Down will perform at the Murat Egyptian Room at 9:30 p.m. eb. 2.

Band breakups are rarely dramatic or sensational. One of the members has to finish school, get a job, or spend more time with a jealous lover, and like that, it's over.

In just two years' time Down weathered the loss of a close friend, the journey back from the waking death of drug addiction, major surgery, rehabilitation and a devastating hurricane -- and came out better for it.

Positive vibes aren't exactly what Down is known for. The New Orleans-based super group comprises Eyehategod guitarist Jimmy Bower on drums, former Pantera vocalist Phillip Anselmo, former Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Corrosion of Conformity guitarist Pepper Keenan and Crowbar guitarist Kirk Windstein.

In 1995, the band released "Nola," little more than a collection of jam sessions between friends. The album sold half a million copies on the strength of a short tour and word-of-mouth, inspiring cultish loyalty from fans and fellow musicians.

Down's members returned to their other bands and didn't reconvene until the release of "II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow" in 2002. The band appeared on Ozzfest before taking what figured to be another long break. No one could have predicted the obstacles they would have to overcome before returning.

Anselmo suffered a back injury in the mid-1990s that resulted in intense pain, which he managed with massive amounts of alcohol and a wide range of narcotics. His drug abuse and erratic behavior fomented the end of Pantera in 2003 and strained his relationship with former bandmates and brothers "Dimebag" Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott. On December 8, 2004, "Dimebag" was gunned down onstage by a crazed fan in Columbus, Ohio.

Less than a year later, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, wrecking a decrepit levee system and destroying huge swaths of New Orleans, killing nearly 2,000 people in the process. With the band still in mourning and scattered to the wind, drummer Bower said, "there definitely was a period where (the members of Down weren't) really talking."

This unexpected downtime allowed Anselmo to undergo surgery to resolve his back problems, followed by months of difficult physical rehabilitation. Off drugs and focusing on his health, Anselmo gathered the band together and went to work on a new record in 2006.

The band released its third album, "Over the Under," late last year and is touring extensively in the United States for the first time in years.

"An Evening With Down" starts with a movie "that basically shows our influences and it's cut up with tour footage -- it gets the vibe going," Bower said. The show is a celebration of sorts for old friends who weathered the storm together, and a thank-you to fans who kept the faith.