Our Beloved Tote.

The heart and soul of Melbourne's thriving live music scene is back. Thank you god of rock. On Thursday night The Tote was resurrected in a media event featuring performances by Eagle and the worm and Digger and the Pussycats, and a preview screening of the Tote documentary. The Tote's new foster family, Jon, Sam and Andy who also operate Bar Open, Yah Yah's and Pony offered a warm welcome back. Whilst a rumour was leaked that the venue would no longer go by The Tote, the venue will still keep it's iconic name.

Punters filled the ghostly band room and beer garden having a raucous time until they left the beer garden under a mist of cigarette smoke, the new carpet blessed by pint glasses and walked out the door with their ears ringing.

Many also left with tacos in hand. Yes, that's right. After a pint or two punters needn't stumble down to the Smith Street McDonald's for their fast food fix, they simply need to turn around to see the shiny new taco stand the new owners have put in place. That just hit me then. What a GENIUS idea!?

It may seem odd to drag Melbourne's media down to the Tote to show them some new carpet and a taco stand. After all, it is just the Tote. I wondered if another pub would get the same treatmet if it closed. Perhaps Pony with a 1am curfew or if the alleyway was empty outside Ding Dong, but then  i realised it's not just the venue. Its the scene of people that went there, go there, and will go there to hear their favourite music and it's the network of music lovers that support a new bands first gig on a sunday afternoon and that is what's worth fighting for.

The whole liquor liscencing debarkle is an importamt struggle for me as the Tote closing was the catalyst for me to start Little Fish, so on Monday's show listen out as I say from the JOY studios to the Tote, welcome back.

The Tote is set to officially reopen on June 17th

Some acts ready to grace the stage in the coming weeks are:
The Tote Relaunches:
  
Thursday 17th June – Official Opening feat. Bakelite Age + more TBA
Friday 18th June – Apocalypse Dudes
Saturday 20th June – Jackie And The Cedrics + The Spazzys
Thursday 24th June – Warped + Mat Sonic And The High Times
Friday 25th June – Black Cab
Saturday 26th June – Mike Noga And The Gentlemen Of Fortune + Bowers + Joel Silbershier
Friday 2nd July – The Casanovas