bombs that make some people think he has his head in the clouds (to put it politely).

"I picked this place because I want to change Pioneer Square," Wheeler says. "I live in a loft here, and I want to bring a different kind of crowd than the frat boys who come down here - they're scary, dangerous people."

Whatever the worth of that dubious statement, Wheeler prefers the slightly older, urbane crowd that frequents such rooms as the nearby Backdoor Lounge and downtown's 700 Club. Wheeler previously worked at both clubs, and the ambience and music at the Last Supper Club owes an obvious debt to them.

The dual-level club has house and jungle DJs on the weekends, with cutting-edge bands during the week.

The Last Supper Club opened on Nov. 13, after a six-figure makeover of the tavern Dutch Ned's. Wheeler says the owners of the new club are Portland attorneys who wish to remain anonymous. His own lofty title is "artistic director" ("I create atmosphere").

Located at 124 S. Washington St., on Washington and Occidental, the spacious club has an artistic feel, underscored by huge paintings that decorate the main floor and the funkier below-ground room.

On a recent Wednesday, only a few dozen people saw Zeus, which blends violinists, a DJ and a spectacular improv vocalist. Saturday night, the main floor was wall-to-wall dancers, with a more exotic crowd grooving to jungle music below ground.

Tonight, the Last Supper Club has Metropolis, a live drum and bass band, and DJs Top Cat and LSDJ ($3 cover). Friday night ($5), LSDJ will spin jungle below, with an "avant-garde hip-hop show" above, featuring Grace and DJ E-Roc. DJ Nasir and Bryan Lyons work the turntables on Saturday night ($7).

Backdoor Lounge owner Kyriakos Kyrkos delivers this slap in the new club's pretty face: "My prediction is that place will be a sports bar pretty soon."

Sipping a cocktail, Wheeler shrugs off Kyrkos' harsh words. "I love the guy, but he's still mad at me for leaving." That was more than a year ago, when Wheeler became involved with the 700 Club. Now, he has opened a rival business in his former boss's back yard.

-- Coming soon: Speaking of rivalries, a gay dance club called Spintron may open as early as next weekend. It is on Capitol Hill where the Easy used to be - across Pike Street from ARO.space, around the corner from Neighbours.

-- To Graceland: Mike Birenbaum won the Crocodile Cafe's "Elvis Invitationals." The part-time Elvis impersonator and member of the band Easy Big Fella wins a trip to Memphis, including a visit to Presley's old house.

-- Birthday bash: "Squeeze TV," which airs on public access channels around the Northwest, celebrates its second anniversary with an exceptional all-ages show at Squeeze's new home, the Temple Theater in Tacoma.

Sky Cries Mary, Goodness, the Mayfield Four and the Nevada Bachelors are scheduled to play on Friday night at 8. Tickets are $10 (not including service charge), available through Ticketmaster.

Tom Scanlon can be reached at 206-464-3891. His e-mail is tscanlon@seattletimes.com.