"Where does all the freakin' beer come from?" muttered a guy rockin' a serious crew cut, from a bar stool next to mine at Magoo's Pizza on University Avenue.

It was Friday, 'round 11 p.m. Magoo's was teeming with its usual crowd mix — heavy on college-age legal drinkers and a smattering of thirty- through fortysomething diehards. And homeboy in Volcom was staring, amazed, at the 100 or so colorful beer tap handles circling the bar.

"All of the beer has to come from somewhere," he insisted, eyes scanning ceiling to floor for a telltale trail of beer hoses.

Perplexity gripped until — possibly sensing no answer was forthcoming — he gave up and ordered another beer.

The bartender delivered my mug of draft Rogue Dead Guy Ale — ice-cold in a frozen mug — for just two bucks. Red Hot Chili Pepper dreams of Californication floated above gossip about some girl's complete lack of driving skills and a dude's impure thoughts about actress Erika Christensen.

Hello, weekend!

Permanently makeshift yet strangely comforting, Magoo's interiors are sanctuary for UH-Manoa students seeking cheap, plentiful beer choices and decent eats, or '90s alumni looking to reconnect with fond memories of dude talk and pitcher-diving.

Count me in with the latter. Count me in as an enduring fan.

Some songs remain the same: Girls still favor spaghetti-string tops and jeans; guys still push the parameters of the words "casually dressed." Some songs don't: A sushi and poke bar dispels any remaining illusions of Magoo's as simply a pizza joint.

A bartender said Thursday and Friday nights remain Magoo's busiest. The eve before a Monday holiday? Madness.

A Gin Blossoms song from a finals week long tucked away in my past even accompanied my exit with late-night dinner. Chills.

NIGHT NOTES

WAVE GOODBYE

Wave Waikiki's last full week is heavy with goodbyes from resident bands, promoters and turntablists. Missing Dave rocks tonight, Speed Limit plays Saturday. Linus, The Malcognitas and The Miltons play Wednesday, and Psychobilly Cadillac on Thursday. More details on May 19 and 20 closing parties, wrapping up Wave Waikiki history, next week.

SUMMER START-UPS

You know the warm season is here when weeknight parties start adding up like used-textbook cash. IMF Visions' Bombasstic Tuesdays kicks off Tuesday at 10 p.m.; Vertical Junkies' Summer Camp starts up Wednesday at 10 p.m. Both will drop weekly all summer at the O Lounge.

ROCKABILLY 'TIL YOU DROP

Give rockabilly saviors The Hell Caminos props at their CD-release party, 8 p.m. Saturday at Detox. Also performing: The 86 List, White Rose, Gutter Cats and Nabahe the Band. And it's free.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.