Luca is back and ready for a fresh start with a new album and a new lease on life.

The local band’s new album, Fractions, was released Sept. 25 and produced by Sean Slade (Hole, Radiohead, Mighty Mighty Bosstones).

“”It was really fun for us,”” said Nick Luca, Luca’s frontman and namesake. “”It was nice to let go of the reigns and let (Slade) do his thing. It was a good change.””

The band is featuring a new lineup of Luca, guitarist Joey Unger, drummer Ryan Janac and veteran Chris Giambelluca.

Bringing in a big-name producer is not the only big change the band has seen lately.

Nick Luca was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a form of the disease that usually strikes people under the age of 20.

“”It is odd that someone my age would get it,”” said Luca, 36. “”Ninety percent of people who get (diabetes) are Type 2 and less than 10 percent are Type 1.””

He said symptoms emerged while he was touring with musician John Doe this summer.

“”I started feeling funny but I wasn’t sure why,”” Luca said. “”I was really thirsty, I couldn’t get enough water and I was losing a lot of weight. I was so exhausted, I could barely play.””

He figured the feelings were brought on by the strains of touring, so he finished out his run with John Doe without a second thought.

Luca returned home from the tour in mid-August and hoped that whatever was ailing him would go away.

“”I figured I would just rest it off, but it just kept getting worse,”” he said. “”I kept telling myself, ‘I’ll be fine, I’ll be all right.'””

But Luca was not all right, and on Aug. 20 he was rushed to University Medical Center. He had gone into diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that occurs when too much sugar and acid builds up in the body.

Combined with dehydration, the condition can be fatal if not treated immediately, according to WedMD.com.

Once at the hospital, Luca was told that if he had waited a day or two, he could have gone in to a diabetic coma or died.

“”The doctors and nurses at UMC were great,”” he said. “”I was back on my feet within four days, and I am feeling really good.””

Luca now has to take insulin shots twice a day and watch his diet, but said he is not allowing any of this to slow him down.

The band will kick off its West Coast tour tonight with a CD release party at Plush.

“”We are hoping to get a lot of folks,”” Luca said. “”This is the first time we have played in Tucson in a while.””

Luca said he hopes the tour will be a good way to get out and promote the record.

“”It is the first tour since this summer, and it’s going to be a lot different,”” he said. “”Touring with a rock band is pretty fly-by-night. Eat when you can, sleep where you can. Not this time.””

He said he hopes to share his words of wisdom about what he has gone through over the past few months.

“”People want to talk about it,”” he said. “”There’s nothing like a good story to pique interest.””

The show begins at 9:30 p.m. at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., with opening acts Campo Bravo and Haley Jane. Tickets are $5 at the door. Call 798-1298 for more information.