One in an occasional series of features on local music venues.

Clearly, the crowd at Necto takes dancing seriously. On a recent Saturday night, the floor was not just full, it was so packed it seemed as if the whole mass would explode if just one more person tried to wiggle in.

Maybe it’s because the sound system is killer. The room — and your body — seems to throb with the bass, which in a dance club is a very good thing. Or maybe it's because the dance floor is flat-out huge. Or perhaps the DJs are just playing the right tunes. Whatever the reason, for club-goers like Ryan Stemmer, Necto is the place to be.

“I’ve been to a lot of other clubs and they do have their good features … this has always been one of the clubs that has a great feel to it — it has a feel of adventure,” Stemmer, 23, an Ann Arbor native, said.

People have been dancing at this location since the 1970s, when a rowdy bar called Second Chance was rocking and rolling with live acts like Chuck Berry, Bob Seger (tickets, $3) and Patti Smith. In the 1980s, it became Nectarine Ballroom, then Nectarine and now Necto. For the most part, live music was long ago replaced by DJs.

Granted, it’s a younger crowd, generally around 18 to 25, but everyone is welcome. Necto caters to a different crowd depending on the night, and that helps set it apart from other clubs, said Scott Greig, general manager.

“There are a lot of generic nightclubs out there, but there’s not a lot of places for people who are a little off-the-beaten path to go,” Greig said. “We have a goth night, a gay night, a drum ‘n’ bass night… and we also have a Top 40 night. The Necto is so diverse, I think that’s what sets us apart.”

For those who haven’t been there, Necto occupies the upper floor of the downtown building at 516 E. Liberty St. (directly underneath are Dawn Treader bookstore and TK Wu restaurant) and also the basement. A signature, arched window overlooking East Liberty has survived through all versions of the club. Stairs lead down to a back patio and to another, smaller club called the Red Room. Renovations the past few years to the upstairs level have revealed some of the building’s original brick construction, and windows, once boarded up, have been uncovered.

“I feel comfortable coming here,” said Melenie Heikkila, from Fowlerville. “It doesn’t really matter what night it is — I am more of a Monday (goth night) person, but any night is fun,” she said.

Frank Herbert likes Necto in part because it’s affordable. “I come here because it’s usually the cheapest cover, it’s convenient (and I know) I’m going to meet new people and have a good time,” he said.

The latter is something Greig, who has been involved in the club since 1989, takes seriously.

“There’s all kinds of things going on … Every month we have a theme party — an ‘80s party, blackout party, white party, beach party, a space party where we decorate the whole place in a space theme and people come dressed as aliens,” he said. “We’re more of a place where you could take a date and go dancing, or go out by yourself and possibly meet somebody.”

Taking a break on the patio, Stemmer ticked off reasons why he’s a Necto fan. “I like the way they do theme nights, and all the innovative things they have been trying to pull off here,” he said. “This club has a different atmosphere for every night they are open. It has some of the best drinks I’ve ever had. Each of the bartenders have their own specials, and they are quite tasty.”

Lindsay Ringer was also at Necto recently, partying with friends. “We always have fun here,” she said. “It’s always a good time. We’ve never had a bad experience. All the staff is really nice and cool. We’ve had bad experiences (at other clubs) — we come here every couple weeks.”

In addition to the music, the beat of construction hammers has also been heard this summer at Necto as the bathrooms and the Red Room got a complete overhaul. Although navigating the construction zone has been a challenge, Greig said any inconvenience will be worthwhile in the long run.

“We are always striving to make it a better place. We reinvest money every year … lighting system, sound system, patio, air-conditioning and ventilation. It’s important if we want the bar to be here long into the future,” he said.

Roger LeLievre is a freelance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.

(Full disclosure: the author of this article used to work at Necto as a DJ back in the day of vinyl records, AKA The Stone Age.)