Brand New Unit
{{Short description|Canadian hardcore punk band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Brand New Unit
| image =
| caption = BNU
| image_size =
| alias =
| origin = Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
| genre = Hardcore punk
Melodic Hardcore
| years_active = 1991-2000
| label = 3 Minute Mile Records, Excursion Records, Creative Man Disc, BYO Records, HeartFirst Records, Burning Heart Records, Modern Radio Record Label
| associated_acts = Gob
| website =
| current_members = Gary Lavallee†
Jinx Stringer
Ben Hughes
Garnet Kulhavy†
Gabe Mantle
| past_members =
}}
Brand New Unit, commonly known as BNU, was a Canadian Hardcore punk band from suburban Vancouver, British Columbia. Its members were Gary Lavallee (vocals), Jinx Stringer (guitar), Ben Hughes (bass), and Garnet Kulhavy (drums). Kulhavy would later be replaced by Gob drummer Gabe Mantle.
History
The band formed in 1991 in Surrey, B.C.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120414211159/http://www.carillon.uregina.ca/jan29.98/arts/arts2.html "Brand New Unit is "Totally into it""] by Matthew Gourlie, The Carillon, January 29, 1998. University of Regina (Archived at the Wayback Machine) and started out playing locally and in Vancouver.[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brand-new-unit-mn0000932813 "Brand New Unit"]. AllMusic Biography by Linda Seida
In 1992 they were winners of CITR-FM's 1982 SHiNDiG live performance contest, which awarded them some studio time.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120517025826/http://shindig.citr.ca/index.php?q=taxonomy%2Fterm%2F2 SHiNDiG Past results - 1992] (Archived at the Wayback Machine){{Dead link|date=April 2022}}{{cite book|author=Chris Walter|title=Under the Kilt: the Real McKenzies Exposed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GFlfDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT38|date=1 March 2015|publisher=BookBaby|isbn=978-1-927053-22-5|page=38}}{{Dead link|date=April 2022}} They used it to record their first EP, Summertime.{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit - Summertime |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/576984-Brand-New-Unit-Summertime-Deep-Inside-City |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}} Influences of 7 Seconds and Dag Nasty can be heard on Summertime with Kulhavy, while later recordings feature a more post-hardcore feel with hard-hitting live elements.
In 1993, they were included on Crank It Up - Volume 11, part of Thrasher Magazine's Skate Rock series.{{cite web |title=Various – Crank It Up - Volume Eleven |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6299234-Various-Crank-It-Up-Volume-Eleven |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}} In 1994, they released their first album, Under The Big Top.{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit – Under The Big Top |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3327963-Brand-New-Unit-Under-The-Big-Top |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}}
Brand New Unit toured constantly and expanded their following into the US market.{{cite web |last1=Iwasaki |first1=Scott |title=Tour helps Brand New Unit get noticed, June 1998 |url=https://www.deseret.com/1998/6/12/19385340/tour-helps-brand-new-unit-get-noticed |website=deseret.com |date=12 June 1998 |publisher=Deseret News |access-date=26 April 2022}} In 1995, they released three EPs{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/648193-Brand-New-Unit |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}} and, by 1997, had enough material to release a compilation album, Looking Back Again.{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit - Looking Back Again |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3076915-Brand-New-Unit-Looking-Back-Again |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}}[https://ink19.com/1998/02/magazine/music-reviews/brand-new-unit "Brand New Unit Diddley Squat Creative Man Looking Back Again BYO"]. Ink19, February 9, 1998. Ryan Eckhart
In 1998 the band released the album Diddly Squat through the Creative Man label.{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit – Diddley Squat |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/743209-Brand-New-Unit-Diddley-Squat |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}}[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-30-ca-8413-story.html "New Releases : Dishwalla's followup album rates A-, offering songs that get lots of airplay"]. Los Angeles Times, July 30, 1998|Bill Locey [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-30-ca-8413-story.html] In 1999, they released a split EP with Kill Sadie, and were included in a VML Records compilation album with The Pist, Supernova and The Gain.{{cite web |title=The Pist / Supernova / The Gain / Brand New Unit |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/1281055-The-Pist-Supernova-11-The-Gain-Brand-New-Unit-The-Pist-Supernova-The-Gain-Brand-New-Unit |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}} They released one more EP in 1999{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit – Empty Useless Air |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4803017-Brand-New-Unit-Empty-Useless-Air |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=26 April 2022}} and broke up in 2000.
In February, 2010, Brand New Unit played a reunion show in Vancouver.Mark PaulHus.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120516003713/http://discorder.ca/discorder-magazine/index.php/2010/03/28/brand-new-unit/ "Brand New Unit"], Discorder Magazine, May 2012, review of Feb 19 show in Vancouver] They continued to play occasionally, last appearing in Victoria in 2018.{{cite web |title=They're Ba-ack B.N.U....June 2018 |url=https://livevictoria.com/show/465812/view |website=livevictoria.com |publisher=Live Victoria |access-date=26 April 2022}}
In October 2021, Gary Lavallee passed away; his cause of death was not released. In November 2021, Garnet Kulhavy died of COVID-19.{{cite web |title=Brand New Unit |url=https://www.facebook.com/Brandnewunit/ |website=facebook.com |publisher=Facebook |access-date=26 April 2022}}
Discography
Albums
- Under The Big Top (1994), Excursion Records
- Looking Back Again (1997), BYO Records
- Diddley Squat (1998), Creative Man Disc
EPs
- Summertime 7" (1992), 3 Minute Mile Records
- All For Nothing 7" (1995), HeartFirst Records
- Quickdraw Richy Rich (1995), HeartFirst Records
- No Heroes (1995), HeartFirst Records
- Kill Sadie + Brand New Unit Split 7" (1999), Modern Radio Record Label
- Empty Useless Air (1999), Burning Heart Records