Tonight esteemed street artist Joe Ledbetter opens Magnus Maximus at the Corey Helford Gallery for 3 weeks in Culver City (June 4 – 25). A narrative show in which the paintings illustrate a tale; one of love and the hero’s victory over forces aimed at suppressing true love. A light-hearted and effervescent series of character driven acrylic paintings with a real life narrative — experiences that the artist experienced this past fall in his personal life, falling out of a relationship and finding inspiration and spiritual fulfillment in his travels overseas.

It’s possible that one may have seen some of the random Magnus Maximus posters flying over old Banksy stencils or wrapped over power lines around Los Angeles. It’s safe to say that Magnus has taken flight. A licensee of Joe Ledbetter, The Loyal Subjects is also releasing a set based off of the tale of triumphant love, featuring Magnus Maximus and the object of his affection, Friday. The set is releasing Tuesday, June 8th at noon. Check their website for details.

Joe Ledbetter’s Magnus Maximus at the Corey Helford Gallery:
8522 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

Opening Reception: TONIGHT!: Friday, June 4th, 2010  7-10p

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I have to say I really like what these by TrustoCorp guys are up to (remember these?). Yes, wheat pasting that little cool ghost or cartoon or stupid smiley face with long legs is tired as all hell, but taking the time to create metal signs and place them in public spaces is taking things to a more interesting level. And when you have an actual message behind your street art? Gasp! I thought it was all about self promotion, and landing a spot in the next hipster street art gallery show. You mean you can actually make people think with your art? Hmmmm…

We already saw what Alfa Romeo could do with one premier Italian design house, so why not give some shine to their collaboration with another legendary Italian design house — this time Bertone. While Pininfarina’s 2uettottanta Concept has the curvaceous elegance of a 50s pinup, this Pandion Concept is an angular, futuristic, razorblade-fitted assassin. Its reverse-hinged scissor doors look like extended wings from a massive bird of prey, so large that they even include part of the front fender. And the rear end looks like the gaping maw of some dagger-toothed Neville Page creation. Of course the fact that Bertone delivered such a chimerical and advanced concept shouldn’t be a total shock given the history of the design house, which includes the Lamborghini Countach that also debuted at the Geneva Motor Show oh so many years ago.

Another full gallery of pics — including original renderings — after the Jump…

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via autoblog

As a child all my dad drove were Alfa Romeos — 2 GTV Veloces and an old ‘68 GTV 1750. To this day magical memories of those beautiful Italian lines make me teary eyed. I’m not exactly sure what mesmerized me so — maybe it was the blood red finish, maybe it was the euphonic hum of their engines, maybe it was the coolest logo in the automotive world. It was a car that instantly set you apart. And since it’s been absent from the US market for over 20 years, Alfa has grown in allure due to its inaccessibility (the gorgeous Brera and Competizione 8C don’t hurt, either). Now that Fiat has bought Chrysler and its built-in dealer network, however, there is a very realistic chance that Alfa could be making a triumphant return to US shores. Let us collectively pray. For now, we’ll have to make due with photos — like this of the Pininfarina-designed Alfa Romeo 2uettottanta Concept unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show. Its beauty is staggering, fitting as it is a tribute to the entire Alfa Romeo lineage which celebrates its centenary this year. Although power is questionable due to its 1.7-liter turbo four cylinder, a vehicle like this ain’t about stats — it’s about beauty. The 2uettottanta was planned to represent the partnership between Pininfarina and Alfa Romeo, two Italian firms that have a long and storied history together, and boy does it succeed…

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In reaction to the passing of Prop 8 and the subsequent upheaval resulting in communities and groups petitioning and protesting and the court case Perry v Schwarzenneger, a case challenging the constitutional validity of Prop 8 (the California Marriage Protection Act), Manifest Equality gathers a talented group of artists together for a great show and an equally great cause. Manifest Equality, spearheaded by Yosi Sergeant and Jennifer Gross, two public relations veterans who also combined efforts for the Manifest Hope show during the inauguration of Barrack Obama (as well as the famed and newly controversial Shepard Fairey HOPE/PROGRESS Obama image), showcases a collection from a large pool of artists including standouts Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Barry McGee and Gary Baseman. The show is open to the public and starts this coming Wednesday, March 3rd (11a-6p) and runs until March 7th. Gallery hours are on the Manifest Equality website. We hope to see you there. PS There’s a piece in the show from yours truly…

Manifest Equality at 1341 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028

The Honda 3R-C Concept will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show (March 4-14), but it’s already turning heads as yet another fanciful flight of nonsense from Honda. We actually liked the P-NUT, but recognize that it will never see the light of day — as is surely the same fate for the 3R-C Concept. An all-weather three-wheeled urban vehicle concept, the 3R-C is the bastard child of a motorbike mated with an ultracompact car. According to Honda: “The 3R-C has a clear canopy that covers the driver’s seat while it is parked and not in use. When 3R-C vehicle is in motion, the canopy becomes an enveloping wind-shield that provides the pilot, who sits low in the vehicle, with significant protection from the bodywork and doors. The high sides of the safety shell seat give greater safety to the occupant, reducing the threat from side impacts and improving weather protection. In front of the driver is a lockable boot area, which gives significant secure storage for luggage or other items.” It seems that the 3R-C has some benefits of a motorbike (efficiency) with some benefits of a car (storage) — yet with many of the liabilities of a both (safety, single rider, impracticality). Easy on the eyes, silly on the brain.

3 more detail shots, including with rider, after the Jump…

One of the more interesting concepts at this year’s NAIAS in Detroit is Mini’s Beachcomber, a 4×4 off-roader with an open top and sides, reminiscent of the old Meyers Manx dune buggies — or even recent Jeeps. It also comes with semi-hard lightweight door and roof units you install temporarily if the weather turns on you (I also dig the steering-wheel-mounted compass). Here are some pics, check out Jalopnik for a full in-the-flesh gallery…

UPDATE: It seems our favorite animal-dressing Montréalais rockers can’t seem to stay out of trouble — either that or their reputation precedes them. Regardless, last week they had to cancel a series of tour dates when they failed to show up at a St. Louis show. Well, it turns out that was because they were arrested in Kentucky for possession of a controlled substance.

According to the Kentucky New Era:

“Police arrested Arish Khan, better known as King Khan, or Blacksnake, and his tour manager, Kristin Klein, at 2:20 p.m. Thursday. They charged both suspects with possession of a controlled substance, and Klein on a charge of driving with a suspended license, a spokesman at the Christian County Jail said. Hunt said he knows little about the band’s situation. “They’re really hard to reach because only one of them has a cell phone, and it’s like almost out of batteries,” Hunt said. “The charger is in the car that got taken.” Khan was released after 3 a.m. Friday, a jail spokesman said.”

According to MTV Iggy, Khan & BBQ’s booking agent, Sam Hunt, is “as baffled as anyone: ‘I have no idea,’ [Hunt] said, adding it was still unclear how the arrest would affect the rest of their tour. ‘They had nothing going on between Nashville and St. Louis. Maybe they stopped to take a piss.’”

Allegedly that controlled substance was fungus of the magical variety, altho that hasn’t been confirmed by police. Their tour manager Kristin Klein should be used to smoothing over legal rough patches, given that she’s also the Black Lips tour manager. Man, someone give homegirl a raise, stat. We wish them the best of luck, and heard they’re out of Kentucky and probably kissing Canadien soil. Good luck guys! In honor of their current rabblerousing, we’re reposting our interview with the guys from last week…

Hit the Jump to read our Q&A with Mark Sultan, and to peep a 25-minute live video which will shed some light on the antics these guys must get into…

The King Khan & BBQ Show‘s latest full length, Invisible Girl, will be on our shortlist for Album of the Year. If you’ve heard them, or any of their various incarnations and collaborations, they need no introduction. If you haven’t, well it is simply bad ass garage rock throwback with more stones than a gravel pit. Mark Sultan (Aka BBQ Show) and King Khan used to play together in Montreal in the late 90s as the Spaceshits, then on a European tour Khan fell in love with a girl from Berlin and moved there, getting married and making babies. And records, mostly with his band The Shrines. Sultan and Khan got back together and recorded their self-titled debut in 2004, then What’s for Dinner? in 2006, and Invisible Girl is their 3rd long play. Whereas a lot of King Khan & the Shrines stuff is cemented in soulful crooning, King Khan & BBQ Show swerve deeply into Doo-Wap — imagine a slightly deranged Kingsmen covering The Ravens in a beer-soaked backwoods bar.

And their live shows are infamous spectacles of legend, unfortunately we’ve never caught them live. Their partners in crime, Black Lips, got so live recently they got chased out of India for acting gay on stage. When they escaped, where did the Black Lips run to? Why Berlin, to the studio of King Khan, where they caught their breathe, regrouped, got drunk, and together with Sultan/BBQ recorded the awesome Almighty Defenders project, also on our Album of the Year radar. Now King Khan and BBQ Show are on tour, so we decided to ask them some questions and this is what they had to say…

Most of your music seems fairly revivalist in nature. Did your parents listen to a lot of Doo-Wop and Soul, or was that a self-found discovery?
Mark Sultan/BBQ Show: My parents kinda just gave up on music when they got married, it seems. But I found their old albums in a box. Some good stuff that touched upon that kinda shit, but not quite it. There was a good radio show that they would listen to on Sunday mornings, though, that played shit like Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, The Coasters and others… I only really got into that stuff later. Through listening to covers bands I liked did, or checking out where those original bands drew their inspiration from.

If you had to pick a villain from film history that represents A) Almighty Defenders, B) King Khan & BBQ, and then C) The Shrines who would that be and why? Who of the three would win in a fight?
No idea. We aren’t competitive jocks.

Ok then. Have you ever placed a curse on a club owner, road manager, or booking agent?
Khan has done this in public; I have done it in private.

When the Black Lips returned from India, and found sanctuary at your studio, did they need consoling? Where they legitimately freaked out, or was it just funny to them?
Me and Khan were recording our new album Invisible Girl when they called. It was a really fun surprise. We all crashed together and decided to record at Khan’s ‘studio’ where our stuff was already set up. They were fine. Just kinda bummed about their India situation; they weren’t in shock or fucked up. We all had a laugh.

Anala – King Khan & BBQ Show

Third Ave – King Khan & BBQ Show

Was that madness the impetus for the Almighty Defenders record, or did you guys plan on recording that album beforehand?
The actual impetus was the fact that we had always talked about doing some kind of recording and we were together with time and a 4-track at our disposal. But that album was never planned. We all had a few ideas and we all wrote shit. Contrary to blabby webdicks, we were there for less than a week and created something. It is a testament to fun and friendship, not an attempt at a classic disc.

You said Invisible Girl “includes a song so vile that it cannot even be mentioned.” Was it “Anala”?
I was referring to a song called ‘Tastebuds’ which you may not have as it only appears on some promos. Anala is not vile at all.

Tastebuds.mp3 – King Khan & BBQ

Well, her name is Anal-a and it does include the line, “I love her (w)hole”, but maybe it was just in my head. Anyway, is it weird I find “Third Avenue” beautiful?
I don’t think so. I wrote it, and despite its melancholy, it makes me happy.

If you were lost in a supermarket, in what aisle would we find you?
Dairy. And Diapers.

Lastly, what albums or tracks would you recommend to introduce neophytes to Doo-Wop?
Lemme just say that despite what has been written and despite what we ourselves may have even said (to simplify things), I personally prefer R&B vocal group sounds and post-gospel to Doo-Wop, which to me is more novelty-like, white or ‘safe’. I like some of it, though. I would say just get some 5 Royales or Falcons to start. There are a million things. Ask the folks at Norton Records. Get a mailorder catalog there and order away.

So there you have it. Check out Invisible Girl, it really is something special.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

11/20/2009 Dantes, Portland
11/21/2009 Chop Suey, Seattle
11/23/2009 The Red Room, Vancouver
11/25/2009 The Warehouse, Calgary
11/26/2009 Pawn Shop, Edmonton
11/27/2009 Amigos, Saskatoon
11/28/2009 Royal Albert Arms, Winnipeg
11/29/2009 Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis
12/01/2009 Mad Planet, Milwaukee
12/02/2009 Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
12/03/2009 Northside Tavern, Cincinnati
12/04/2009 Lees Palace, Toronto
12/05/2009 Babylon, Ottawa

And below, a great live show from Chicago…best quote:

“If you feel the need to fuck someone tonight who looks like an animal or a zombie, then King Khan and BBQ fully support your decision to have anal sex tonight.”