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 "Valagueña", "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 most 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
Futureproof's release, Cohen and Stone followed the other members to Los Angeles. Shortly after their first album Into The Shallows was released, lead guitarist Peter Stone left the band amicably, leading to the band becoming a 3-piece. It is theorized that Peter Stone left the band to pursue a solo career, and because he did not want to live in Los Angeles. Their first release was the
Demo Recordings EP, released on October 12, 2012, followed by
Applefork (2013),
Feelers (2014), and
Futureproof (2016). Three studio albums were recorded,
Into the Shallows (2018),
Big Whoop (2021), and
Through Moonshot Eyes (2024). In addition, the EP
Attaboy (2022) was released between
Big Whoop and
Through Moonshot Eyes. Late into the band's 2024 Through Moonshot Eyes tour, during a show in Dallas, Texas, a crowd member yelled out "
Free Palestine" during the song "Strange World". Imbusch responded irately and stormed offstage. For almost a year, the band went completely silent on social media. On October 16, 2025, at an unannounced gig, the band returned with a temporary drummer, Eva Friedman, and mentioned new music. ==Style==