THE LAST DROP: Maxwell’s Closing, Final Show Saturday

As reported last week here on hMAG.com, Maxwell’s is closing down once again.

“We tried our best to keep it going,” said owner Pete Carr. “The music did very well for us, but it just wasn’t enough and unfortunately we have to close it down.”

The tumultuous history of this space is the stuff of legends, but at the end of the day it was an iconic cultural venue—a lot of good people put a lot of hard work into delivering a lot of great music on that stage, and sadly that stage is going dark.

Liam Brown and the Pounds at Maxwell’s, Chris Capaci/Capacity Images

But not before one last blowout gig, as bands have come on board for a finale on Saturday, February 10. The bill features Deaf Rhino, Waylaid, One Hundred Thousand, Chevonne and The Fuzz, Jaime Rose Band, Liam Brown & The Pounds, and Wailing Denims. Doors open at 7pm.

Reggae rockers CC Roots – aka Cecilia Celeste will be jamming in the front bar starting at 10pm.

For those interested in taking the stage themselves, playing the same room that hosted legends like Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Springsteen, The Feelies, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M, Yo La Tengo, and so many more, there will be one final Open Mic on Friday, Feb 9.

Keep in mind, this certainly isn’t the end for live music in Hoboken—with venues like Finnegan’s, Northern Soul, Turtle Club, Willie McBride’s and many more putting a spotlight on our area’s tremendous artists. Plus the opening of White Eagle Hall and numerous venues in Jersey City will still offer opportunity for anyone looking to see talented musicians here in Hudson County.

But the “old Maxwell’s” v. “new Maxwell’s” debate—a somewhat pedantic and anachronistic debate that was arguably self-defeating for the greater live music scene in our area—is now over. Come down for one last night and support strong, worthy area talent in the room that started it all.