Christian rock band Skillet is heating up

Skillet is one of those rare Christian acts that is able to fully cross over into the mainstream rock realm.

Proof is in the band’s latest album, “Awake,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in August.

Christian groups such as Switchfoot, Relient K and Underoath also have maintained pop success.

That’s no easy feat because Christian music and secular music are often separated into different boxes.

But Skillet — who brings its current “Awake & Alive” tour to Warnors Theatre on Sunday — was able to hit the No. 1 spot on both Billboard’s Christian albums chart and its alternative albums chart.

For Skillet, success comes by not staying tethered too closely to traditional contemporary Christian music but in making heavier music with hard rock and industrial influences.

Their recent hits “Monster” and “Hero” have been used to promote MTV shows, NFL football games and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Skillet’s current tour also includes opening acts Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down and The Letter Black.

Goodbye, Stoneshiver

Local rock band Stoneshiver is playing its final show Friday night at Starline, 831 E. Fern Ave.

The band hasn’t played in a year, but decided to end with a proper farewell.

Stoneshiver released two CDs during its run and was particularly active around town in 2006 and 2007.

The show starts at 8:30 p.m. and has a $5 cover. Space Hooker and Dislodic are also on the bill.

Super Lucky goes Live

Soulful jam band Super Lucky Catz are releasing a new live CD on Saturday night, and celebrating at Full Circle Brewing Co.

It’s a bring-the-family event starting at 8 p.m. Cover is $5.

REO Feedwagon

REO Feedwagon is a cleverly named ’80s cover band made up of “local Tulare dairy-farm kids” with a knack for oddball Halloween concerts.

They usually perform at a local dairy, but this year REO Feedwagon is taking its act to Visalia’s Cellar Door for a show tonight with Bakersfield ’80s cover band The Afterparty.

Costumes are certainly encouraged. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Cover is $5.

Et cetera

- Joe Buck Yourself — a rockabilly one-man-band and cohort of Hank III — is back at Audie’s Olympic, 1426 N. Van Ness Ave. on Sunday. 9 p.m. $6.

- Louie Romero y su Grupo Mazacote, a 10-piece salsa orchestra from San Francisco, is in Fresno for salsa night at Starline on Thursday. Music starts at 10 p.m. with dance lessons at 8:45 p.m.