It seems that, whenever I put my fingertips to the keys of my laptop for another weekly music post, only sadness and disappointment springs from them. Though I can not promise that the most pressing Australian music news will be bright and joyful next week, I certainly hope it will be. We need a bit of it. This one, though devastating, does at least have to it a little ray of hope – one that will hopefully make you consider me less of a harbinger of doom, or a peddler of despair.

Last Thursday, it was announced that the Tote hotel, one of Melbourne’s best live music pubs, would shut its doors for good. Suffering under Melbourne’s restrictive liquor licensing laws (whoever thought that would be a phrase to read five years ago?), the venue could no longer feasibly function, as any venue playing “live or amplified music” was deemed “high risk”, and therefore must pay more annually for their license, as well as extra charges on CCTV and security. Bruce Milne, the licensee, took an interview with Mess+Noise‘s Darren Levin to discuss all the reasons for closing.

Since then, many questions have been raised over the legitimacy of the Director of Liquor Licensing, Sue MacLellan‘s decisions regarding the Tote, with many calling for an audit of her procedures. While safe venues like the Tote are being forced to shut, the nightclubs of inner-city Melbourne, notorious for their alcohol and drug-fuelled violence, are getting off without even a smack on the wrist. Never mind looking at things closer and punishing venues on a base-by-base venue – rock’n'roll is always the problem, and a sweeping penalty will fit.

With “last drinks” called for Sunday 17^th, a peaceful protest of at least 2,000 flooded into the street surrounding the Tote to support their pub. The Collingwood Police force are congratulated for their calm and cooperative nature during the protest – members of the force have been known for some time as “friends of the Tote”, further proof that the venue is not “high risk”. On Monday 18th, the final ever gig was played at the Tote over 12 hours to a packed out and emotional crowd.

As a doorbitch with connections to Melbourne, I have had the joy of working at the Tote on trips south, and can recall standing at the bar before opening as a bar manager and a few bar tenders asked me to explain the situation in Sydney (the Hoey having just shut its doors and the Annandale having announced it may soon do the same), all staring in disbelief that such a thing could ever happen.

There could be good news, however. Talks are apparently underway with the millionaire owner of the venue (who reportedly has never set foot within it) to save the venue, and angry Melbournians and music fans across the country have been petitioning to save both the Tote and all Melbourne music venues.

Sign the petition to save live music here.

Read a review of the final song ever played at the Tote.

All photos from the YISBLOG except “Hands Off Our History”, © Carbie for Mess+Noise.