The Feelies at Maxwell’s

Photo credit: Seth Ditchik.

Minutes before the Feelies take the stage at Maxwell’s for the last time ever, the room is packed tightly enough to induce heart palpitations in a fire marshal.

It’s small, the back room of Maxwell’s, with a capacity of two hundred. From the bar and surrounding area it’s hard to glimpse the stage, even though the room is only about the size of a rural post office. The lucky fans at the foot of the stage must sacrifice drinking privileges, as going to the bar and returning to the front is impossible. The room is hot. No one who’s ever been to Maxwell’s has praised the venue’s air circulation.

In no way is Maxwell’s an ideal place to see a show, except that it is.

The highlight of a Feelies show is often the blistering combo of “Raised Eyebrows” and “Crazy Rhythms.” The booming, oddly-metered bass drumming of “Eyebrows” was inspired by the rapid and arrhythmic explosions of the grand finale of a July 4th fireworks show.

In a few weeks, Maxwell’s, the Hoboken music venue almost always described as “legendary” or “venerated,” will close its doors permanently. Beleaguered by issues municipal and demographic, the club has become too much of a hassle to run, says Todd Abramson, the co-owner and booker. The parking in Hoboken is abysmal; the population is changing.

“It was just time,” says a weary Abramson, who will close Maxwell’s on July 31.

Perhaps no band will miss Maxwell’s more than the Feelies. Read More »