The Rare Occasions are an LA-based, New England-bred indie rock band known for their explosive garage rock anthems with catchy vocal harmonies.
Brian McLaughlin (singer) and Luke Imbusch (drummer) have been making music together since their early teenage years. They formed The Rare Occasions while attending college in Boston where they met Jeremy Cohen (bassist). Since then, the band have toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, released a vast catalog of music online, and signed to a label.
After the departure of a fourth member in 2018, Brian, Jeremy, and Luke started on their latest full-length record, Big Whoop. Working as a three-piece has allowed them to flourish creatively; their new songs feature wall-of-sound guitars, electronic soundscapes, and lush orchestral arrangements, with intricately-woven lyrical themes of existentialism and a pointed sense of cheekiness.
Released in June 2021, Big Whoop was recorded and mixed by the band themselves from their cramped rehearsal space - everything from the essential power trio instrumentation to layers of analog synths and a live string ensemble make an appearance in this labor of love. In addition, The Rare Occasions have managed to capture the increasing attention of listeners online from around the world end of 2021 as their 2016 track "Notion" went viral on TikTok and continues to make waves. With a signing to Elektra Records, Billboard charting, and gained traction globally, the band looks forward to sharing their new music and performing it for live audiences.
~~~~~~
Drawing inspiration from each successive wave of garage rock, The Rare Occasions put their own dark spin on retro. Pairing dizzying cacophonies of angular riffs with sweet indie pop melodies, The Rare Occasions have crafted a multifaceted and charismatic brand of indie rock. The Los Angeles quartet's three self-produced, critically-acclaimed EPs demonstrate the band's capacity to keep the listener in anticipation, from the blistering psych-anthem "Dysphoric" (Feelers) to the dreamlike "Bug Eyes" (Futureproof) . This variability and depth of styles, layered with lyrical themes of existentialism and self-reflection, are what both define The Rare Occasions and set them apart.
show less
Brian McLaughlin (singer) and Luke Imbusch (drummer) have been making music together since their early teenage years. They formed The Rare Occasions while attending college in Boston where they met Jeremy Cohen (bassist). Since then, the band have toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, released a vast catalog of music online, and signed to a label.
After the departure of a fourth member in 2018, Brian, Jeremy, and Luke started on their latest full-length record, Big Whoop. Working as a three-piece has allowed them to flourish creatively; their new songs feature wall-of-sound guitars, electronic soundscapes, and lush orchestral arrangements, with intricately-woven lyrical themes of existentialism and a pointed sense of cheekiness.
Released in June 2021, Big Whoop was recorded and mixed by the band themselves from their cramped rehearsal space - everything from the essential power trio instrumentation to layers of analog synths and a live string ensemble make an appearance in this labor of love. In addition, The Rare Occasions have managed to capture the increasing attention of listeners online from around the world end of 2021 as their 2016 track "Notion" went viral on TikTok and continues to make waves. With a signing to Elektra Records, Billboard charting, and gained traction globally, the band looks forward to sharing their new music and performing it for live audiences.
~~~~~~
Drawing inspiration from each successive wave of garage rock, The Rare Occasions put their own dark spin on retro. Pairing dizzying cacophonies of angular riffs with sweet indie pop melodies, The Rare Occasions have crafted a multifaceted and charismatic brand of indie rock. The Los Angeles quartet's three self-produced, critically-acclaimed EPs demonstrate the band's capacity to keep the listener in anticipation, from the blistering psych-anthem "Dysphoric" (Feelers) to the dreamlike "Bug Eyes" (Futureproof) . This variability and depth of styles, layered with lyrical themes of existentialism and self-reflection, are what both define The Rare Occasions and set them apart.
The Rare Occasions are an LA-based, New England-bred indie rock band known for their explosive garage rock anthems with catchy vocal harmonies.
Brian McLaughlin (singer) and Luke Imbusch (drummer) have been making music together since their early teenage years. They formed The Rare Occasions while attending college in Boston where they met Jeremy Cohen (bassist). Since then, the band have toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, released a vast catalog of music online, and signed to a label.
After the departure of a fourth member in 2018, Brian, Jeremy, and Luke started on their latest full-length record, Big Whoop. Working as a three-piece has allowed them to flourish creatively; their new songs feature wall-of-sound guitars, electronic soundscapes, and lush orchestral arrangements, with intricately-woven lyrical themes of existentialism and a pointed sense of cheekiness.
Released in June 2021, Big Whoop was recorded and mixed by the band themselves from their cramped rehearsal space - everything from the essential power trio instrumentation to layers of analog synths and a live string ensemble make an appearance in this labor of love. In addition, The Rare Occasions have managed to capture the increasing attention of listeners online from around the world end of 2021 as their 2016 track "Notion" went viral on TikTok and continues to make waves. With a signing to Elektra Records, Billboard charting, and gained traction globally, the band looks forward to sharing their new music and performing it for live audiences.
~~~~~~
Drawing inspiration from each successive wave of garage rock, The Rare Occasions put their own dark spin on retro. Pairing dizzying cacophonies of angular riffs with sweet indie pop melodies, The Rare Occasions have crafted a multifaceted and charismatic brand of indie rock. The Los Angeles quartet's three self-produced, critically-acclaimed EPs demonstrate the band's capacity to keep the listener in anticipation, from the blistering psych-anthem "Dysphoric" (Feelers) to the dreamlike "Bug Eyes" (Futureproof) . This variability and depth of styles, layered with lyrical themes of existentialism and self-reflection, are what both define The Rare Occasions and set them apart.
read more
Brian McLaughlin (singer) and Luke Imbusch (drummer) have been making music together since their early teenage years. They formed The Rare Occasions while attending college in Boston where they met Jeremy Cohen (bassist). Since then, the band have toured nationally, won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, released a vast catalog of music online, and signed to a label.
After the departure of a fourth member in 2018, Brian, Jeremy, and Luke started on their latest full-length record, Big Whoop. Working as a three-piece has allowed them to flourish creatively; their new songs feature wall-of-sound guitars, electronic soundscapes, and lush orchestral arrangements, with intricately-woven lyrical themes of existentialism and a pointed sense of cheekiness.
Released in June 2021, Big Whoop was recorded and mixed by the band themselves from their cramped rehearsal space - everything from the essential power trio instrumentation to layers of analog synths and a live string ensemble make an appearance in this labor of love. In addition, The Rare Occasions have managed to capture the increasing attention of listeners online from around the world end of 2021 as their 2016 track "Notion" went viral on TikTok and continues to make waves. With a signing to Elektra Records, Billboard charting, and gained traction globally, the band looks forward to sharing their new music and performing it for live audiences.
~~~~~~
Drawing inspiration from each successive wave of garage rock, The Rare Occasions put their own dark spin on retro. Pairing dizzying cacophonies of angular riffs with sweet indie pop melodies, The Rare Occasions have crafted a multifaceted and charismatic brand of indie rock. The Los Angeles quartet's three self-produced, critically-acclaimed EPs demonstrate the band's capacity to keep the listener in anticipation, from the blistering psych-anthem "Dysphoric" (Feelers) to the dreamlike "Bug Eyes" (Futureproof) . This variability and depth of styles, layered with lyrical themes of existentialism and self-reflection, are what both define The Rare Occasions and set them apart.
show less
Date/Times:
The Independent
78 Upcoming Events
628 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.