The ultimate goal of any stand-up comic is to engage his audience by any means possible. Few have the ability to do it as well as Tony Woods. Woods not only presents his strangely warped view of the world, he lures the audience into this alternate universe with a wry and mischievous wit matched by few comics working the circuit today. Woods is one of the rising stars of the stand-up world, having recently been featured in Comedy Central’s USO and Worlds tours, as well as given the honor of his very own network special, “Comedy Central Presents Tony Woods.” To give you a taste of Woods’ intentionally banal, consistently hilarious brand of self-aware and shameless humor, he suggests saving money on airfare to Africa by smoking a joint and watching the Discovery Channel. “It’s the same thing,” he says. “I just started taking my clothes off.” He ends the joke there and moves on to talk of Pygmies—it doesn’t make much sense, but hell, it’s funny. His act is a comedy underground favorite on “both sides of the tracks.” (Translation: White people will laugh, too). Joining Woods at the Tralf will be James “The Glow” Goff, another Comedy Central favorite, and also features Sidney Sir, Kristen Becker, Joel James and Joe Cumbo.

Sunday, December 16 at 8pm. The Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main Street (852-2860/tralfmusichall.com). $20 presale (Ticketmaster) or $25 at door. VIP tickets $30 presale or $40 at door.