For many musicians, the Tote was like a second home. Once the doors opened for the last time at midday, some of the ashes of late musician Sean Greenway were scattered on the stage.

There was much excitement in the crowd about rumours that Greenway's former God bandmate, Joel Silbersher, would be playing a very rare version of their underground hit My Pal with his current band Hoss this evening. The winners of last year's Australian Music Prize, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, kicked off the day with an unannounced, high-energy 30-minute set of greatest hits. Like many bands playing today, the band chose to channel its anger and energy about the Tote's demise into its music rather than make speeches.

Frontman Brendan Suppression began the set prowling the moshpit like a caged lion, before climbing onto a bar and leaping into the crowd during Precious Rose. He told the crowd that the only way they managed to play was because bassist Brad Barry arranged to work a night shift on Sunday night. After the rapturously received set, he was to return to work with no sleep.

This was one of many sacrifices made by musicians on the day - they all performed for free - to repay the venue that gave many of them their first starts. The band's guitarist Mikey Young said the Tote's demise was "a real bummer" but he was sure that Melbourne's resilient live music scene would rebound. "Melbourne's a really strong town," he said.

"There's enough bands and people into music who will find way to do things. Things die off and come back. It's not cheap to live in the inner city any more, so there will probably be more venues popping up in suburban industrial areas." Eddy was one of 26 bands including the Drones, Hoss, Legends Of Motorsport, Dave Graney, Spencer P. Jones and the Cosmic Psychos, that plugged in one last time to mark an end of an era.

Many of them got their start at the venue and worried where the new generation of young bands will play their first gigs. Another concern was what was going to happen to the pub's legendary jukebox. Sources said plans were afoot to release a CD featuring its best 50 songs.

Punters The Age spoke to wondered what it all meant for Melbourne's reputation as one of the live music capitals of the world. "These things should be assessed case by case," sad local DJ and promoter Mohair Slim.

"If they did that, violent beer barns would be paying huge fees and creative and safe venues like the Tote would be free to operate in a creative and safe environment." "The legislation is clumsy and stupid," added publican and musician Steve Miller. "They give licences to people who shouldn't have fishing licences but not for a venue that separates us from the rest of the world."

The building's owner, Chris Morris, reportedly indicated that he was keen to continue running the pub as a live venue if he could find new tenants. But Mr Milne said that was no longer viable.

"I played the wrong tactics, Mr Milne said. "I thought if I raised my head it would have been kicked in. But now I can talk. "If I knew all of this wonderful sentiment, I would have done something earlier," he said looking out the window of his office and shaking his head.