It seems that Maplehood (er Maplewood, that is) is moving on up with its latest hot spot installment, Deluxe. Situated on Sutton catty-corner from the Jive n' Wail, on a parcel of land that used to house a rather shabby laundry mat, Deluxe is a hybrid of diner/bar/music venue. Though many residents dearly miss the laundry mat, Deluxe has already won rave reviews from locals. Deluxe's smooth transformation from diner to bar and music venue is impressive and a welcome solution to the age old “where do we eat before the show?” problem. Here is a break down of Deluxe's Jeckell and Hyde personae; first the diner, then the show.

The Digs: Deluxe, open Tuesday through Saturday, appears at first to be yet another one of those fake 1950s style diners (a la Steak n'Shake). Upon further inspection, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, Deluxe's decor does hearken back to a simpler time of poodle skirts and motorcycle jackets, but it embraces the kitsch factor, the joke is intentional. While vintage posters and Formica tables are a part of the traditional diner feel, eyeballs, skulls and the modern red and black color scheme put this place solidly in the 21st century. It might be described as rockabilly punk meets twee indie boy from Portland. Smokers will be happy to know that after 10pm, smoking is allowed at the high top tables (smoke-free at the booths during the day). The place is so big, though that it never seems smoky. Guys and Gals, here is an important tip: the restrooms are labeled Kittens and Kats, Kittens are Ladies and Kats are Gentleman. I hope that I have just saved you some embarrassment there. The only complaint about Deluxe is the uninformed staff, they never seem to know, if you call ahead, if there will be a cover for the show, or what time the bands go on. Always bring cash, just in case and assume the show starts at 10pm, when the dinner crowd leaves.

The Grub: Deluxe serves diner fare with a twist. Open for lunch and dinner, the offerings include variations on fried catfish, mac n' cheese, burgers, onion rings, etc. The most notable thing about the menu is that they offer many meatless options such as vegetarian chili and vegetarian burgers made with Match, a meat substitute known as God's gift to the veggie crowd. The burger was cooked to perfection, but the side of slaw, purple in color and mixed with a vinegar base left something to be desired (I think that “something” was mayo). The late night menu on Friday and Saturday features goodies like hummus and sweet potato fries, it's good to know that just because you're up late, it doesn't mean you have to eat like a fat-ass.The beer list is short, but commendable as they carry Schlafly. They don't just carry beer of course, in fact Darla, the bartender formerly of Rue 13, pours some stiff shots. Drink specials such as $2 bottles of Mickeys or 24oz cans of  PBR will put a smile on your face, a buzz in your brain and leave you with some cash in the wallet.

The Monads: This opening act for Fattback may have just become kings of the musical genre, “Speed-Folk”. If the Pogues were raised in Kentucky and listened to The Buzzcocks and Bill Monroe at whiskey- soaked fiddling contests, they would have become The Monads. With knee-slappin tunes about Mississippi and punk-anthem choruses, The Monads had people up and dancing. Their exuberance was genuine, and you couldn't help but feel that this is what music used to be like; an irresistibly joyful and energetic connection between the audience and the songs. Of course, who couldn't love songs about whiskey?

Fattback: These headliners were an irreverent mix of Primus, Talking Heads, ska, country and western and traditional folk. They define their sound as “Moose Rock,” and although that could really mean anything, any band that responds to the crowds requests for “Huey Lewis and the News!” with a rockin' version of “The Power of Love”, can call themselves whatever they want, in my book. Other gooftacular songs about being “briefly a zombie” and bum's requests for dollars, brought the crowd to their feet. A Monty Python reference was met with cheers, Fattback is a band beloved of geeky, dissaffected Anglophiles everywhere. It was like a scene from John Water's “Crybaby” in there, couples were dancing together, dancing, not grinding- just like olden times! Sophomoric cries from the band about “titties and beer” were tempered with more chivalric mentions of the “pretty ladies' in the crowd. At the end of the set, everyone stumbled over to the bar to take shots of whiskey, poured with love and gusto by Darla, and you got the sense that a tradition was being formed at Deluxe, hopefully one that lasts.