Maxwell's in New Jersey is closing

It is indeed almost a mile walk from PATH and feels much longer if you aren't familiar with the town.

I never minded the walk the two times I went to Maxwell's to see Electric Six.

It's a great space, sad to see it go, but really glad to know I've been there.

xpost nah you're right I guess it wasn't the "last" train but we stayed later than we planned and the next one wasn't for an hour or something

I didn't think the walk from PATH was all that bad either. except in the winter.

i've never minded the walk.

Whenever I go via PATH I dash down Hudson Street in 20 mins so I don't hafta see all that horrible new shit on Washington.

Also the food only got good there in the last 5-10 years.

path is about every half hour on the late late night blitz

I live on Washington :( I like my place but yearn for a slightly more residential vibe in the next spot. I want to hear less drunk yelling all night from the street.

from steve fallon on facebook
I am on hear to say thank you to Todd Abramson, Jackie and Dave Post, and Steve Shelly for keeping alive what I loved so much.I left a long time ago, it was their love for Maxwell's that kept the battle going, so to them we should all tip our hats.
Unfortunately, I know oh too well the struggles that Todd and company had to bare on a daily basis. I gave up for these reasons.Todd stayed and fought a hard battle.
The city of Hoboken fueled by greed has let many parts of this once great town go to the wayside, preservation is not in their vocabulary.
This is not the town we all came to years ago, and some may say things change but when will someone say,we have made enough changes we need to nurture what made us good. It is too late for this kind of thought for maxwell's, but I hope all in the future when it comes time to cast your vote it is for the candidate who has your best interest at hand.We will all miss Maxwell's.Thank you all for your kind words and appreciation and support throughout the years, Maxwell's was my Home.
xoxoxo steve fallon

This is way sadder than the Pasta Frenzy years of 1996-1998, because it's obvious there's not going to be any indie-rock cavalry to save it this time. Even without the white-hatters, Hoboken's a tough place to keep a business going, especially a non-meat-market bar. It was well on its way to gentrification even by the mid-1980s, when I started going to Maxwell's and Pier Platters. Todd seems almost relieved to be done with it, from what I've read in interviews. I suppose we should be glad it lasted for three decades.

I never minded the walk from the PATH or the parking lots. It was always worth it when I got there.

So what's left in NJ? I count Asbury Lanes, the Starland Ballroom, the Brighton Bar and the nu-Court Tavern. None of these can replace a one-of-a-kind space like Maxwell's, let alone City Gardens or the 1980s/1990s Court. The phrase "end of an era" most certainly applies here.

Made that walk from the PATH train many times and never minded it either.

OK OK enough, I'm a wimp. Look, it was REALLY REALLY cold that one time and we were underdressed.

I never minded it either, just saying that enough average concertgoers do mind it that it's a drawback for the venue, especially when there's also no parking

if anything I kind of liked the walk as part of the experience -- it's a perfect straight walk for intense talking or thinking

And for a non-resident, I'm sure the park around the corner on Hudson provides a little treat of a view during the visit.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hoboken-bar-maxwell-close-july-article-1.1362410
huh, so i guess he IS talking publicly about moving to JC. cool.

the space next to the grove street stop is billed as a bar and pizza place, would love it if they're cabaret licensed.

Hey, just realized I'm working the door for that Mountain Goats show tomorrow! That's kind of a pick-me-up

Saw the Pretty Things there as a young CMJ fest attendant, will never forget it.

love this vintage poster
http://25.media.tumblr.com/a154810e9f476bc2ac3e152fb193cdad/tumblr_mnu4573NM91rxbnrlo1_500.jpg

here's another rendering of NJ.

http://thethingonthedoorstep.be/Fotoupload/WKGB.jpg

I blame this all on Kim Kardashian.

hasn't Asbury Lanes been sold, and about to be turned into something awful?

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/970599_4688005529754_2027814688_n.jpg

I think I was at that Big Black/"Dinasaur" show? I know I saw Dinosaur there pre-Jr, when Lou B had braces on his teeth. Very possibly that Chills show too...

I have a printout somewhere in the archives of most shows I saw '85-95.

New York Times reporter was interviewing Todd on Wednesday during the Mountain Goats set.

I'm thinking a lot of familiar/famous faces will show up in the last weeks.

http://ny.eater.com/archives/2013/06/sietsemas_fond_farewell_to_nightlife_legend_maxwells.php

Seem to remember going out there once for a secret or last minute Replacements show- maybe somebody else on drums other than Chris? - but ultimately being denied at the door because the place was already full.

Would have been about 1990, I think.

Would consider going to Os Mutantes show, although I am not sure who is actually in Os Mutantes these days and what songs they would play.

would be pretty remarkable to see em in a place that small but I have heard bad things about the nu-Mutantes shows in general. no Rita Lee, for one thing.

huh, sietsema was in a band with elliott sharp

Yeah I saw em then, and when they reunited for that YLT Hanukkah show 2 years ago.

I don't think Elliott Sharp was always in Mofungo. I think he came in and out of the lineup over the years.

would be pretty remarkable to see em in a place that small but I have heard bad things about the nu-Mutantes shows in general. no Rita Lee, for one thing.

I saw the nuMutantes at Austin Psych Fest a couple weeks ago. Not terrible, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see them either.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/nyregion/at-maxwells-a-proving-ground-for-indie-music-acts-awe-at-a-35-year-run.html?_r=0

Beanbag Amerika was mentioned! That was a serious double take when I saw the name on the will-call list.

http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2013/06/yo_la_tengo_bids_a_tender_-_th.html

That sounds like a great if bittersweet show

Wish I had been able to make it to that one...

Todd on his booking life

http://hudsonreporter.com/bookmark/22866285--font-size-1-SOUNDING-OFF-I-07030-font-i-br-br-My-Life-as-a-Booker-br-font-size-2-i-A-Maxwell%E2%80%99s-legend-looks-back-on-his-career-font-i-br-

the booker with the heart of gold

i still have a hard ticket for the july 6th feelies show, if anyone wants to buy it. $25 through paypal and it's yours.

Oh, Wild Nothing got added for a July 26th show if anyone who likes them a lot wants to go to Maxwells one last time.

There are plenty of physical tickets left at Tunes (in Hoboken) if nowhere else.

The final song each of the last three nights at Maxwell's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lXYK_p9mTQ

The Feelies last three nights, not Maxwell's.

Just to clarify, you are saying they played the Velvet Underground's "Afterhours" as the last number three nights in a row.

> Todd on his booking life

Thanks for that link.

I made it out to Maxwell's last month for the last Yo La Tengo show there, which was great. But one thing that kinda stood out about Todd was that he was working hard in the restaurant. He was bringing out food, clearing tables, clearing the way for waitstaff carrying plates.

Also, the bouncer was incredibly, incredibly nice.

Seemed like it'd be a good place to work.

Todd is very involved. And yeah pretty much everyone that works there are great people. I've worked a handful of random nights at the door and now I can at least say I worked at this great legendary club.

I was at the July 4th show- you were there EZ?

I wish I was there, but no, a friend posted that on tumblr.

Todd-o-phonic Todd, pow, pow, pow!