Maxwell’s in Hoboken is about to have its story told in a new documentary called No Backstage at Maxwell’s.
Paul Rachman is directing this film, and it will include old videos, photos, and chats with people who owned, worked at, or just loved hanging out at Maxwell’s. The creators are actually asking anyone who has cool memories, pictures, or clips from concerts or late nights at the bar to send them in—just email info@maxwellsmovie.com if you want to help out. There’s even a movie poster for No Backstage at Maxwell’s that you can check out.
“Maxwell’s wasn’t just a club—it was a community. It was a proving ground,” Rachman shared. “It was where music scenes collided, friendships were forged, and bands found both their audience and their soul.”
Back in 1978, Steve Fallon opened Maxwell’s, and it stuck around until 2013. The place was tiny, only about 200 people could squeeze into the back room, but huge names like Sonic Youth, Nirvana, R.E.M., Hüsker Dü, and the Replacements played there. Even Bruce Springsteen and the Feelies shot music videos at the bar, and Ira Kaplan used to do sound before he started Yo La Tengo.
Fans always wish they could have seen just one show there.
Sometimes, I wonder if any of those old posters are still stuck behind the bar or if someone just took them home one night.
