Lauren Rivera 
Hoboken is a historic city for many reasons. It was the birthplace of everyone’s favorite cookie, the Oreo, the home of jazz legend Frank Sinatra, and the musical hub for iconic musicians like Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Bruce Springsteen. From 1978 to 2018, these artists filled the stage at Maxwell’s, which is now home to restaurant Sirenetta at 1039 Washington Street. Now, the iconic Hoboken venue is getting its own documentary. Read on for what to know about the documentary being made about Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey.
About the Documentary
A historical Hoboken music venue known for showcasing performers like My Chemical Romance and Nirvana is now getting its own documentary. It’s called No Backstage at Maxwell’s, and according to Variety, it’s directed by American filmmaker Paul Rachman, best known for his 2006 documentary American Hardcore, and produced by former music executive Claudia Sullivan.
The documentary, which will delve into the musical history of this place, will feature interviews with iconic artists like Bob Mould from Hüsker Dü, Ira Kaplan + Georgia Hubley from Yo La Tengo, and Jack Antonoff from Bleachers (though he played at Maxwell’s with his earlier band Steel Train). Along with the property’s later owners, like Todd Abramson, the documentary will also include an interview with the man who started it all: Steve Fallon, the founder of Maxwell’s.
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Hoboken residents with a connection to Maxwell’s are invited to get involved. According to Variety, production is seeking fan photos and video footage, as well as responses from former customers and bands that played there. Those with any material are encouraged to email the producers at [email protected].
The History of Maxwell’s
From the 1940s to the 1970s, Maxwell’s was a restaurant and hangout spot for locals who worked at Maxwell House Coffee Plant, a historical industrial coffee-processing factory that ran from 1939 to 1990. In 1978, the space was sold to Mile Square legend Steven Fallon. During that time, a band in Hoboken known as “a” and later as The Bongos asked Steven Fallon if they could practice in the empty room in the back of the venue. Shortly after, the band began performing for customers, and before long, other groups followed, establishing the musical legacy Maxwell’s is known for today.
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^ Nirvana at Maxwell’s in 1989
Steven Fallon once said of Maxwell’s, “the legend is bigger than the room.” And it was true. The space was small, but the artists who played there and the history made within its walls were legendary. Until its closing in 2018, iconic artists like Nirvana, REM, Oasis, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Korn, The White Stripes, The Strokes, and New Jersey-born alternative band My Chemical Romance played there. See a list of all the musicians who played at Maxwell’s here. Of Course, New Jersey music history would be complete without Bruce Springsteen, and, fittingly, parts of his ‘Glory Days’ video were filmed inside Maxwell’s in May 1985.
Today, the space is home to the seafood + raw bar restaurant Sirenetta, which opened its doors in 2020. Those wanting to see the history for themselves can peep the original Maxwell’s sign, which is still in place today.
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