Get ready to be entranced, enticed and energized tonight as A Perfect Circle makes its Knoxville debut at the Civic Coliseum.

The band makes its first trip through Knoxville as part of the promotion of “Thirteenth Step,” APC’s successful follow-up to its debut “Mers de Noms.”

The band kicked off its tour in San Antonio, Texas, on Halloween and is currently making stops all around the country, including three in Tennessee.

APC began during a brief stint when frontman Maynard James Keenan’s original band, Tool, was undergoing some difficulty in the late ’90s. In 1996, Keenan met up with fellow APC bandmates Paz Lenchantin and Troy Van Leeuwen, a bassist and guitarist pursuing a progressive metal band, and decided to collaborate for a new sound.

Long held as “that guy from Tool’s other band,” APC has made its own clever and distinctive mark on the music industry with the success of its debut, “Mers de Noms.”

While comparisons to Tool are unavoidable, APC has its own quirks and inventive style that it brings to the stage.

Fans of APC can look forward to an amazing show and set list, according to recent tour reviews on the band’s Web site, but fans can also expect something just slightly different from the unique ensemble.

The band’s lineup has changed quite a bit since their first album appeared in 2000, drawing together the talents from already established and extremely talented musicians.

The only two original members of the band who returned for the sophomore effort are Keenan, the band’s creator and frontman, and Billy Howerdel, contributing lyricist and guitarist.

Lenchantin and Van Leeuwen left the circle in early 2003 to pursue their own side projects.

In their tough-to-fill shoes came bassist Jeordie White, who some might remember as Twiggy Ramirez from Marilyn Manson’s band, and guitarist James Iha from the Smashing Pumpkins.

The spot left open by Tim Alexander was filled by Josh Freese, who actually collaborated on “Mers de Noms,” but was not on the circle’s roster as the original drummer.

All in all, the band’s mix of eclectic artists and undeniable talent will make for a show worth remembering.

Robbie Sandoval, booking and event services director for the Civic Coliseum, said that Keenan was impressed with Knoxville when he and his Tool bandmates stopped by last November, and decided to bring APC in to share the experience.

He also said that the show would definitely be something special.

“We have a lot of special lighting effects for the show, and a pretty standard stage setup, but the rest – you just have to see.”

Sandoval also encourages everyone to come out for big shows like APC’s so that Knoxville might have the opportunity to host larger bands more often.

“The more support we get for shows similar to this, the better chance we have to get big acts in the future,” he said.

The sold out show starts at 7:30 tonight, and surprisingly, there has been no public announcement of an opening act. The Icarus Line and Pygmy Love Circus have opened for APC in previous shows on this tour, but there has been no word yet whether the band will even bring an opener with them to Knoxville.

In true Maynard fashion, the details will remain a surprise until they come to pass.