As posted on Mess and Noise, The Tote, the Collingwood pub that has supported thousands of new and established bands in it's long existence, is closing its doors this weekend, mostly due to expensive new "high risk venue" liquor licensing fees.

Walken played their first gig with Leigh on drums at the Tote in 2002 (blog post). We played there again a few months later, but never managed to make it back again after that.

I've seen Look Who's Toxic (2004 and 2006) and Pre-Shrunk (1999) play there. I've hung out in the beer garden. I've played pool there. I've never even been spoken to harshly while in or around the venue.

I'm sad to see it go, and to see it added to a long list of great music venues that have closed their doors in Melbourne in the last decade.