The Rare Occasions is an American indie rock band, formed in Boston in 2012. 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. 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. Their most recent release has been Macaroni Moon as of July 1st, 2024.

History

In high school, Mclaughlin and Imbusch joined a band called The Valar in Providence, Rhode Island. The Valar developed 2 EPs and 1 Album throughout its 3-year lifespan. That being "Valague​ñ​a", "The Project", and "The Adventures of a Septapus Named Wallace". The group disbanded in 2010 due to each member matriculating at different colleges, deeming it impractical to continue making music for the majority of the year. McLaughlin and Imbusch left the band, 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.

Shortly after the release of their first album Into The Shallows, lead guitarist Peter Stone left the band amicably, leading to the band becoming a 3-piece.

Band later relocated from Boston, Massachusetts to Los Angeles, California, where they recorded their second album.

Their first release was the Demo Recordings EP, released on October 12, 2012, followed by Applefork in 2013. Three studio albums have been released to date, Into the Shallows (2018), Big Whoop (2021), and Through Moonshot Eyes (2024).

Style

The Rare Occasions was described as a garage rock indie rock band. The EP Futureproof introduced experimentation – string arrangements and woodwind instruments, suggested by Imbusch and vocal harmonies. 2021 album Big Whoop featured Wall of Sound guitars, electronic landscapes and further orchestral arrangements; McLaughlin's lyrics are sometimes philosophical and often deal with existentialism.

Members

Current members
Brian McLaughlin – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards (2012–present)
Jeremy Cohen – bass guitar, guitars, backing vocals (2012–present)
Luke Imbusch – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2012–present)

Past members
Peter Stone – guitars, backing vocals (2012–2018)

Discography

Albums
Into the Shallows (2018)
Big Whoop (2021)
Through Moonshot Eyes (2024) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.