Hey now! If you’re in the Los Angeles area tomorrow night, you’re probably going to want to check this out:

This Saturday, June 27th, Canvas LA will be hosting the Los Angeles release party for Shige’s new self titled book. Although we had previously announced that Shige would be tattooing at the event, Shige has decided that he would rather honor the people who are supporting him with something far more personal and special. In honor of the event, Shige will be signing each of the purchased books with a small ORIGINAL PAINTING in the front cover. Here is a small taste of the work he’s done so far…

Each of the purchased books will be adorned with a small painting like you see above, so you dont want to miss out on your very own Shige original! We have sold a bunch of the 50 copies we have available, but we will be taking orders through Friday of this week. Whatever does not pre-sell will be available the night of the event, but we highly suggest getting your copy now to guarantee that you will be able to get your copy painted. The books are available here:

http://www.canvasla.com/webstore/index.php?product=P-3988&c=14

Whoa hey, so here’s some news! Coming this August is the inaugural Tattoo Hollywood convention, presented by BME. That’s us! Awesome, right? We’ve partnered with Bob Roberts’s World Famous Spotlight Tattoo, rounded up some of the best tattoo artists around and, for three days in August, will be playing host to a back-to-basics tattoo convention that we’re all pretty excited about.

The workhorse here, however, has been BME headmistress Rachel, who has been busting her ass and is far more qualified to speak on the subject than I am. So, on that note, take a look after the jump for a quick interview I did with the boss-lady, which should explain a bit more fully what this is all about.

All the pertinent info is up there, young chappies. If you’re a fan of (1) tattoos and/or (2) awesome things, this is one hell of a get-there.

Ahoy-hoy, ModBloggers! Hope the weekend finds you well. Sorry for the late post today—Internet at the manor has been a real kick in the dick all day. Anyway! Here’s some fine portraiture work by Josh Reynolds from Cannibal Graphics in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. What can I say? I’m a sucker from Day of the Dead/pinup/Virgin Mary iconography. (Which we see all the time, believe me.)

Oh, and one more thing…

Hey, nerds! (Kidding.) This great calf-piece (calf-sleeve? Reverse shorts? Leg warmer?) from Toronto’s Matt Ellis features various Marvel mutants fighting some wretched Sentinels, who are just throwing fire, trying to kill folks, and just generally shitting on everybody’s good time, because they’re dicks.

You know who isn’t a dick, though? Matt Ellis! He and George Brown, the gents behind Seven Crowns Tattoo, are hosting a gallery showing/sex party on Saturday, May 30, 2009, in scenic Toronto, Ontario, featuring work from several local tattoo artists! Information about the event is after the jump, as well as the remainder of the above leg warmer.

Hey, remember when I said I had a fun surprise this week? I wasn’t lying! Live from the parking lot of one of Las Vegas’s finest Del Taco establishments, this afternoon we caught up with Brian to see what sort of excitement’s been going on during the first few days of this year’s Association of Professional Piercers convention. Among the topics of conversation: good times at a shooting range, the brick shit-house that is Buck Angel (evidenced by he and Sarvas disrobing for a photo together) and the lethal combination of the boner pill Cialis and grapefruit juice. And, of course, much, much more. Get it below. Get it.

(Ed. note: The sound is a little fuzzy at times, but I cleaned it up as best I could. Brian was in a bit of a noisy area. We’ll forgive him.)

[podcast]http://news.bmezine.com/wp-content/uploads/bme-podcast-20090506.mp3[/podcast]

Right-click and “Save Target/Link As” to download the .mp3 directly

Music featured:

Embrace - Give Me Back
Sugar - Hoover Dam
Wilco - I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Hey, remember this past weekend, when we showed you some pictures from Canvas LA’s sexy swingers party, An Evening with Horiyoshi III? Well, there are plenty more fun photos where those came from! Like that one up there, with teevee star “Rachel from BME” hanging out with Benji Madden!

After the jump, Benji finds himself in a compromising position (!) and other goodies.

As previously pimped on this here weblog, Canvas Los Angeles is playing host to a living exhibit of tattoo work by the great Horiyoshi III. Well, last night was a pre-party, and it went off like a goddamned rocket. Check out some more photos after the jump, and if you’re in L.A., tonight’s event ought to be a hoot.

Hey there, Los Angeles-area tattoo community folks! Got anything going on this coming Saturday, April 25? Well, you do now. That night, from 8-11 p.m., Canvas Los Angeles will be hosting An Evening With Horiyoshi III, the largest-ever American exhibit of the Irezumi tattoo master’s work. On display will be 10 full body suits, 50 original paintings and the unveiling of the all-new Horiyoshi The Third clothing line, featuring original designs by Horiyoshi himself. And, while the artist will unfortunately be unable to attend, his son, Kazuyoshi, will be on the premises tattooing.

Canvas LA will try to accommodate as many people as possible, but due to the unique nature of the evening, tattoo artists are being given a first crack at RSVP slots. If interested in attending, please e-mail the gallery at info@canvasla.com.

Hey, it’s SusCon weekend in steamy Dallas, Texas, and while I couldn’t be there, lots of friends were, so let’s look at some photos of the festivities, yes? First of all, as we mentioned previously, Allen Falkner turned 40 yesterday, and what you see up there (in a picture by Angela Poon) is a project coming to fruition after three years in the making: Three years ago, BME’s own Phil Barbosa had that oversized portrait made and orchestrated having it sent all over the world with various travelers, picking up signatures at every stop, with the intention of surprising Allen with it on his fortieth birthday. And hot holy damn, it all worked! I haven’t received an official report about his reaction, but I can only assume that he has not stopped crying, seeing as he is old and infirm now. (Kidding!)

Take a peek after the jump for some more good stuff.