There was a time when the Bakersfield, Calif., nu-metal act Korn was one of the biggest bands in the country.
You'd be tempted to assign the act this short-lived designation between roughly 1998 and 2000.
Korn's aggressive music and attitude didn't last very long at the top, possibly in part to extravagances like one tour bus per band member (five) at the group's peak.
On the other hand, you could argue that Korn's core fan base of frustrated teens simply outgrew the dark music.
None of the above mattered for Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, who found God and quit the band in 2005.
Welch released a book this year, "Save Me From Myself," detailing his troubles with drugs like meth and cocaine during the band's glory days and his eventual salvation from the lifestyle.
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Welch ends up looking like the smart one two years on.
Korn's original drummer, David Silveria, has gone on hiatus from the group, leaving only three of its original members to carry on: guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer, bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and the face of the band, singer Jonathan Davis. The touring drummer is Slipknot's Joey Jordison.
The band recently released its latest, "Untitled," which doesn't seem to be touching upon any new ground.
This comes after a mediocre performance on MTV's "Unplugged" series.
Such is the muddy state of Korn as its (we assume) one tour bus rolls into town Tuesday at Casino del Sol's AVA.
Whether or not it's worth paying between $35 and $75 for a ticket is up to you.
To sweeten the deal, opening is Hell Yeah (featuring members of Pantera and Mudvayne), Five Finger Death Punch, and Droid. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
– Kevin W. Smith
Slightly Stoopid, a band that sort of took the spot of feel-good drinking and smoking music left when Sublime ended, comes to the Rialto Theatre next Thursday.
The band recently released a new album, titled "Chronchitis," if that gives you any clue as to the group's direction.
"Chronchitis" is slow-going, mellow reggae-rock with several appearances from horns and rapping, made for turning your brain off and having a good time.
It is what it is.
Opening the 8 p.m. all-ages show is funk legend Fishbone and the Orlando, Fla., band Supervillains. Tickets are $17.50 in advance and $20 day of show.
– Kevin W. Smith
The Tucson acoustic act Crossing Sarnoff is opening a show at Club Congress Tuesday.
The band has a really low-key, sometimes delicate vibe that can instantly flash into thunder with the strong voice of frontman Jeremy Williams on top of it all.
The night's headline act is the college pop-rock of New Jersey's Steel Train, who released its new album, "Trampoline,"on Oct. 16 .
Also playing are Kings for Queens, and Socratic. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
Show begins at 6:30 p.m.
– Kevin W. Smith
