I have not been keeping up on the news here and lots has happened eeps
But:
BELLY FLOP (COMEDY) FT NEIL HAMBURGER, MAGGIE MAYE, ROBERT DAYTON
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM Wednesday November 6, 2019
at The Amigo Room
Here’s pics of my last show with Neil Hamburger by Kevin Riggin:
I just returned from Frisco doing a show with the legendary Three Day Stubble and Glands Of External Secretion and Linda Hagood encouraging me to tarry forth, yes! I also saw Alan Bishop who gave me encouraging words of wisdom. “if you stop I’ll kick your fucking ass.” I truly appreciate these legends. Also one person called my set ‘diabolical.’
I am in the thick of Canadian Glam buying multiple versions of Roxy Roller for research purposes, trying to untangle this convoluted tale. Feel free to hit my Patreon:
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Speaking of legends I am taking part in Ann Magnuson’s zerox art show as The Mayor of Moon Town this Sunday (July 14th 3 pm). Ann as some of you may know did a tribute to Glam icon Jobriath a few years back as well as multiple Bowie connections. A very spacey art event in Silverlake of which I am honored to be a small part of as the Mayor of Moontown! It'll be a real trip to the moon! Dress: COSMIC
Yesterday's Tomorrowland Today:
A Retro-Rocket Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing!
Curated by Alexa Hunter & Ann Magnuson
Dedicated to the memory of Keith Haring
Yesterday's Tomorrowland Today is a group show of Xerox artwork (both new and vintage) by West Coast alumni of Club 57.
Club 57 was the infamous neo-Dada performance/art space that existed in New York’s East Village from 1978-1983 and was the subject of a recent retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art. Many of the artists featured in this new show, including the curators, had work in the MoMA exhibit which also highlighted the early careers of Kenny Scharf and Keith Haring. Haring curated many of Club 57’s first art shows, including 1980’s “Club 57 Xerox Art Invitational.” This new exhibit,Yesterday’s Tomorrowland Today is, in part, inspired by that 1980 show as well as Haring’s generous and joyful approach to creativity.
Opening the Sunday before the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, the show will explore the hopes and shattered dreams of postwar America’s ‘Atomic Age’ and how that legacy affects us today.
Magnuson explains: “Much of what we did at Club 57 was informed by the optimism of post-war America that defined our childhood. The NASA moon landing was the apex of that optimism, which was ultimately eroded by Vietnam, Watergate and the recession of the 1970s. By the time Club 57 opened its doors in 1978, we were hard at work rebuilding that optimism in the crime-ridden, drug-addled dystopia of New York City. We felt a connection to the spirit of the moon landing and a yearning for new, uncharted territory.
We think the relaxed, open environment of the Winslow Garage gallery is perfect for resurrecting the DIY spirit of Club 57. Plus, in a city and era where everything - especially in the art world - is becoming progressively more high-rent and luxury-obsessed (not to mention the existence of a concurrent dystopia escalating with the homeless crisis) we wanted to revisit and perhaps revive the spirit of low-cost/high-fun ‘art for art’s sake’ from our youth. Think Just Kids meets 2001: A Space Odyssey.”
The show will also include artwork and photographs from the era (including pieces from the original Haring-curated 1980 Xerox art show) as well as Kenny Scharf’s space-themed video “Carousel of Progress” and rare video from Scharf's “Salute to NASA” event held at Club 57 in 1980. There are also plans to screen NASA footage from the Apollo moon missions and clips from Magnuson’s new music video (co-directed by Adam Dugas) for the song “I Met An Astronaut” (written about her experience meeting Apollo 15 astronaut Dave Scott while working on the HBO series “From the Earth to the Moon” produced by Tom Hanks.)
Participating artists include Kenny Scharf, Kitty Brophy, Bruno Testore Schmidt, Howie Pyro, Barry Shils, Kristian Hoffman, Tessie Chua, Joe Lewis, Raghubir Kintisch (FKA N.A. Kintisch), John A. Mozzer, Tony Frere, Chuck Nanney, Jerry Beck, George Haas, Joseph Szkodzinski, Maripol, Simone Gad, George Stoll, Richard Davis, Steve Doughton, Alexa Hunter and Ann Magnuson. Also represented in early work: Joey Arias, Carmel Johnson, Robert Carrithers, April Palmieri, Animal X and the late Klaus Nomi, John Sex, Wendy Wild, Tseng Kwong Chi, Coco Ugaz, Adolfo Sanchez and Keith Haring.
Sunday reception featuring live performances by Ann Magnuson, Alexa Hunter, Kristian Hoffman, Pierre Smith, Robert Dayton and Ursula Gueringer.
Winslow Garage address: 3540 Winslow Drive, LA CA 90026
Between Edgecliff and Maltman south of Sunset Blvd,
Image Above: Original collage flyer for Kenny Scharf’s “Salute to NASA” event at Club 57; (C) 1980 Kenny Scharf
I highly suggest going to San Francisco on Thursday, July 4th to see a rare performance by Three Day Stubble. I have not seen them in two decades and I am excited to be opening as The Canadian Romantic. Three Day Stubble have inspired me so much. I remember a guy from Smegma standing next to me in awe at a performance in a jinkyard saying, "They're like Can meets Richard Simmons" but also oh so much more! Patterns and textures collide, the ancient art of Avi, blue flames in the dark, such catchy songs as Festival of the Wedding of the Seagoat. Plus Glands of External Secretion are performing: Bananafish Magazine was an early inspiration for me. It's gonna get freaky!
At the SF Eagle, 398 12th St, San Francisco, California 94103
I am excited to announce that my extensively researched piece on La Troupe Grotesque, a wild and Glammy Canadian comedy duo with connections to The Velvet Underground, Frightenstein and more while taking some rather intensely dark turns towards the end, is up and live now on Nicolas Winding Refn’s website ByNWR.com - and I am super honoured that the legendary guest editor Kier-La Janisse, asked me to be a part of it! This piece also has lots of rare footage and pictures so if you have any interest in comedy history at all please check it out. Refn's site really is something special with a new film added each month: this month features a new 4K restoration of Bob Clark’s SHE-MAN: A STORY OF FIXATION and there's so much more. It’s all free, you just have to sign up to get access.
This Sunday! Noon to one, April 14th, LA Art Book Fair, Museum of Contemporary Art, Geffen (152 N Central Ave) Free ballpoint pen tattoo with purchase of book yes
In this latest video The Canadian Romantic talks a touch of Snow Bird in America. Written and directed by Robert Dayton. Shot and edited by Steve Moramarco.
It’s been a while…lots happening that I don’t post here, hard to keep up…some great shows, hope to do more…trying to keep going forward..my apartment is uninhabitable and I have to move (imagine asking the landlord if the place was even weather proofed then finally getting the answer two months later: NO)…going out on great auditions…writing more Canadian Glam and getting yet another grant rejection (feel free to donate to www.patreon.com/canadianglam) ALSO a friend told me about the similarity to my character The Canadian Romantic in the new Trojan Man series of ads which I found out later were directed by Eric Wareheim (gosh, I haven’t heard from him in a while) who is more than familiar with my work. Check out this video, share away if you like. Thanks to the great Steve Moramarco for filming and editing and being a great help.
#thecanadianromantic #trojanman #canadianglam
If you are curious as to my own background I have made 12 or so albums in the acts I have played in but don't know if I've ever posted a discography so here goes, click on links to listen, bless Bandcamp, these go all over the map, if one isn't your fancy perhaps the next one will be:
Canned Hamm:
https://cannedhamm.bandcamp.com/album/karazma
https://cannedhamm.bandcamp.com/album/canned-hamms-karazma-reimagined
https://cannedhamm.bandcamp.com/album/erotic-thriller
https://cannedhamm.bandcamp.com/album/sincerely-christmas
July Fourth Toilet:
https://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com/album/something-for-everyone
https://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com/album/july-fourth-toilet-presents-balls-boogie-featuring-me-and-bobby-mcgee-plus-kentucky-whore-and-many-others-2
https://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com/album/white-trash-album-cassette
Points Gray:
https://pointsgray.bandcamp.com/album/offshore
Wet Dirt:
https://wetdirt.bandcamp.com/
New Horizzzons:
https://newhorizzzons.bandcamp.com/
Both Hallmark and The Canadian Romantic have great unreleased albums that I want released, for now here are snippets:
https://hallmark.bandcamp.com/
https://thecanadianromantic.bandcamp.com
Yes, I, Robert Dayton am leaving the country which explains this MASSIVE BYE BYE SALE and PARTY! At Eyesore (1176 Bloor West)
Sale: 3 pm
Show/party: 8
Everything must go! Records! Comix! Books! And even some of my own original art! MORE! Some really good stuff at good prices! I can't take it with me so take it off my hands! Deals galore! Are there friend deals? THERE ARE FRIEND DEALS! You've probably been good to me in the past so I'm going to be good to you as a way of saying thanks for being there! Is it open to the public? YES! Tell everyone! Get there early or get there late when things get marked down from desperation!
PLUS!: Ballpoint pen tattoos!
8 PM: Art auction where I auction my own art off! Now's your chance to own a Robert Dayton original! Some of it pre-shredded. Large pieces, small pieces for your completion chamber and more! I am a great auctioneer!
Then a performance by Duotard! Husband and wife unitard wearing interpretive dance duo!
The Canadian Romantic will be taking your topics!
Then Hot Breath is hosting Karaoke to ride out the evening as a Bon Voyage! Sing your heart out!
Thanks ever so much to House of Hot Breath for helping (Mike and Jen are so incredible) and Eyesore which is such an amazing event space and video store, I have been renting the most amazing stuff there for years!
I am going to miss you all.
Hi pals, here's stuff about my projects before I vacate Canada. Enjoy this listen of a never before heard E.P. of my old Toronto band with Craig Daniels and Michael Comeau. Recorded by Nyles Misczczyk and mastered by J.M. Ladd. May you find it pleasurable, it's a real trip! Listen/download/etc here: https://newhorizzzons.bandcamp.com/album/r-i-p-e-p
I host karaoke tonight (Sunday) at The Beaver (1192 Queen Street West) and plan to host loads more before I leave Toronto because I love The Beaver so much. Here's the write up:
Inside of me is avast bounty. Ha ha, avast! Which reminds me I used to drink something strong and cheap called Bounty (I only ever drank it once) and it had a delicate etching of a pirate ship rocking on the waves which is how it made me feel (how do you feel atm? and by atm I mean automated teller machine, there is one located near the wc's at The Beaver...it feels relatively smooth) let's sing sea shanties tonight! ahhh the quicker picker upper. Ok ok. Inside of me is a vast bounty emanating forth. One of the places it emanates from is my mouth and out of that mouth spews a bounty of sounds! Musical sounds! Perfect for karaoke! Maybe you have your own bounty! Celebrate that! At Bounty Karaoke this Sunday! Heads up: Monday does not exist. Hosted by Robert.
I also have upcoming performances by my character The Canadian Romantic. Next Sunday Sept 14th 8ish PM at BATHHOUSE & BODY WORKS (Oasis, 231 Mutual Street)- A Quite Investigative Monthly Queer Bathhouse Night of Drag, Performance, and Fetish where Diet Ghosts (who I love, best drag) are hosting murder mystery!!!
Listen to The Canadian Romantic's preamble to set you in a mood. Catch each Diet Ghost show for clues. Talk to your two butlers (Fisher Price & Adam Cowan) for guidance. Because murder goes well with eating food off of a naked person, come partake in the nude buffet. It's food off of a naked person. It all ties together, I think! I dunno, my childhood was weird. Ballots will be handed out at midnight. The murderer will be revealed, and if you guessed right, you win a skanky prize!
This is participatory as you'd like it to be. If you'd like to hide in a dark corner or the gloryhole in the dungeon, that's cool too! Anyway, hope you come to this murder mystery drag show sex & fetish party because no party has this many adjectives. (pic and write up by Adam Cowan)
The Canadian Romantic is also doing a short solo set at the terrific comedy night Slam Dunk at The Comedy Bar on Oct 25th at 8 PM.
And then....
^^^^Probably the last time you will see The Canadian Romantic accompanied by Marker Starling for a while, a truly special occasion! For the EP release of longtime kindred spirits The World Provider! From Montreal! A special musical show! Buy tickets ➡ http://burdockto.com/shows/?show=1445 $8 advance // $10 door doors at 9pm, show at 9:30pm
Hi! I have started made my Patreon be about my Canadian Glam book. Getting Canadian grants has proven impossible, even with my long CV and MFA and this project which is a Canadian cultural history of Glam involving music, fashion, performance and gender play! So Patreon is a way for me to try to raise funds via subscription so I can focus on writing the book and even spend money on research! There are perks for subscribers such as YOUR NAME IN GLITTER!!! Link here:
Hi! I have a drawing of Vaclav Havel in the new book D.I.Y. Resistance by Anthony Alvarado published by Seven Stories Press, Jason Mclean has a drawing too:
www.sevenstories.com
I DJ and MC this Friday in Toronto at Owls Club on Dovercourt for the American devices show, they haven't played Toronto since the 80s, cartoonist Rick Trembles is in the band! Here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1751959371560686/?active_tab=about
https://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/bed-interview-with-robert-dayton/3995
Hi! I have added a brand new Ballpoint Pen Tattoo section and some original art to the store for you to enjoy!!! As well I have added a page that was deleted from my book The Empty Bed (see below). Why was it deleted? As an artist and comedian and writer and human etc etc I believe that I have to be responsible for what I put out into the world. I am far from perfect. I was being extra cautious...too cautious. My book is not a poison pen but unfortunately there is more self-pity than anger in it for those reasons. Anger is a very real feeling that happens when one goes through heartbreak. I didn't want to hurt anyone -even though those people that The Empty Bed is vaguely referencing won't be reading and will never be in my life again (they don't want to be and I don't think I want them to be and I am grateful for the wonderful people -including other exes- who are in my life). I am still very much proud of the book and rather pleased with everyone's responses to it. I don't think of this overly cautious omission as some glaring flaw.
The Empty Bed is available for order in my web store 'Love For Sale' as well as these shops...
Vancouver: Luckys, Paper Hound, Dandelion Records, Pulp fiction
New York: Spoonbill, Desert Island, Printed Matter
Montreal: Monastiraki
Toronto: Eyesore, Type, June, Art Met, Weird Things
Kitchener: Open Sesame
I have been making loads of drawings, logos and images for CAFKA, a great art installation biennial event in Kitchener! Plus my drawings are up in the rotunda of City Hall! There will be a tour of all the art with artists in attendance starting there at 2 pm this Saturday! The opening reception is at Kitchener City Hall as well on Saturday, June 2 at 7 PM. The Opening Reception is licensed and will be catered and admission is free! At 9 PM you are invited to the CAFKA Artists’ Party at the Critical Media Lab, 44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener: I will be doing ballpoint pen tattoos! There'll be DJs. Admission to the licensed Artists’ Party is $20 at the door or PWYC. Entry is free for CAFKA artists & volunteers. For more information and a full list of artists please contact cafka at cafka.org.
Am I excited for this? YES! Plus in my time in Vancouver I will also be doing original research for Canadian Glam!
Robert Dayton: The Empty Bed
May 25 7-10pm
Hosted by UNIT/PITT & Access Gallery
Robert Dayton will present an interdisciplinary performance as himself and as The Canadian Romantic based around his artist book "The Empty Bed" published by Impulse [b]. Also on view will be drawings and copies of "The Empty Bed" for purchase. And a few other surprises!
The Empty Bed is a darkly funny pen-and-ink heartbreak book of 150 pages, a self-pitying lonely odyssey taking place after the end of romantic relationships. It is playful and mystical with many one page jokes of heavy truths in a loose narrative flow. As well the book includes an interview with the author's Mother on divorce and death, an excerpt from the secret files of ghost-hunter Dr. Fourteen, and The Death Wish Guide To Loss. All of it rendered in quill and brush where words and pictures mingle freely revealing relatable yet unspoken content.
Robert Dayton is an interdisciplinary artist and writer. Comedy? YES!
His writings and art have appeared in numerous exhibits as well as such books and publications as Kid Power (Spectacular Optical), Lost in The Grooves (Routledge), Cinema Sewer (Fab), The Onion, long running music magazine Roctober, international noise magazine Bananafish, as the interviewer for Hazlitt's National Magazine award winning series Pagelicker and more! Robert has performed across North America and Australia. As The Canadian Romantic, he manifests as a series of videos, live performances, a doll, an art book (published by UNIT/PITT) and a winking photo to make people in Canada and everywhere feel more attractive. His collaborative musical performance and recording projects include legendary song-and-dance duo Canned Hamm, July Fourth Toilet, and Hallmark. Robert holds an MFA from the University of Waterloo.
PRAISE FOR THE EMPTY BED
“Writer, artist, cartoonist, singer and performer Robert Dayton bluntly and humorously exposes the nerves and feels of a broken heart.”
—Fiona Smyth, cartoonist, artist, and co-author of Sex is a Funny Word
“Robert's work on the stage and studio has always been both side-splittingly hilarious and goddamned distressing; working in the book format he offers up an additional, unexpected outcome — pure beauty!”
— Gregg Turkington, comedian
“A blackly humorous descent into the depths of self-loathing, which emerges on the other end of ‘the wallows’ with a profound message of acceptance and hope.”
—Kier-La Janisse, author, House of Psychotic Women
“I love The Empty Bed, it contains all of the best parts of what Robert does – on top of new heart-wrenching parts that I never knew he did!”
—Dan Bejar, musician
“A brilliantly original, painfully hilarious, and surprisingly touching ode to love and loss.”
—Jodi Wille, director of The Source Family
Find out more about Robert Dayton: http://www.robertdayton.com/
THE EMPTY BED excerpt available for download here:
http://www.impulse-b.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/The-Empty-Bed-excerpt.pdf
All press inquiries:
Robert Dayton
Hi everybody! I just got back from doing launches for The Empty Bed in Montreal at Monastiraki (5478 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal), a neat shop where you can purchase the book, and Spoonbill (99 Montrose) in Brooklyn, a great art book store where you can also purchase the book (it is also at Desert Island and at Printed Matter in New York City). Thanks to Monastiraki (Billy!) and Spoonbill (Jonas!) and Matthew Thurber and Brian Belott for performing too! The book can also be purchased on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/robertdayton and on my Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/RobertDayton.
If you want to review my book please drop me a line for a copy, I would love that.
I also made incredible headway on Canadian Glam in Montreal interviewing legends Polo of Danger, Nick of Mack, Lucien of Aut'Chose, Pierre of Aut'Chose and Eclipse as well as Angelo Finaldi!
My futile efforts with getting funding from the Canadian grant system are known (I just had another rejection letter for Canadian Glam -a Canadian historical book project that deals with music, fashion, gender play and pushing boundaries by someone who has been making quality work for years- the day before I left on my trip) so your support on Patreon (see above) helps me to develop these projects. Gonna keep a going!
Tell your pals! Saturday afternoon! It's going to be great fun! Books will be personally signed!
Also I am doing advance research on French Canadian Glam too! Very stoked (of course any advice and info on French Canadian Glam is appreciated)
Hi folks, so much going on! First off, I have been adding plenty of writing to my Patreon and selling Karaoke Host valentines! Original art! One of a kind! Many hosts to choose as your Valentine! Only 15$ (incl shipping). Only 10 dollars if you purchase The Empty Bed heartbreak book as well.
PM me or visit my Patreon (www.patreon.com/robertdayton)
I will be selling the Empty Bed book on Feb 13th and performing as The Canadian Romantic an ode to The Man From Hong Kong's love scenes in a screening of the Ozploitation classic The Man From Hong Kong at The Royal Cinema, info here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2029916547331470/permalink/2042713592718432/
On Wed Feb 14th is an opening for a special group art show at Weird Things in Toronto (998 Bathurst) called Valentimes. I wilI be showing art work from The Empty Bed book and will have copies for sale (actually I always have copies on me, feel free to approach me) The artists are: Charlie Murray, Devon Marinac, Eric Kostiuk Williams, Ginette Lapalme, Robert Dayton and Sylvia Munson.
http://www.impulse-b.com/produc…/impulsebooks/the-empty-bed/
