Monday night expectations are never high for me. After a delightfully fun-filled weekend, you tend to want to lay around like red beans simmering on the stove but I had promised my gal pal, Lauren R, I'd partake in some Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen at The Maple Leaf.
I've been here many a time for the late night Rebirth Brass Band show on Tuesday nights, a great place to bring visiting friends who arrive early in the week.
This is exactly what a Monday night in New Orleans should be. Don't go looking for a fancy-schmancy martini or obscure import here. Get yourself a solid local brew. Â I went with NOLA 7th Street Wheat, a light beer that they dump a whole bunch of fresh lemon-basil into after fermentation giving it a light citrus taste and a refreshing finish. Great for when Cleary's feet start getting frantic while his fingers dance across the keys.
The venue is very intimate. I could've reached out and touched Jon Cleary's nose and it takes everything within me not to hop up on stage. But I think this sort of environment creates a symbiotic relationship between crowd and band. Â
When we arrived Jon Cleary was playing some dreamy blues for the audience of 50 or so motionless, "listen to the tunes" types but they weren't ready just yet. I was shocked to find that I had at least a 6 inch radius from the closest person and my antiperspirant wasn't working double time as per usual at the Maple Leaf. Â But if you're not sweatin' at the Maple Leaf, you're not dancin' and if you're not dancin'...well you're just not having enough fun! But it didn't take long for Jon and the boys to kick up that blues into some soul into some funk, and I was sweating like a red light district doll face in St. Louis Cathedral.
The band's set started promptly at 9 and ended around 12 so you don't feel like you're pulling an all-nighter. He plays two more times on Monday this month, so don't miss out!
In summary, for a $10 cover soul funk your blues away, get yourself a local brew or two, dance with strangers and don't be afraid to sweat!
I was in town on business with a group of people and it was suggested that we go to the Maple Leaf by someone in our party. Â It was a 15 dollar cover that night (personal pet peeve number 1: cover charge, plenty of places to enjoy free of charge) and I did not have enough cash on me. Â I asked to use their in-house ATM and they kindly obliged. Â The ATM however gave me 10 dollars less than requested. Â I inquired at the front door, paid my cover and was instructed to speak with a bartender regarding the ATM issue. Â This is where the night went wrong. Â The bartender was a total ass from the start and told me I did not have the funds in my account... False, if the gentleman even bothered to read the ATM receipt. Â He kicked me out for yelling at him, when he was the one doing the yelling and frankly insulting me by saying my account would not support the withdrawal amount. Â I simply was asking how to handle the matter. I was more than happy to leave! Â And, How about an apology? I understand it is a bar and it is busy and the ATM is probably owned by an outside company, but it is still a part of your business. Â All I did was try to explain the situation after the people working your door told me to speak with you and you, bartender, were a complete ass. Â After being kicked out (first time ever and I am 35, I might add) I spoke with the people at the door and they were nice enough to refund me the cover charge and were very apologetic, thank you for that... But I will never visit this establishment again based on this experience. Â Not a big fan of the bar scene and thank you for reminding me why!
Review Source:Live music in New Orleans that is not on Frenchmen? THANK YOU!
I might be slight biased (true story) but the first time I went to Maple Leaf was when I saw Flow Tribe.
The drinks were typical, cover was $10, parking was easily done in the neighborhood.
The only thing I didn't like - and this might be more of AT&T's fault - is that I had ZERO cell service in the bar.
I do not make it to this fantastic music hot spot nearly enough. That's a real crime considering that I have never had a bad time here.
Most of the time there is a cover because there is an awesome band playing, but this is one of the few places where I actually don't mind paying a cover. The drinks are pretty cheap and the crowd is so fun. When I was in here there was a band playing that was a nice mix of all kinds of characters. The crowd had a good time dancing along to the music and the atmosphere was just happy.
I can't wait to go back!
No Tuesday night is complete in NOLA without a stop at the Maple Leaf to see Rebirth Brass Band.
This is a fun, friendly place to see some local music. Â Mondays feature Papa Grows Funk, and Tuesdays you can catch Rebirth. You can also catch the Brassaholics, Ivan Neville from time to time.
It can be a bit crammed, but everyone is having such a great time, no one seems to care.
Go early and grab a bite at Jacques-Imos next door (see the crowd) or Squeal just down the corner (follow your nose to the BBQ).
We were waiting for our table at Jacque-Imo's, about an hour on a Monday night so we hit up this place around 8. Â Very dog friendly, even a dog on the bar, ha! Â Place is super chill. Â Only reason for 3 stars is the bartender had a shitty tude. Â She didnt crack a smile once. Â Great local beers on tap all for $5. Â I guess they are known for live music but none were playing this night, oh well.
Review Source:The environment in this place is pretty cool, also nice that they have live music.
I felt like the beer selection was "okay" not great.
Maple Leaf gets a three from me mainly because after we had been there for two hours buying drinks (while outside) a guy came and told us we had to pay $10 or leave. I understand cover, but I feel like if we are being patrons to your establishment before the show (by two hours) we should get to stay inside. It was a Thursday night for goodness sakes and totally empty. I might go back if there is someone I want to see play, otherwise I will not be back.
Note: if you come here at the wrong time, there will be no one in here, there is an eerie silence, and if you aren't a local you will be stared at ha ha (this was us when we showed up too early here!!)
BUT if you come here at the right time, which would be on Sunday nights for their crawfish boil and live band, you will have probably one of the most memorable experiences you will have visiting NOLA. Matt J. read about this in the NYTimes, and we are so so so so glad that we went. You pay $10 on a Sunday night and they have a great live band which is pretty well known in the area AND they bowl 200+ pounds of crawfish, sausage, porkchops, corn, mushrooms, all in a spicy cajun mixture. They set up a few folding beer pong type tables and literally dump all of that goodness all along the tables and then the free-for-all crawfish eating time o' fun!! Yup, everyone around you is literally digging it, ripping the heads off, sucking out the meat and juices, and putting the discarded ones aside as quickly as possible ha ha It is pretty impressive a) to watch and b) to participate in. If you have germ issues this is clearly not the place to eat, but if not, I highly recommend that you take the trek out to this random dive bar for a Sunday crawfish boil. I promise you, you will not regret it, UNLESS you show up too early and then you are there in the awkward times.
But this place will definitely hold some of my best memories of my trip to NOLA. The beer isn't the cheapest, but they have a good local selection and their mixed drinks are strong too!.
Oh yeah, I took it Uptown last night. It's been a while. I was just discussing how Canal Street seems to be this Great Divide in New Orleans. It's not unlike the, "I don't go above 14th Street" thing in New York (So maybe those words came out of my mouth from time to time. I was just trying to explain why this might make sense in excruciating detail to my friends last night, but they weren't buying it). I'm not against Uptown establishments the way *some* people who shall remain nameless are. BUT! There's this: it's a pricey cab ride from the Marigny. And I don't drink and drive. So, if you're drivin', I'm down to go Uptown!
It was my first time at the Maple Leaf last night. Yeah, yeah, I know. I lived Uptown for an entire year, there shouldn't be any excuses, so I won't make any. Last night's band was not Rebirth, but they were extremely good, even if funk isn't my favorite kind of music. I like the regulars here a lot, as I encountered several last night.
The space itself is pretty damn great and I love the layout. The bar is long, there are plenty of stools to park your butt and this area affords you a break from the music in the other room (yet you can still hear it AOK). There's also a back area behind the music room, with a bar that serves when it's crowded, I presume. What I especially dig, however, is that backyard patio with a sweet set-up of benches, tables and foliage. It's really pretty back there.
All-around good bar and venue. I expect I'll be taking it Uptown again here very soon...
After years of waiting, I finally came here last night to check out Rebirth. I like Rebirth. They have some great tunes. BUT, is it me or have they just turned into a bunch of hype men? There was a lot of, 'when I say Rebirth you say Brass Band' type of stuff going on which is okay to get the crowd up in the beginning but GOOD LORD they must've said it a million times! Also, I don't think the trumpets could be any louder. Yes, it's in their nature (both as the instruments and the trumpet players) to be extremely loud. But shit, man, I wish that ridiculous $20 cover came with some ear plugs! I'll invest in Soul Rebels or Hot 8 next time.
Other notes:
-No one was REALLY dancing. I was dancing with my friend, but no one else was.
-The bartender was incredibly nice and sweet and said he hoped I enjoyed myself and that almost made up for it.
-The drinks are reaaaally weak and cost $4; go with a beer instead.
The venue itself isn't anything more than a dive bar. Â The floors are gross, don't look down. Â The drinks are standard, with reasonable prices. Â The reason to go to Maple Leaf is for the music: FANTASTIC. Â Shows start late, and there isn't much else to do on this street, so if you're going for music, wait until 10 pm.
Review Source:VERY enjoyable spot. Â The bar and bartenders are a welcome home and this iconic music locale makes an even better haunt to watch college football. Â Music bookings here are never disappointing and cater to the most distinctive tastes. Â
A night on Oak Street wouldn't be complete without Jacques-Imos followed by Maple Leaf
Tuesday Nights for Rebirth is a New Orleans Tradition! Â Show usually starts after 11 pm & is done by 1:30, they will blow you away, but it's so crowded, you should arrive early enough to stake out your space to see the stage. Â It also gets really slippery I have seen many fall right on their As@#$ , so bring some good gripping shoes to dance & move to this Great Grammy Winning Band. Â The back bar is best for quick service & to chill out. Â Great place Before or After Jacques-Imo's.
Review Source:Some years ago, young Sister Hand Grenade made her way up here on the streetcar to meet with some pals to go see a show, but she only remembers glimpses of scenes from that night. Vague, vague... Tsk, tsk...
This recent stint at Maple Leaf started off based upon their symbiotic relationship with Jacques Imo's, as in, "Let's go get some drinks as we wait for our table at Jacques-Imo's." The space seemed larger than I recalled, what without all the mobs of boogie-downing and perspiring peoples. In my foggy memory it was all brass band and packed in like a sardine can.
We were too early for live music at that point, of course, but did seize upon the jukebox which was full of some rare ol beauties, including selections from the king of the Hammond B3 organ. Not something I see all the time, in jukeboxes of the land... That's a good jukebox full of funk and jazz and rock and New Orleans artists ya got there, Maple Leaf. Not surprising as this is a place known for music and more music.
Our bartender was friendly and quick with the drinks. Got very comfortable there at the rail. We came back after grubbin to shake a tail feather into the night. Totally fun. My personal slogan of our time at Maple Leaf this trip is, Â "Maple Leaf: Now with added memory."
Stopped in here for a beer while I waited to get into Jacques Imo's next door. It's a dark, dingy dive which is very cool but hopefully you're in good company or into the Grateful Dead or the like cause that's the only type of music playing on the jukebox, I think the most "exciting" selection I saw was Journey.
I was planning on coming back here after dinner on Thursday night cause a few people raved about how great the trio is that plays here but we would've had to wait another 1 1/2 hrs after dinner for them to come on and there is NOTHING...I mean NOTHING... else in this area except for the restaurant next door, another way down the street and a drug store and it's not a cool area to just hang out and walk around at night. Hopefully next time I visit I get to come and catch the live music.
A group of us went to see Rebirth Brass Band. We were all visiting from out of town and apparently this was a spot that had to be checked out.
$15 cover per person! Yikes.
Small space over all. Reminded me of the bars back in college. Kind of worn down, but full of character.
Cheap drinks, but everything is cheap to me since i'm from LA.
I'm a bit of a claustrophobe. This place gets crowded. Drinks are spilled on you, people bump into you. You have to come here with that in mind and just have a good time. When the band started to play, my friends went wild, dancing full out for hours. People gathered around to watch and join in. It was a great sweaty night.
There is an additional bar in the back.
Great night out. Enjoy friends and music and just get hammered.
P.S. My favorite part was an artist of to the side drawing the band as they were playing. By the end of the set he had rendered an incredible pieced of art! #NOLA people...!
Had heard about this place over and over again by many different people.
The appeal: dive bar. Cheap drinks. Good music.
They are also dog friendly.
The music: Tues night the Rebirth brass band. If you like that southern Nola jazz, you will be happy. A great go-to place to get off the Quarter and out of downtown. A short trolley ride from the madness of the Quarter and well worth the diversion.
yet another great Nola nightlife establishment.
Headed over here after talking with the bartender at Jacque Imo's for some live music. The band was great and attracted quite a  diverse and friendly crowd that all seemed to be having a good time. The door was off the hinges for the mens bathroom and the place had that dirty, gritty feel that is what a bar SHOULD be.
Hung out on the back patio with some locals and people from all over and shared some great conversation. Oak street is much better than the quarter.
Went for Rebirth Brass Band, which was highly recommended by everyone. Â The place itself was fine, but it got WAY TOO CROWDED. Â Like, I had trouble getting the 15 feet from where the band was playing to the bar. Â That's even before having to wait for a drink. Â Nobody was dancing because there was no room to dance. Â The band was fine, but did not outweigh the terrible atmosphere.
I left early. Â This review is based only on my own experience there, and I admit that it's possible that a) I just happened to be there on a particularly crowded night, or b) it got less crowded and more pleasant later in the evening. Â But, based on my time there, I would not recommend this to anyone.
Tourist here:
Went on a Tuesday night to watch Rebirth Brass band play live. Cover was $15 bucks. Small quarters that was absolutely PACKED. The band ROCKED. Everybody was enjoying themselves to the music. It was a unique experience that I haven't seen in California.
Definitely recommend coming here if you're dropping by NOLA. Make sure to get the live music experience.
Sadly, we did not make it all the way into the bar for that long because of the cigarette smoke..I warned new hubby ahead of time that smoking in bars in okay in NOLA....he tried to get past it, but it was tough on his contacts so we had to go.
Kind of sad because not only did we find a sweet parking spot right in front, the bouncer/doorman went on a break to yell at someone on his cell phone and so we mosyed on in without having to pay the cover. lol!
The music (from what little of it I heard) was fantastic!
Hands down, there is no better place to party for your money in New Orleans - they always have an awesome lineup, cheap cover charges and cheap beer. Â The locals know how to behave in a crowded bar (just be careful when it fills up with tourists) and the place shakes and shimmies when the crowd is dancing and having fun (ok, not nearly as much as MidCity R-n-B but still...). Â Great patio and a great vibe. Â
One of my favorite memories was showing up late with a  6'7"friend who was a coach at O.P. Walker - we were acquainted with someone in the band and since the front door was too packed, we were invited to enter the club through the stage door - since the stage is only like 8 feet across, I just put my hands up and danced across the stage to the front of the crowd but poor Larry tried to be unobtrusive, crouching down and pretending to be invisible - there's just no way that a 6'7" tall man can go unnoticed crossing a stage that is only like 10 x 8 feet - it was pretty hilarious turning around to watch him sneaking toward me.  We had a blast that night nonetheless and I have that memory of my friend to last me a lifetime!
Rebirth brass band on Tuesday! I'm not from New Orleans but travel here for work often and this place is he bomb!
Cover charge is cheap and you can leave to eat, throw up, whatever.
Band started at around 10:30 and rocked the place. Nice crowd for a tuesday too.
It is very loud but you can adjorn to the back (we played some pool with an interesting "old new orleans" character). Great night
This review is of the bathroom. Specifically, the toilet. More specifically, the toilet into which I absolutely, positively, HAD to relieve waste.
The words I would use to describe this toilet: SHIT ENCRUSTED. Like, not just from the night before -- layers that have been building for, I don't know, perhaps decades.
I'll leave it at that.
I was not able to spend as much time as I would have liked at the Maple Leaf sadly. Â I cannot wait to go back and waste an evening listening to music and meeting new friends.
Alan the bartender was enchanting, his sarcastic humor immediately had us engaging in witty banter. The Canadian gentlemen we met at Jacques Imo's who were buying us drinks only added in my crush on this place.
Only 1/2 of my party was feeling the vibe and were itching to go back to Bourbon, sigh. My crew turned even more once they started charging a cover when the evening band went on and my group was saving their sheckles for booze instead. Â Vowing to return and bring my "real" NOLA friends, I left. Â Oak St. I already miss you!
This is one of the great music and dive bar venues of New Orleans. Â A great night is to begin at Jacques-Imo's and end it early in the wee hours of the morning at Maple Leaf. Â This is also home to the Krewe of Oak which parades in full splendor in August and Mardi Gras season. Â
This isn't a place where you're usually going to sit down or relax to "watch" a show (just like Tips). Â This bar is for interactive folks who will be dancing and getting their groovy funk on in a crowded sea of people all smashed together having a good time. Â When it gets crowded, like it often does for good shows, it might even take a little while to get your drink so plan ahead and if you frequent the place they get really good about knowing what to serve you.
The great thing about Maple Leaf is that the shows start late and end early in the wee hours of the morning. Â The gross thing about Maple Leaf is how smokey it can get in here and I hate nasty cigarette smoke! Â The bad thing about Maple Leaf is that when you have to work the next morning after a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday show your head often really pounds (as you vainly attempt to remember what happened to your great idea you were going to just start drinking water and then some vague memories float up of stopping in at Snake 'n Jake's that you attempt to block out) and you then discover you're mighty sleepy so always remember to take a nice nap ahead of time!
A tradition of mine is going to Oak St and having dinner at Jacques-Imos and ending the night with a show at the Maple Leaf. Some nights I'm in a Rebirth Brass Band mood or a Papa Grows Funk mood but  heading to the Maple Leaf is always a sure thing. I absolutely love this bar.
There is plenty of room in the stage area to cut a rug if the music takes you but also plenty of room to sit back and just watch the magic on stage happen. The drink prices are reasonable and the selection is top notch. If you're in the mood for something a bit laid back, head to the back area for some pool and some tables to sit with friends. The Maple Leaf definitely has that down home feel to it for locals and a warm welcome for those out of towners.
The ONLY reason that I didn't give the Maple Leaf a five star rating are it's bathrooms. I've been to some crummy bathrooms before but when you've got gnats swarming all in the bathrooms and clogged toilets, it makes Pot-A-Gold's during Mardi Gras look like the Taj Mahal. Clean it up, Maple Leaf, and you got a five star from me! Other than that, I'll see ya soon for Rebirth!
I've now happened in here on a couple of separate occasions with similarly happy results: the Maple Leaf, a rollicking tribute to brass that seems to teeter with locals bobbing up and down to the festive on stage focus.
It's probably no small coincidence that I've dropped by on nights when the brass band looms large, and while the room always seems ripe with locals (best I can tell), regular seems to seldom equate to ordinary. In fact, most days the audience weaves and moves as marionettes might, if those marionettes had a couple of cocktails in em and were raging politely against the dying of the light. Go, if you haven't. You'll find yourself in good company. And maybe find yourself besides.
There is nothing more quintessential New Orleanian than Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf. Rebirth (the New Orleans Rebirth Brass Band) plays there every week. This is an actual authentic New Orleanian dive bar filled with real New Orleanian musicians. Think Treme, but real.
That's all you need to know.
I came here directly from Jacques-Imo's Cafe on the recommendation of the owner and staff who came over and partied with us after they got off work. Â
I have never been to a better live music venue. It was filled with friendly locals - Â who later in the night showed us the town.
We drank almost as much as we ate next door but danced it all off to the Rebirth Brass Band. Â
If you want an authentic experience in N'awwlins, don't miss it.
"Maple Leaf was fun. Â In SUV and drinking beer."
That was the text message my boyfriend received late at night from a tipsy Janney B., as she and her friends left the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans.
I silenced my phone after sending that text and left the poor guy wondering whose SUV I was in and what I was doing with whom. Â Both valid questions.
I don't recall 100% of our MLE (Maple Leaf Experience), but I remember we came here after a terrific, but way too filling, dinner at Jacques-Imo's next door. Â (A certain failed model has been said to seek out copious amounts of liquor in hopes of puking said heavy dinner into bushes while dumb floozy friend holds her hair back.)
Anyhoo, the band was awesome and the drinks were affordable. Â We had tequila, kamikazes, jager bombs, more kamikazes, and beer. Â There was a cover charge - but, worth it because this was obviously a popular place to be.
We made some friends and one of the girls even offered to give us all a ride to Bourbon Street in her boyfriends SUV - After we told her she resembled Britney Spears, which is basically the Louisiana equivalent of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
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