Rock’n’roll is peppered with hard luck stories, but few bands have had the rug pulled from under them quite like Scarce. In the mid-90s, the Rhode Island trio were on the cusp of great things – signed to A&M, critical acclaim, successful tours including a stint supporting Courtney Love’s Hole, and set to release their debut album, Deadsexy. Then, days before the record’s release, singer Chick Graning suffered a brain aneurysm and was in a coma for weeks. Doctors gave him a ten percent chance of survival, but he recovered, having to re-learn how to walk, talk and play guitar in the process. The band struggled on for a few months, but now acknowledge they tried to come back too soon, putting unwelcome pressure on Graning’s recovery.

Now, 12 years after splitting up, they’re back. The catalyst was bassist Joyce Raskin, who wrote a book about the experience called Aching to Be. That spurred her on to get back in touch with Graning and drummer Joseph Propatier, and the band reformed last year, releasing a new EP, Tattoos and Parades, which showed a more considered band than their feisty 90s alt.rock incarnation (think REM meets Pixies), but one that still kicks some serious ass nonetheless. On UK soil for the first time in a dozen years, their current tour combines a screening of Days Like These, a documentary on the band’s travails, with a live show, in what will surely be an evening to celebrate life’s little miracles.

Stereo, Glasgow, Thu 15 Oct