Scarce

Event information

SCARCE
IT'S LIKE THIS...Scarce was a genius, dead sexy band from Rhode Island. Scarce—a trio comprising Chick Graning, Joyce Raskin and a series of drummers who never remained long enough to catch their names—a band that fired imagination and moved as if possessed by their libidos, who took all the bits that David Bowie and R.E.M left out and mutated them into a searing, mesmerizing whole. Fugazi once snagged a plectrum bassist Joyce had been using, claiming they’d never seen so much blood on one. Chick was straight out of the Marcel Marceau school of expression. His grimaces, the way he thrust his guitar into the air, his leaps & bounds, were inspirational. His silken shirt & jacket didn’t just get soaked. Little rivulets of sweat would continue to form on his back an hour after Scarce had finished playing. Scarce were so cool; they would grab hold of all the cracks other bands fall through & make something of them.

In 1995, following a support tour with Hole in Europe and on the verge of seriously breaking it big with their debut album Deadsexy, Chick suffered a brain aneurysm and lapsed into a coma for several weeks. He recovered & astonishingly, Scarce kept going as a band till 1997, playing two major US tours—even though this meant Chick relearning all his guitar parts and vocals from scratch. But the strain of his illness took it's toll on the band and they went their separate ways.

BACK TO THE FUTURE…Writing a book about the band called, Aching To Be led to Joyce contacting Chick, and then to Scarce’s re-forming, ending nine years of silence. With no expectations but to savor being a real band again, and no one to answer to but themselves, Scarce finally have the happy new beginning they deserved all along.

"Dead sexy motherfuckers. Scarce sounded like all those parts of R.E.M and Bowie no one is supposed to like. Scarce had such passion and self-belief it hurt." - Everett True, Live Through This American Rock Music in the 90’s

"On a lesser night Scarce were a fine rock band; on a good night they were a force of nature." - Brett Milano, Boston Phoenix

plus

SCARCE: DAYS LIKE THESE (DOCUMENTARY SCREENING)
Director: Sally Irvine

Days Like These is the story of the rise and fall, and rise again of the band Scarce. Admired by musicians and fans alike for their unique brand of rock and roll and blistering live performances, they appeared destined for stardom before tragedy struck and a brain aneurysm left guitarist Chick Graning fighting for his life. Fast forward 10 years and Scarce are back to prove their passion still resonates today.
The biopic contains never seen before footage of Scarce including
studio sessions, archive and early footage, interviews with Scarce
disciples such as Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses), Joe Lally (Fugazi), friends and fans new and old, and Industry cohorts that never stopped believing in Scarce.
Sally Irvine's film is a celebration of Scarce, past, present and future.

plus support from Sundayschool and The Gresham Flyers.

"The Scene" DJ's Nick Saloman & Paul Simmons from the Bevis Frond till 2am.