Currently, there is a hell of a lot of press about the future of the Tote and the future of the current liquor licensing laws. It leaves our music community in a state of limbo, having farewelled the Tote already, but now seeing that there may actually be a chance for the venue to continue on. The announcement last week of the closure put many people into a deeply retrospective mood, so I thought I’d list a few of my own fond Tote memories.

Firstly, by way of a $10 gig, the Tote introduced me to the Spazzys and Mach Pelican. To someone in my age bracket, these two bands were synonymous with the Tote and over the few years where they would commonly share the stage, I couldn’t even tell you how many times I saw them. It was stripped back, 4/4, Ramones punk. And it was awesome.

Much like their heroes the Ramones, Mach Pelican never achieved the success they deserved, yet they continued to sweat through leather jackets week in, week out. They left us by throwing one of my top 5 gigs of all time, bowing out in style with a sold out show at the Tote, even featuring an onstage ‘Pelican Bar’ in their honour.

It was Mach Pelican too (by way of Toshi Maeda’s Bop Records label) who allowed Melbourne to receive almost constant visits from some of Japan’s finest punk bands, and all would play a headline show at the Tote. The Faceful gave us a red leather jumpsuit wearing wild woman who swung from the lighting rig, and the Gimmies proved they were the best Australian 70s punk band to ever exist outside of Australia (they even covered Radio Birdman’s New Race on LP Phonic Souls). 50 Kaitenz came dressed in matching blue suits with matching bowl cuts, and served up good time rock and roll with a healthy side serving of humour and synchronized stage moves. Then there was The Havenots and Teengenerate, however I was too young to see the fabled 5,6,7,8 shows.

Without a doubt though, it is Guitar Wolf who well and truly owned the Tote every time they stepped foot in the venue. I’ve read stories of the human pyramid at the Cup Eve shows which I couldn’t attend, but for me it was the 05/06 NYE show which stands above all. Supported again by the Spazzys and Mach Pelican, this was a show played inside the Tote while the temperature hovered around 40 degrees outside. The intense heat, a warmup including Mach Pelican covering the Ramones, two or maybe three encores from Guitar Wolf, and the most impressive stage presence I have seen, meant the year was bought in with the finest of Jet Rock n Roll.

But perhaps what I hold fondest is the fact that I got to play myself on that stage. It may have only been twice, but being able to so easily get a Tuesday slot on a stage where I had seen some of my favourite bands was a dream come true. We may have sounded like shit or we may have been good (pretty sure it was the former), but it gave me a buzz like no other. Hell, we even had a Spazzy taking money at the door!

It’s because of these experiences that the Tote holds a special place in not only my heart, but the hearts of almost all Melbourne muso’s and gig goers. There is a vibe in that hotel that means it is more than just a pub, more than just a band room. It is a Melbourne music institution and one that we need to do our best to retain. In the light of recent talks about the liquor laws, we can only hope the Tote can stay around and continue to inspire and incubate our next generations of artists

MEMORIES OF GARETH PAGE

A part of music in Melbourne has died over the weekend. If you check
across the history of basically any Melbourne rock, punk, folk, metal
band who have gone anywhere, a performance or two (or five) at the Tote
is probably in there. The staggering show of support at the Tote over
the weekend was definitely heartwarming and encouraging, a fitting
tribute to a great venue for a beer or a live show, however…

I’ve been to the Tote numerous times, yet this was one of the few times
that I had ever been there and it had actually been full of people. A
lot of people turned out to give the venue a great sendoff, but where
have they been for the past few years, whilst the Tote has been
publicly struggling to keep its doors open? More than once I’ve seen
bands play in the venue to few people other than the members of the
other bands, and enjoyed a beer in a surprisingly quiet front bar on a
Saturday night.

All that we can hope from here is that the closure of the Tote rouses a
few people into action, because apparently the Arthouse is the next
such venue that will be closing its doors. The current state government
is not particularly interested in cultivating the live music scene in
Melbourne (with the possible exception of Pink’s 115 Rod Laver Arena
shows), so it is up to the people to support all acts, and to vote with
your feet. Go and see local bands and artists, buy the $5 EP or poorly
printed t-shirt, and encourage other people to do the same. If other
venues similar to the Tote and Arthouse cease to be, then bands won’t
have places to play, and in the end bands trying to make a go of things
will move away, the smaller scale touring bands won’t have suitable
venues to play in and as a result may not come through town. In
Melbourne we are spoiled for choice in terms of great bands and great
venues, there are great shows on almost any night of the week, but if
people do not support the artists and the venues in all likelihood
Melbourne will ultimately lose its reputation as a great place for live
music.

For an interesting read head over to the Tote’s website and have a read
of some of the quotes there: http://www.thetotehotel.com/quotes.php.

MEMORIES OF ALEXANDRA DUGUID

My memories of the Tote involved being able to see my friend’s band play that stage that so many amazing artists got to play before them. This is the kind of venue the Tote was, not only giving a place for some great international acts to play, but giving emerging bands a leg-up. A push forward that other venues won’t give.

If the Tote is to never play host to any bands ever again, I will feel completely blessed to have experienced what the hotel had to offer. Great bands (as well as some shitty ones), sticky carpet and a juke box with a collection to die for. I will remember walking in and seeing the walls covered in beer-stained memorabilia, (my favourite being the Screaming Jay Hawkins tour poster) and the giant autumnal coloured, distorted face of Iggy Pop.

The Tote was always lots of fun, and I’m glad I got to experience it in all its glory. We may find another stage to play, or another place to have a beer but there will never be a replacement.  No venue will ever carry on the history that the little hotel on the corner of Johnson and Wellington ever had.