Maxwell's Rock Club Band Booker Interviewed In Hoboken Thursday

HOBOKEN, NJ — Until it closed three years ago, Maxwell's rock club in Hoboken was a legendary venue for independent musicians to reach their audiences. Among those contributing to the club's success was the man who booked the acts, Todd Abramson. On Thursday night, as part of a live Hoboken History Museum interview series called "Hoboken Talks," local writer and emcee Jack Silbert will interview Abramson.

The interview can be watched here.

Maxwell's bar, at the corner of Washington and Eleventh streets, was founded by Steve Fallon in 1978. It was named after the former Maxwell House coffee plant around the corner, whose workers used to visit. Musicians performed in the back room as their careers were taking off in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, and the Pixies. Bruce Springsteen filmed part of his "Glory Days" video there in 1985. Yo La Tengo performed a traditional Hannukah show there each year.

In the final years, the owners of the bar struggled to keep it alive, citing changing demographics and a parking crunch in town. It opened and closed at least once before the final curtain in 2018, with owners trying new strategies. (It's now a seafood restaurant and bar.)

Todd Abramson, who went on to book bands for other venues in New Jersey, talked to Billboard about Maxwell's history in 2013.

"Todd-o-phonic Todd" has also hosted a show on WFMU in Jersey City.

This week's interview will take place at 7 p.m. Watch this and past "Hoboken Talks" interviews on Facebook or YouTube using the Museum's links here.

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