Earlier this year, the Rare Occasions’ breakout guitar-rock jam “Dysphoric” took home “Song Of The Year” in the annual John Lennon Songwriting Contest, netting the band $20,000 and a clear distinction of, well, writing great fucking songs. So how does a young band follow that up? By taking on the story of a retiring actuary reflecting on the poor decisions of his life and dropping a reference to French mathematician Évariste Galois in the lyrics. This is a new type of “math rock.”
It’s also another killer track from the Providence and Boston rock band. “An Actuary Retires,” which was premiered yesterday by Atwood Magazine, is out today and available for Bandcamp stream or iTunes purchase. You can also listen to it below via the Rare Occasions’ Soundcloud.
Of the song, a swirling garage rock tune that further enhances the band’s growing arsenal of sonics, frontman Brian McLaughlin tells Atwood: “It’s about an insurance company actuary reflecting back on his life from his retirement day, realizing that although he made a lot of money from his career, his life was a waste compared to what he could have achieved had he gone after his childhood aspiration of becoming an academic. It’s a really weird song.”
It wouldn’t seem out of place on the best Blur record, nor as the latest craze off the front page of a UK lad mag. “An Actuary Retires” will also help kick off the Rare Occassions’ fall tour jaunt, all in line to lead towards an expanded tour and a new EP or album from the gentlemen come 2016.
The Rare Occasions Fall Dates
10.16 // Neumann University // Aston, PA
10.17 // Wheaton College // Norton, MA
10.19 // Middle East Corner // Cambridge, MA *
11.5 // Wesleyan University // Middletown, CT
12/6 // O’Brien’s // Allston, MA
+ more TBA