By Toutatis

By Toutatis

By Toutatis is an alternative rock group from Dayton, United States, active since 1983. The lineup includes a long list of members over time, among them Kevin Fennell, Mitch Mitchell, Dan Toohey, James Greer, Don Depew, John Petkovic, Dave Swanson, Jim MacPherson, Nick Mitchell, Tobin Sprout, Greg Demos, Nate Farley, Doug Gillard, Kevin March, Jon McCann, Jim Pollard, Robert Pollard, Bruce Smith and Tim Tobias.

Style and activity

The group is associated with alternative rock, indie pop, indie rock, lo-fi, neo-psychedelia and psychedelic pop. It is described in the available material as a four-piece, with a sound built around baritone vocals, broken instruments and buzzing noises. The same description also places it in the field of baroque-influenced rock, with references to medieval chamber music, Jacques Brel and The National.

Formation and lineup

The group’s origin story centres on singer Daniel Cochran and drummer Ben, who meet through a family connection involving an ancestor of Cochran and an ancestor of Ben. After putting aside those old grievances, they form the band and bring in Robbie Major on violin and Ben Hopkinson on piano. The available information presents these four as the core lineup.