The Tote - Last Days

The Tote, Sunday 17th of January 2010

THE TOTE IS CLOSING THIS WEEKEND!!!

Yes I’ve read the press release and it’s closing this weekend. Last drinks anyone?

Cup Eve at the Tote

3/11/08 $8
Before I forget, I better mention cup Eve at the Tote. If your not from Melbourne town, we(some of us) have a day off at the start November for a horse race that stops a nation.

I can't remember the name of the first band but they were rocking. Second band in the lineup was Subaudible Hum from Melbourne, who reminded me of bands like The Doves and Radio Head, very prog rock.

The headlining act was James McCann and The Dirty Skirt Band who were very captivating, sprawling, epic and moving. I was very tired, but they kept me fixated to there sound.

Say Goodbye to Computers

Viva Computer - They Tried to Put a Mark on Me

Coming out of Hobart in Tasmania Viva computer are playing a few gigs around Melbourne town this weekend. The above track 'They Tried to Put a Mark on Me' is taken from there debut album and you can download it for free, follow the links on there myspace page. As you can probably hear they are very much inspired by Sonic Youth and Animal collective.

If you're in Melbourne Town this weekend you can catch them at...
1. Friday 27th June at The TOTE with Ninetynine, Hand Hell and Little Pictures (NZ) 9pm doors open.
2. Saturday 28th June at The Empress Hotel w/ Popolice and Peter Escott Melbourne, Victoria. Doors open 9pm.
3. Sunday 29th June at Pony 2am Show, or You could say 2am Saturday Night
4. Sunday 29th June at Pure Pop Records Instore at 3pm.

The Great Apes at the Tote

The Great Apes Sat 7th June 08 at The Tote front bar, residency gig.

While in Collingwood, I wondered down to the Tote to see what residency gig was happening and it was the Great Apes(Melbourne based). They had a good turn up, most seem to be friends/family and other music loving types. I've seen some very lonely residency at the Tote, but sometimes certain sounds are not for everyone. To my surprise they were very professional to be playing in a front bar but suited a lazy Saturday afternoon with some psychedelia and 60's garage inspired tunes. Also going by there myspace they're influenced by 13th Floor Elevators, Ween, B52s, Spacemen 3, Stooges, Sonic Youth, David Bowie and Velvet Underground. Catch them at the Tote this Saturday 28th June from 5pm for the last of there months residency.

The Great Apes - L8-night nympho-mercials

You can find more tunes here at the JJJ unearthed website.

Jay Reatard

Jay Reatard(space) + Digger & The Pussycats & Cut Sick & The Focus & UV Race(YouTube)
The Tote, Mon 10/3/08, $27

A laid back labour day saw myself and a friend check out some acts at the Tote. I was expect it to be hot and sweaty but luckily it wasn’t too bad due to the cool breeze.

Out of the line up I managed to catch the Focus, Digger & The Pussycats and the headliner Jay Reatard. Didn’t mind the focus, sounded like something between a pacey punk band with a touch of indie sounds. Digger & The Pussycats are a two piece with one on guitar and the other standing up playing a drum kit. From what they said they’ll be finishing up soon, my mate said it may be due to moving and the rock n roll lifestyle taking its toll on the band.

I hadn’t heard much about Jay Reatard, so I didn’t really have any expectation. Only really had heard a little that they were featured on RRR radio or PBS as ‘Blood Visions’ has recently been released in Australia. They came across to me being really fresh and tight, reminding me of punk back in the early nighties. They had a great stage presence with there big hair and also (I didn’t see this, but was brought up by my mate) they kept spitting on the crowd.

Old New

Found this in Herald Sun, Tues 6/11/07 talking about what a great future location this is. I know the Tote wont be around for to long now, but what the fuck will they do with it, maybe some ultra cool frapachino sucking place.

The Black Lips & Spencer P. Jones

The Black Lips(space) + Spencer P. Jones & the Escape Committee(space) and Digger & the Pussycats, Thursday 20/12/07, The Tote

There was a plenty of hype around town about The Black Lips. It was cool how they had three gig's in a row, one at the art house and then a couple at the Tote. I only just got there, and saw the last couple of song by Spencer P. Jones & the Escape Committee, always highly recommend them as they are hard workers on stage, and give you much bang for your buck. The Tote was amazingly stinky, the heat was almost too incredible and exhausting. If I felt hot in the crowd how unbearable was it for the muso's on stage with the lights on them.

The Black Lips had the sound (blue/punk), sometimes it was a little bit repetitive, but I was totally not into them. They've got a couple of good tracks out but maybe the heat just got to me, which eventually forced me to leave.

Black Lips - Cold Hands

The Tote Documentary

I should be sleeping.
I heard this old rock venue may be purchased by the same people who turned the punters into a pizza restaurant. This was from 2006. Don't know what is happening with this now.
Things cant always stay the same.

Friday Night at the Tote

The Tote Fri 5/10/07 "Freaky Fuzz" with The Night Terrors, Mushroom Giant, Spider Goat Canyon & Ahkmed. $10

Walking into this gig was a little of the case of spot the girl. Yep plenty of guys, hair, in a small room, listening to some fuzzy rock. I have to admit I was a total piker at this gig and could only make it past the first two bands.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was Ahkmed(from Melbourne town) who I saw play first, made some great sounds, mostly instrumental, which reminded me of Melvins, but you can hear other influences coming through such as Kyuss, Mogwai, and Spacemen 3. Ahkmed really flew along and hardly stoped to take a breath.

Ahkmed - Ilanesia

The second and last one I saw was Spider Goat Canyon, maybe I was a little tired from a hard days work, or maybe I lost interest. They didn't have the same energy as Ahmed, which lost me, and talked a bit too much between each song, but this all could be exaggerated due to being tired.

Then again listening to some of there stuff on line I could have them mixed up, but they both sound equally as good from what I've listened to..... Oh why oh why didn't i copy/photo the time of when they started.

Spun Rivals + Worlds End Press + Teenagers in Tokyo + Cut off your hands

the Tote
Sat 8th
Spun Rivals + Worlds End Press + Teenagers in Tokyo(space) + Cut off your hands(Space)

Cut Off Your Hands - You And I

This was a very fresh and interested gig, with comparison to Friday nights disappointment.
Spun Rivals kicked off the night with some rock; Worlds End Press bought some spaced out Psychedelic Prog Rock; and Teenagers got the crowd dancing. I did however miss the power pop sensation that is Cut of Your Hands from NZ, but have already seen them back earlier this year supporting Love is All (read about it hear).

The Bawdies at the Tote

Tuesday 19/6/07
The Bawdies (Japan)(space), The Tash Mints, The Ooga Boogas, Blow-Up DJS Emma Peel & Il Cattivo.
$10.


The Bawdies (Japan) Tuesday 19th of June The Tote After getting back home from a fairly feeling surly, check the gig guide to see The Bawdies playing at the Tote for a staggering 1990’s price of $10. I did however manage to miss the first few acts but caught I believe The Tash Mints (but when your up the back of the tote it's a little hard to see whats going on)..

The place was packed at 9.30 when I got there, probably not as packed out as the Eddy Current Suppression Ring gig I went to later on this year. But still great to see a packed out gig for the Tote on a Tuesday. The crowd was a mix of some excited Japanese ex-pats, local youth and some older folk too.

The Bawdies play a mixture of 50’s Rock’n’Roll, R’n’B, Garage and Japanese group sounds. If you can get yourself to Dragon Fly records in the CBD you may be able to find a great compilation called Go Go Group Sounds of the 1960’s, full of band from the 60’s. High light for me was there cover of the Little Richards ‘Tootie Fruity’ which was in there encore.

On like kong + Jaguar Spring + the Attack

Wed 2nd may the tote

On like kong
www.myspace.com/onlikekong

Jaguar Spring
www.myspace.com/jaguarspring

the Attack
???

Renderers + Kes(solo) + Rowland S Howard

Renderers(NZ) + Kes(solo) + Rowland S Howard
The Tote, Thursday 12th April

I really enjoyed the Kes solo show, very laid back but went places, it sound like he was constructing songs on the spot. Rowland S Howard was very tight and very structured. I got distracted at the end when the Renderer's came on due to some very funny wanky talk but some b grade celebs out the back. The people at the show were very young and was surprised by this, expecting an older turn out.

renderers space
Rowland S Howard space
Kes Space

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

Eddy Current Suppression Ring (space), The Sailors (space), The Onyas & The Breadmakers.

Saturday February 10 @ The Tote

The Breadmakers started off with 60's garage rock sound. But the whole night was a very rock n punk event. The best part about this event was that all bands were playing in the pit, so it gave that intimate feeling, and yes people were on the stage. After going outside and having a drink with a friend to find out he couldn't get in due to a sold out gig, I ventured back in to find the place heaving with the Sailors rude ass madness. Also amazed a the Following of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, so many different shapes and forms comming to see this band. The night gave me some reassurance in Australian Music and Rock.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Get Up Morning from 7"

The Sailors - Finding My Match from Viva La Beaver