Drones, Silbersher Farewell The Tote In Style
News posted Tuesday, January 19 2010 at 01:00 PM.
Related: God, Tote, Drones.
At midday on The Tote’s final day, the ashes of Sean Greenway were sprinkled on the band room floor. Twelve teary, sweaty, feedback-drenched hours later, Greenway’s former bandmate Joel Silbersher lead The Drones through a rendition of ‘My Pal’, GOD’s 1988 underground hit and Melbourne’s adopted anthem.
“This is our last song, this is the last song – and it hurts to say it,” said Drones guitarist Dan Luscombe before launching into one of the greatest five-note riffs of all time.
It was a particularly fitting send off given it was Tote director Bruce Milne who first discovered the band as teenagers and later signed them to his venerable label Au Go-Go. Milne has run the venue for the past nine years, but has been forced to shut its doors given rising security costs and a hike in license fees imposed by Liquor Licensing Victoria.
“Six months ago if I knew the overwhelming strength of feeling out there – if I was smart enough – I would’ve gone public back then and we could’ve saved The Tote and still had the same effect from the general outcry,” he told punters from the main stage after a performance by Hoss, Silbersher’s “other” band. “Live music in this town might be a throbbing, vibrant, mangy beast, but it’s got good handlers – and the government can relax about that.”
The afternoon saw performances by 24 acts assembled within days by Tote booker Amanda Palmer. They included The Nation Blue, Digger & The Pussycats, The Onyas, The Meanies, Johnny Casino, The Breadmakers, Spencer P Jones and The Escape Committee, The Dacios and The Stabs. Eddy Current Suppression Ring made a surprise appearance at lunchtime, while Spiderbait (sans bassist Janet English) were drafted in at the 11th hour to replace The Cosmic Psychos, who had to pull out after bass player Ross Knight injured his shoulder.
Fittingly, it was Milne who called last drinks from the top of the bar at 12.45am, cueing “Tote” chants and emotional scenes from staff and patrons alike. People headbanged to metal songs on the jukebox and that was it. As Milne said at a protest on Sunday, “The era of The Tote has ended.”
Reviews, more photos to come.
(Photo by Robert Carbone)
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http://www.catchingzebra.com/post/340896145/last-song-at-the-tote-the-drones-with-joel
That's such a weird scene. Normally a surging, hand waving crowd like that isn't met by a kinda disappointed looking frontman. Poor Joel.
Little Buddah
It's a 6 note riff, ain't it?
Dang dang dang dang da-dang
the recording doesn't really do it justice, but oh well.
I count eleven.
Bloody well missed this show.
Five notes because the rest are repeated, nerds.
It's still a riff of six notes though.
Does Beethoven's Fifth have four notes in it's opening riff, despite the fact it's only two separate notes?
Bruce and some other bar owner during My Pal
Stop posting pictures of me crying!
You'll blow my tough image!!
That's Liam from the Old Bar - who worked his butt off here over the weekend and lent us grog when we needed it.
Go and have a drink there! they all lost a lot of trade over the weekend.
And at all the other places that helped us (without even being asked) in our desperate moments- Yah Yah's, Bar Open, Pony, Corner, Espy, Birmingham, Marquis of Lorne, Curtin, the Arthouse (who sent boxes and boxes of muffins for the wrecked, hungry staff here). If I've forgotten any pub/venue, I will post them.
There were lots of eyes welling up during Bruce's speech.
I was at home listening and that was enough to bring on the water-works.
LIBERATING SADNESS.
The Old Bar got Tote Spill on Friday night! You gave them business Bruce!
I got a text during this that said ''where are you? I need a fucken hug'', and that started the waterworks. Fuzzy and I bawled all the way up Johnston St on the way home.
saturday night too
x-post... or is it?
Have 2000+ photos to go through. Very limited highlights here
nice one tim. looking forward to the extended coverage.
Yep. Best combined birthday party/wake ever. All five days of it.
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You fucken told me, Modi, while it was happening. Running (and gradually more drunk) commentary while I was stuck at work until 4am.
YOU STILL HAVEN'T SHOWN ME THE PROMISED PICTURES.
As in, so secretive that it never actually happened...
Modi, make sure that I am in very close proximity to a large body of cold water when you tell me that story...
The cobra bar or the table tennis?
Ah, x-post city.
I can't remember if I took any pictures, annehelena.
You didn't, though you said you would. It was so disappointing.
I mean, I love you and find no attraction in other men whatsoever.
Glued to the radio for 4 1/2 hours last night. A glorious send off.
And I've just read Bruce Tote's ''Statement from the Director of Liqour Licensing'' article and his retort. I think maybe the Director and friends really need to knuckle down and get busy sucking some fuck.
I nearly walked in on Fiona from the Drones while she was in the loo. When she came out I was very apologetic and she was extremely nice about it all. A lovely lady.
saw dan kelly walking on wellington st back towards to the tote at 1am when we left. if only i knew it was that easy...
We got heaps of footage for the doco. Nat vdD is one very talented trooper!
Bruce, the footage of you during My Pal is simply beautiful. I had tears shooting it, and I get tears watching it back again.
Cannot wait to see the final edit.
It was weird leaving for the last time.
Don't know if this is the best place to ask but is there somewhere I can buy a Tote shirt?
yeah, i could use one as well
I love Marieke Hardy's article on the ABC website.
I got the last small t-shirt...
So sad. :(
sad.bruce could affford the legal costs, he has money..he didnt try..how much money did he make that weekend. the bar tab alone would have been $100,000, where is that money going...dont feel sorry for bruce, what about all the bands that played there over the years.the ones that made no money..bruce try harder next time
living up to your username there, dude
You're an ill-informed wanker, boring.