HOBOKEN — Maxwell’s Tavern, Hoboken’s once-iconic rock club and bar, has announced that it will hold two last shows: an open-mic on Friday, Feb. 9, and “One for the Road,” a free night of local bands on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. The final performance will include Deaf Rhino, One Hundred Thousand (featuring guitarist Alex Goldenthal, the club’s soundman), Waylaid, Chevonne & The Fuzz, the Jaime Rose Band, and the Wailing Denims in the backroom. Roots-reggae act CC Roots will perform in the front room.
The current owners, a business syndicate headed by Pete Carr and Evan Dean, bought Maxwell’s in 2014 hoping to reopen as an artisanal pizzeria, turning the venue’s fabled backroom into a dining room. By 2015, the new owners abandoned the idea and hired local musician and promoter Dave Entwhistle to rebuild the stage and re-engage with the local music community. But the front of the house seemed no different than other Hoboken bars and the restaurant never established a following. And after Entwhistle left his position as booker in mid-2017, the club started relying more on trivia nights and country and blues showcases, leaving fewer spots on the club’s calendar for local music.
The current owners have said the venue is closing. However, this does not mean the club won’t reopen again with new owners, but as of now, the current owners have announced these shows.
