Scarce is an American

alternative rock Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s w ...

band formed in

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

, United States. They were active from 1993 to 1997, and reformed in 2008.

Biography

Chick Graning moved to Providence, Rhode Island after his previous band Anastasia Screamed ended. Scarce was formed with Graning, Joyce Raskin and Jud Ehrbar in 1993. By 1995, Mike Levesque had replaced Ehrbar on drums. The band record and released the UK version of debut album ''DeadSexy''. The band toured with

Hole A hole is an opening in or through a particular medium, usually a solid Body (physics), body. Holes occur through natural and artificial processes, and may be useful for various purposes, or may represent a problem needing to be addressed in m ...

and were growing in popularity. Joseph Propatier replaced Levesque on drums in June. Unfortunately, tragedy struck that month with Graning suffering a brain aneurysm. When he failed to show up for band practice Raskin and Propatier found him unconscious in his flat. Doctors gave Graning a ten percent chance of survival. He managed to pull through but had to relearn how to walk and talk. Soon he had relearned how to sing and play guitar again. The band re-recorded much of their album ''Deadsexy'' with Propatier on drums. Also, several new songs were added to the album and some removed. By January 1996, the band had started touring again. In 1997, due to emotional and musical distances growing in the band, Graning and Raskin decided to part ways and the band split up. Looking back they stated that they probably should have had a break after Graning's aneurysm.

Post break-up

After the band split up Graning started a solo career and also worked as a stage hand. Raskin had suffered a breakdown. Eventually, she wrote an illustrated book about her experiences called "Aching To Be". The book was published in 2007. Before publishing the book Raskin contacted Graning sending him a draft copy. This led to Scarce reforming.

Reformation

In 2008, they reformed and released an EP entitled ''Tattoos and Parades'' and Universal re-released ''Deadsexy'' digitally, along with previously unreleased material and pre-A&M demos on iTunes. Scarce toured the UK in 2008 and 2009. While on the UK tour in 2009, a documentary DVD Release about Scarce premiered by indie filmmaker Sally Irvine titled "Days Like These" before the band played. The DVD is sold on Irvine's website. In 2010, Joyce Raskin wrote and illustrated a book titled ''The Fall and Rise of Circus Boy Blue'' that incorporates Scarce's lyrics into the story. Also in 2010, Graning, Raskin, Propatier along with Matt White provided original music for a children's carol CD. In 2011, recorded versions of the songs in ''The Fall and Rise of Circus Boy Blue'' were made available on

Bandcamp Bandcamp is an American online music distribution platform founded in 2008 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with an office and record store in Oakland, California. Acquired by Epic ...

, forming Scarce's second album. In 2016, ''Noble Scars'' was released on Bandcamp. In April 2020, Joyce Raskin released ''Scarce Demos 1993'' on Bandcamp.

Artwork

All of their CD artwork consists of paintings by Raskin.

Discography

Albums

*''DeadSexy'' CD (1995, Paradox / A&M) - Original UK-only version has different tracks and drums by Levesque. Re-recorded version has drum by Propatier. *''The Fall and Rise of Circus Boy Blue'' (2011)

EPs

*''Red'' CD/12" (1994, Tumble Gear Records/Big Cat (UK)) (Collection of singles) *''All Sideways'' CD/12" (1994, Big Cat) *''Days Like This'' CD (1996, Paradox) -UK only EP, limited to 1000 pressings. *''Girl Through Me'' (2008) *''Tattoos and Parades'' (2008, Number One Fan Records) *''The Red Sessions'' (2008) *''Noble Scars'' (Terrible Calico, 2016)

Singles

*"Days Like This" - 7" b/w Scorpion Tray (1993, Delmore) *"Hope" - 7" b/w Something (1994, All the Money) *"All Sideways" - 7" b/w Dozen (1994, RockaMundo) *"It Was Dry" - 7" (1994, Delmore) *"Glamourizing Cigarettes" - CD (1995, Paradox) *"Freakshadow" - CD (1995, A&M/Paradox (UK))

Related projects

*''M.T.'' (2001, Wald & Wiesen Tonträger) CD by Graning *''Curious George Christmas Carols Book and CD'' (2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company) - music by Graning, Raskin, Propatier, White *''Aching to Be'' (2007, Number One Fan Press) Raskin

Members

*Chick Graning -

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

*Joyce Raskin -

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

*Joe Propatier -

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

References

{{Authority control American musical trios Alternative rock groups from Rhode Island