Totally Unicorn

Totally Unicorn are an Australian metalcore/mathcore band, originally from Wollongong, New South Wales. Forming in 2010, the band are best known for their highly energetic and unpredictable live shows; which often feature partial or complete nudity, jumping off the stage or other raised platforms, and interacting with individual audience members. The band's live reputation has brought them to several high-profile tours and support slots; including shows with La Dispute, The Chariot, Frenzal Rhomb, Rosetta and Tonight Alive.

History

Totally Unicorn were formed in 2010 following the split of the band Hospital the Musical; which featured vocalist Drew Gardner, drummer Michael Bennett and guitarist Clancy Tucker. The three were joined by bassist Robert Mudge, formerly of Thirroul band Ohana. An EP, Horse Hugger, was released on December 3, 2010. March 2011 saw the departure of Mudge from the band, as he left to pursue a teaching career overseas. His final show with the band was opening for Frenzal Rhomb in the band's hometown of Wollongong. Mudge was then replaced by Tim McMahon.

A vinyl release of Horse Hugger was set for release in 2011, until it was ultimately revealed that the band's planned distributor, Six Nightmares, had scammed the band and those who had pre-ordered the release — as well as an LP release from Brisbane band Ironhide — out of approximately two thousand dollars.^[1] The band released a statement via their blog, accusing Six Nightmares of using the money intended for the vinyl on personal items.^[2] In spite of this, the band's tour with Ironhide still went ahead. The band ended 2011 with a tour featuring Sydney band Gay Paris and Adelaide band God God Dammit Dammit. The three bands contributed two new tracks apiece to a three-way split EP entitled Totally Gay Dammit.

In May 2012, the band went on a national Australian tour as the opening act for Tonight Alive. The band were originally going to be joined by The Dangerous Summer,^[3] but they were replaced by UK band Young Guns.^[4] At several shows, the band were joined by We Lost the Sea/At Dark guitarist Mark Owen, who stood in for Tucker while he was undertaking his final nursing exams.

August 2012 saw the band announce the release of their first vinyl release, a penis-shaped record entitled 7 Inches which featured two new songs.^[5] The initial release sold out within days and put the band at the top of the best-seller's list on Bandcamp's front page. The vinyl was later re-released as 9 Inches, which, as its title suggests, added two extra inches to the original vinyl.

In October 2012, guitarist Clancy Tucker announced via Facebook that he was leaving the band to relocate to Alice Springs and become a nurse.^[6] His final show with the band was in Fairy Meadow in December 2012, opening for American punk rock band Pour Habit. It was then announced that the band had enlisted two new guitarists to replace Tucker: Aaron Streatfeild (also of the band Snakes Get Bad Press) and Kerim Erkin.

The band were selected as one of the bands on the first Hits & Pits line-up, a national punk-rock-oriented touring festival. The band played alongside acts such as Mad Caddies, A Wilhelm Scream and The Flatliners.^[7]

In April 2013, it was announced that Totally Unicorn would be releasing a split seven-inch with Adelaide band Robotosaurus.^[8] The band would also head out on a co-headlining tour, which served as the final shows for Robotosaurus. The vinyl was released independently in July 2013.

The band opened for Norwegian metal band Kvelertak at their headlining show in Sydney in September 2013^[9] before heading out on tour with UK band Rolo Tomassi for the first half of an extensive national tour.^[10]

It was announced in February 2015 that the band would be opening for Norma Jean on the Sydney leg of their Australian tour.

In April 2015, ahead of a show supporting A Wilhelm Scream, the band announced the release of All the Shit We've Done... So Far. The release was intended to be a cassette which would compile every song the band had recorded to date across EPs and split releases. Due to label issues, the cassette was never released.

In September 2015, the band announced the departure of bassist Tim McMahon. He was replaced by Lee Nielson, another former member of Snakes Get Bad Press.

In March 2016, the band announced their signing to independent Wollongong label Farmer & The Owl. With the signing came the announcement of their first release under the label - a 7-inch vinyl with two brand-new songs, released as a Record Store Day exclusive. The 7-inch, entitled sometimes i sit and drink, and sometimes i just drink, was named in tribute to Courtney Barnett's 2015 album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. The artwork for the 7-inch also parodied Barnett's hand-drawn album cover.

In June 2016, Totally Unicorn announced the completion and imminent release of their debut album. Entitled Dream Life, the album was released on July 29. The album features guest vocals from Heavy Heavy Low Low's Rob Smith and High Tension's Karina Utomo.

In February 2017, drummer Michael Bennett announced his imminent departure from the band following a handful of remaining shows.^[11] His last came at Sydney's Black Wire Records on March 26, 2017. Bennett was replaced by former Robotosaurus drummer Adam Myers.

In March 2017, it was announced that the band would be going on tour nationally with Frenzal Rhomb.^[12] The band also played with The Dillinger Escape Plan in October, playing their second-last Sydney show on their final Australian tour.

In December 2017, Erkin announced that he would be leaving the band.

In other media

In 2012, members of the band were featured in an episode of Channel Seven's Border Security: Australia's Front Line as Rob Smith from the band Heavy Heavy Low Low attempted to get into the country to tour.^[13] The band also had a beetroot cake named after them in Same Same But Different, a recipe book by Australian chef Poh Ling Yeow; who is the sister-in-law of former drummer Bennett.^[14] In August 2014, Brisbane band Violent Soho selected the band's video for "Cool Dads with Cool Sons" for their guest programming of the Australian music video show rage.^[15] Totally Unicorn had opened for the band at one of their headlining shows in Sydney the month prior.

Members

Discography

References