Alcotomic
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | February 1996 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Victoria , Australia |
| Products | Music recordings (EPs, singles) |
Alcotomic emerged as a power pop ensemble originating from Melbourne, Victoria, in February 1996. Originally performing under the name Dozer, their initial recording session occurred at Birdland Recording Studios located in Prahran, with producer Lindsay Gravina overseeing the process. The founding members comprised John Freeman Baxter (Holocene) handling vocals and guitar, Denny Brereton (Porcelain Jane) on bass guitar, and Stephen Boyle (Moler) on drums.
History
In October 1996, drummer Andy Strachan became part of the group. Their debut EP, self-titled and commonly referred to as the "playing cards" EP due to its distinctive cover design, was launched in August 1997. The track "Living In Luxury" was featured on Australian television series such as Stingers and Good Guys, Bad Guys. Inpress Magazine commended Baxter's unique vocal style alongside the band's musical arrangements.
January 1998 saw Alcotomic record a three-song EP titled Anything But You at Velvet Sound Studios in Sydney with producer David "DP" Price. Distributed by MGM Distribution on July 4, this release received rotation on the national youth broadcaster Triple J and secured a live spot on ABC TV's Recovery. The band inked a deal with US independent label Not Lame Records and was chosen as an emerging talent for the Pacific Circle Music Conference held in Sydney in November 1998. dB Magazine emphasized the EP’s intricate harmonies and sophisticated arrangements.
Midway through 1998, bassist Denny Brereton was succeeded by Paul Inglis from Adelaide. By early 1999, Alcotomic had completed approximately 100 live performances, including a recorded session at the Punters Club Hotel in Fitzroy. Returning to Birdland Studios with Gravina in May 1999, they laid down tracks for their penultimate EP Where You Go, which was released in July 2000 through Magneto/MGM. This single garnered favorable critiques and expanded airplay on Triple J as well as community radio stations. Sanity Magazine selected it as single pick of the week, highlighting its fusion of melody, guitar riffs, keyboard elements, bass lines, and vocal delivery.
By early 2001, individual members branched into different pursuits: Strachan joined Sydney-based band Pollyanna (band), while Baxter and Inglis established Prettymess. Subsequently, Strachan became part of the commercially successful Australian band the Living End. Alcotomic’s concluding live show took place on 1 August 2001 at Melbourne’s 9th Ward Bar.
Members
- John Freeman Baxter – vocals, guitar
- Paul Inglis – bass guitar, vocals
- Andy Strachan – drums, vocals
Extended plays
- Alcotomic (1997) – Freebee Music
- Where You Go (2018) – Remastered edition featuring bonus tracks, Magneto/MGM Records
Singles
- "Anything But You" (1998) – Released via Magneto/MGM Records, Not Lame Records, Popboomerang
- "Where You Go" (2000) – Distributed by Magneto/MGM Records, Not Lame Records, Popboomerang