The Occupation
Live at Rocket on Tuesday, 23rd July 2002
Enticed only by a cool name and a bit of a bravado, it was with anticipation I awaited the arrival of what was to be one of the most vital live sets I've seen. You knew it was gonna be good when you saw them appearing clad in suits. Not Strokes-like suits, matching workmen suits, and it's an image that initial worries that they're retro in a Jam style. This is quickly dispelled as they drift in to Deus style art territory.
By the end of the first song, it's a bit blurry, it's confusing. Are they all playing the same song? It's a mix of crazy garage rock, American lofi quirky-ness and radiohead art and it's unclear whether it works.
It soon becomes apparent that it most certainly does, and this band has everything - artrock craziness, catchy tuneful melodic singsongs - a capella bits, wonderful pixies-esque bass led verses. What's true, is that The Occupation sound like 20 different bands having a fight with themselves yet still sound like no-one else.
The songs themselves are blurred and mixed, and in a progrock style, seem to have no beginning or end. Therefore I can only guess that it was the 4th song, which was the highlight, with an amazing build half way through, replete with falling down guitarists and majestic drumming.
The fact that The Occupation's set doesn't really end, their instruments simply fall to the ground, is the only fitting end to such a display of rock and roll. With this, The Occupation seem to be the best and most relevant band I have seen for a very long time.