A DJ friend confessed to me shortly after E&O Trading Co.'s spring opening that he'd kill to throw an after-hours party there.

A Night Stuff pau-hana visit for drinks and pupu back then was less than ideal, mostly because of what I felt were unreasonable prices for smallish portions. But I understood my friend's enthusiasm the moment I was seated at a back table lit solely by large red Chinese lanterns and suspended parasol lights.

E&O has been derided somewhat unfairly as little more than a slightly upscale chain restaurant. But it's an unfairly derided slightly upscale chain restaurant with the kind of sweet decor promoters, well, kill for when scoping out cool venues for parties.

I had compared the room's appealing blend of Asian and Middle Eastern design elements, cinnamon walls and wood accents, furnishings and moody lighting to "a turn-of-the-century export warehouse gone mod-upscale SoHo." So just throw in a DJ, turntables and clear a small dance floor after the dinner crowd goes, and voila — instant upscale after-hours lounge. Right?

Spice Lounge is the first weekly party cautiously allowed to grace E&O's stylish interiors. And it does so in two pleasant-enough Friday-night components imagined by Partymasters promoter Justin Yoshino.

Part 1 is a pau-hana drinks-and-appetizers lounge set under the suspended marketplace lighting of E&O's open-air front lanai. DJed '70s and '80s tracks rule here from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Part 2 is a late-night indoor party offering V.I.P. booth seating, bottle service, a late-night drink-and-pupu menu and dance floor. The 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. soundtrack blends R&B, house, dancehall and mash-ups.

Spice Lounge's patrons when we stopped by late night were a mellow, fairly dressy mix of mostly twenty- and thirtysomethings. With tables still occupied by diners, action early on was concentrated around E&O's large central bar.

A pretty blonde in a flowery summer dress went on endlessly about her boyfriend to a clueless dude who apparently couldn't figure out he didn't have a chance in the world. A trio of brunettes in various shades of the same tank top grooved to Mariah Carey near the bar while sucking lollipops.

And everybody knows a party doesn't really start until someone sporting a tiara is bold enough to hit the dance floor. That happened 'round 11 p.m. when a trio of females shared a crown to Next's "Too Close."

Spice Lounge wasn't packed. But a couple hundred-plus patrons made E&O's roomy environs seem comfortably full. By midnight, Gwen Stefani's "Rich Girl" had the dance floor busy.

My friend the turntablist — who ultimately didn't get the gig — would've hated it.

NIGHTSPOTTING

NOT EXACTLY INTERPOL

Carlos Dengler's full-time job is taking over bass and keyboard duties for mod-goth shoe-gazing rockers Interpol. But he's also gained a bit of a reputation on the vinyl-spinning scene as DJ Carlos D, appearing at cool night spots around the country after Interpol shows. Carlos D spins tonight and Saturday (minus Interpol) at Next Door. URB magazine shared a set list from a recent Carlos D set in Los Angeles that included Bauhaus, Billy Idol, Nitzer Ebb and Ministry. Advance tickets are $10 (find link at www.whoisnextdoor.com), at door, $15. Doors open at 9 both nights. Next Door is at 43 N. Hotel St. Interpol begins a fall tour on Sept. 5 in Mexico City that, naturally, still doesn't include Hawai'i.

AFTER THE ANT FARM

If Alien Ant Farm's Kapono's show leaves you in the mood for even more live rock, check out the concert post-party at Wave Waikiki with Seattle rockers Stories Under Stone and Honolulu's own Amplified and Missing Dave. Surprise guests are promised. At 8 p.m., 18 and older only, advance tickets are $10 at www.ticketswest.com.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.