The Rare Occasions
The Rare Occasions are an American indie rock band, formed in Boston in 2012.[1] Current members are Brian McLaughlin (vocals, guitar), Jeremy Cohen (bass guitar, backup vocals) and Luke Imbusch (drums, backup vocals). Lead guitarist Peter Stone left in 2018.[2] The band's debut release was the Demo Recordings EP (2012). In 2016, Futureproof was released as a fourth EP. "Notion", a song from the EP, went viral on TikTok in October 2021.[3] Their most recent release has been Attaboy, released in November 2022.
The Rare Occasions | |
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Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, US Los Angeles, California, US |
Genres | Garage rock, indie rock, indie pop, alt rock |
Years active | 2012 | –present
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | therareoccasions |
History
McLaughlin and Imbusch, who played music together during high school in Providence, Rhode Island, met Stone and Cohen at their respective colleges and decided to add them to the band, thus forming The Rare Occasions. McLaughlin came up with the name after the band went through an "identity crisis," eventually settling on "The Rare Occasions" instead of "The Custodians," which they previously went by.[1]
Band later relocated from Boston, Massachusetts to Los Angeles, California, where they recorded their second album.[4]
Their first release was the Demo Recordings EP, released on October 12, 2012, followed by Applefork in 2013. Two studio albums were recorded, Into the Shallows (2018), and Big Whoop (2021).[2][5]
Style
The Rare Occasions were described as a garage rock,[6] indie rock, and indie pop[2] band. The EP Futureproof introduced experimentation – string arrangements and woodwind instruments, suggested by Imbusch and vocal harmonies.[6] 2021 album Big Whoop featured Wall of Sound guitars, electronic landscapes and further orchestral arrangements; McLaughlin's lyrics are philosophical and often deal with existentialism.[2]
Members
Current members
- Brian McLaughlin – lead vocals, rhythm (2012 – present) and lead guitars, keyboards
- Jeremy Cohen – bass guitar (2012 – present), rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Luke Imbusch – drums, harmony, backing vocals (2012 – present)
Past members
- Peter Stone – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012 – 2018)
Discography
Albums
- Into the Shallows (2018)
- Big Whoop (2021)
EPs
- Demo Recordings (2012)
- Applefork (2013)
- Feelers (2014)
- Futureproof (2016)
- Attaboy (2022)
Singles
- "An Actuary Retires" (2015)
- "Aglow" (2015)
- "Mercy Mercy" (2018)
- "You Weren't Meant to See That" (2018)
- "Physics" (2018)
- "Control" (2019)
- "Set It Right" (2020)
- "Alone" (2020)
- "Stay" (2021)
- "Call Me When You Get There" (2021)
- "Origami" (2021)
- "Notion" via Elektra Records (2021)
- "Notion (Acoustic)" (2022)
- "Notion (Cinematic)" (2022)
- "Seasick" (2022)
- "Not Afraid" (2022)
References
- Muslin, Kristin (May 15, 2014). "SoundCheck: The Rare Occasions put a quirky spin on music". USA Today. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- "The Rare Occasions artist profile". SubmitHub. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- Wasylak, Victoria (October 18, 2021). "Boston Thriving: The Rare Occasions top Spotify's 'Viral 50 – USA' chart". Vanyaland. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- "The Rare Occasions official website". Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- "The Rare Occasions". Discogs. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- Darosa, Andrew (August 3, 2016). "Rare Occasions bridge divide on latest album". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 27, 2022.