Maxwell's in New Jersey is closing

and this might be up there in my all time favorite quotes:

Fallon: After Nirvana became big, the major booking agencies wanted you to take their shitty post-grunge bands in order to get their good bands. One very vivid memory is—what’s the name of that fucking band? Starts with a K. Korn. When Korn played Maxwell’s, I said to myself, “What the fuck am I doing here?” The crowd was ugly. The bass player punched their bus driver in the face. It was the exact opposite of why I opened Maxwell’s.

Abramson: Yeah, Korn. It’s never a good sign when a band loads in and starts lifting weights.p

I was there for Lee Ranaldo last night. Great show.

Anyone going to the block party now until tonight?

I can't believe I'm lucky enough to see the last show here, ever.

Have fun for the rest of us Evan, hope it's a special night all around.

You know I will. Though there is no admission to the block party that'll be going strong until 11pm.

And thank you, too.

Well, it was special.

http://i.imgur.com/UCqijZt.jpg

haha YES

Oh what a feeling

Everything's topsy-turvy on the other side of the Hudson.

Hold on let me check which way the water flushes over here.

haha Dan it's like one of those New York covers

err New Yorker

http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/maxwells-new-owners-the-santitization-of-a-once-beloved-venue

Carr is one of the new owners of "Maxwell's Tavern":

In seeking a new upscale concept, Carr holds little nostalgia for the Maxwell’s that was. “The place has been completely redone,” said Carr. “It’s nice, it’s clean, it’s open, the food’s good, so it’s a whole different type of atmosphere than the old Maxwell’s, where you would have the people…come in and have a hamburger and drink and spill stuff all over the floor and go into the back room and jump up and down and get their ears blasted out. This is a lot higher quality.”

i sent that to the previous booker, curious about his take

Todd? Do you know him personally as well?

pow pow pow

?

Well I know what someone thinks:

Tom Scharpling
15 hrs ·

A message to the pair of clogged toilets who are now running Maxwell's. When you inevitably go belly up, let me know. I will buy you out at one penny on the dollar.

Although based on Hoboken's current demographics, IDK if he's right.

evan: yeah, he's a good dude.

Everybody knows Todd, sheeeit

And his catchphrase as well.

Yes, he's a great guy!

I don't really "know" him inasmuch as it's unlikely he'd remember me, but I've talked to him a few times briefly when we played there.

I still live in Hoboken. Sadly, I have no friends literally in town. Demographics are indeed a sportsbarbro/jerseyshore/finance mix.

omg this looks soooooooooooo terrible

http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/26002941/article-Bringing-Maxwell-s-back-to-live--Iconic-music-venue-reopened-and-reimagined-under-new-owners--?instance=hoboken_top_story#

I perk up if other people know Todd because I take it as a slim chance that I've collected your ticket at a Maxwells show or saw you at the record fair (I help him out with his table usually).

Best Deal Ever for Nationally Recognized Turnkey Bar/Restaurant

Ha if Scharpling rallied his fans he could very easily crowdfund the purchase.

Hoboken music club Maxwell's Tavern is closing - again

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/02/maxwells_tavern_hoboken_rock_club_to_close.html

Wow, a legit venue with great booking and affiliations with major musicians couldn’t pay the rent, so it’s shocking that open mic nights couldn’t do it either.

I heard the restaurant side of it was not really cutting it either. They couldn't figure themselves out.

I think I went there once after it changed hands, and the menu seemed to be the same as before. Not that it was ever a particularly distinguished menu. Without the draw of the shows, they definitely needed something to set them apart.

The food was good enough that when we played there I looked forward to the free meal, but it wasn't a place I'd go out of my way to eat at otherwise.

good site to keep an eye on — a lot of live tapes from maxwell's ... the dino jr one smokes. https://www.themckenzietapes.com/tapes/

I always kind of blamed the resurgence of Brooklyn for the demise of Maxwell's. It seemed like a lot of bands on tour would often book two shows in the area: one at a Manhattan venue and the other at Maxwell's. However, once Brooklyn started to become a big thing, the same caliber of bands continued to play one show at a Manhattan venue but their second show instead at a Brooklyn venue, leaving Maxwell's as the proverbial odd man out.

Maxwell's: An Oral History (Believer Magazine)

I only saw one show there: Big Chief.

Had fun.

This is my sole contribution to this thread and Hoboken as a whole.

I only went there a few times. I did the long walk from the PATH once, I think, when I lived in Manhattan. Then I went there a couple more times when I lived in Hoboken (although the walk was still about the same distance). 2 shows I remember seeing were An Albatross and Fiery Furnaces. The seafood place there now is pretty good but pricey. That article makes me wonder how many places like this still exist. I mean scruffy indie rock clubs with a loyal clientele. I guess they were pretty rare even back in the '90s, and they must be even rarer now.

I saw several shows there but I only remember The Ex

I always kind of blamed the resurgence of Brooklyn for the demise of Maxwell's. It seemed like a lot of bands on tour would often book two shows in the area: one at a Manhattan venue and the other at Maxwell's. However, once Brooklyn started to become a big thing, the same caliber of bands continued to play one show at a Manhattan venue but their second show instead at a Brooklyn venue, leaving Maxwell's as the proverbial odd man out.

― Ex Slacker,

Todd Abramson (the owner and booker) actually started booking the Bell House in Gowanus as well at some point.

I went to a ton of shows at Maxwell's age 13-18ish because it was all ages, and I'd often try my luck at getting past the bouncers in Manhattan the following night as well. I think ultimately, I preferred going out there to going downtown, though the wait for the Path train coming back was interminable. It was cozy and clean, less nightlife-oriented than the Bowery Ballroom or w/e.

I ended up performing there a lot later on, and that was also a very pleasant experience, which I found was rare- most spaces I either enjoyed playing, or watching bands, but not both.

I mean sitting in the front lounge with all the rockabilly decor and the christmas lights eating soup before Godspeed or whoever went on... It was just a much more comfortable environment than the Manhattan spaces.

There were records i had only read about at 14 years old that i got to hear for the first time on the Maxwell's jukebox... It was all very, very good.

Todd was indeed booking Bell House soon after Maxwells closed but hasn't for a long while iirc.

He was booking both simultaneously for a time, I am certain of that. But you're right, he hasn't been the booker at Bell House in years.

I believe the story that it was due to parking and changing demographics. Parking in Hoboken for a non-resident is extremely painful and its only gotten worse since Maxwells closed. Also its no longer a cheap place to live for musicians and artists.