Upcoming: Short List

December 12 Friday

Shocking, salacious and stomach-churning: What's merrier than wearing white to the GWAR show and returning home in a bloody, gored-up mess, dripping with body fluids thrown by sludge-metal rock stars? Using political themes and social taboos, Gwar's theater antics range from the disembowelment of Paris Hilton and President George W. Bush to beheading a Nazi pope and cutting off Sharon Osborne's breasts. Music aside, Gwar creates some of the best and most interesting live shows. Kingdom of Sorrow and Toxic Holocaust also perform. 7 p.m. $18. Masquerade, 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com. (Samantha Mach)

December 12 Friday

Elementary school students aren't the only fans of stenciling. San Francisco archivist and artist RUSSEL HOWZE will discuss and sign his book, Stencil Nation, which delves into the art of stencil graffiti and its devoted followers. Howze has endeavored to bring together the works of many different artists in the street art medium. His StencilArchive.org website, founded in 2002, includes more than 7,000 images from all over the world and educates 'Net surfers on the stenciling process. While you're getting your book signed, check out a chunk of Howze's art collection at adjacent Opal Gallery. Free. 7 p.m. 484-C Moreland Ave. 404-681-5128. www.acappellabooks.com. (Mary Moore)

December 12 Friday

Gadsden, Ala.'s hip-hop hick-superstar YELAWOLF returns to Atlanta to celebrate the release of his most recent offering, the Arena Rap EP. For this all-new batch of songs, the fiercely indie-minded redneck rapper crafts a slick and propulsive blend of pop tones, Southern drawl, and languid rhythms and rhymes that are straight-up easy on the ears. Joining the Yelawolf crew for this Fuggin Awesome production will be like-minded locals Lee Harvey Oswald, Hollyweerd and Rittz. Free. 9 p.m. Lenny's Bar, 486 Decatur St. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com. (Chad Radford)

December 13 Saturday

Robots are cool. And so is Lego. Oh, and middle-school-aged intelligence gurus who like both? They'll all be at the LEGO LEAGUE ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT. Teams will participate in the Climate Connections Challenge, where they'll learn about the impact of civilization upon the past, present and future conditions of our climate while interacting with science and some capital "T" technology. Uplifting morality is at the heart of the program: an emphasis on contributor's fairness rights, good behavior and maintaining a critical involvement in the world at large. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. James M. Baker University Center, 2000 Clayton State Blvd. 678-466-4000. www.clayton.edu. (Sean Dettman)

December 16 Tuesday

Your mom will swoon. Crooner and Grammy Award-winning artist HARRY CONNICK JR. is coming to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Connick's success in music, film, and television has made him a household name. His Holiday Celebration Tour 2008 will feature selections from his new album, What a Night! A Christmas Album, and is sure to put you and your family in the holiday spirit. Here's to hoping he wears those tight jeans from Hope Floats. 8 p.m. $54-$99. 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway. 770-916-2800. www.ticketmaster.com. (Mary Moore)

December 16 Tuesday

Let there be drums. All right. Let there be guitar. Sure. Let there be rock. Done. Yes, legendary rockers AC/DC are stopping by to blow your mind with their latest album, Black Ice. This will be the band's first tour in seven years, so give yourself (and maybe Dad) the early Christmas present of witnessing a cornerstone of classic hard rock, including guitarist Angus Young's "schoolboy-on-speed shredding." $89.50. 8 p.m. Philip's Arena, 1 Philips Drive. 404-878-3000. www.ticketmaster.com. (Caroline Burke)

Upcoming

DEC. 19-20 CHINESE NEW YEAR SPECTACULAR New York-based Divine Performing Art company brings classical Chinese song and dance to Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. www.ticketmaster.com.

DEC. 20 MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA The hometown quintet rocks out Variety Playhouse. www.variety-playhouse.com.

DEC. 20 BLACK NATIVITY True Colors Theatre's production of the Langston Hughes classic returns for its fifth year. www.truecolorstheatrecompany.com.

DEC. 20 DOOMSAYER AND ZOROASTER Raise hell at Smith's Olde Bar. www.smithsoldebar.com.