Robert Dayton

Carousel Magazine

2012-02-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

I have some of my Fantasy Beard drawings printed in the latest issue of Carousel Magazine, a gorgeous multi-media arts mag that I love to smell (dense ink) and hold:
http://www.carouselmagazine.ca/current.html

2012-01-28T12:43:00.000-08:00

Poem that I read the other night:

We'll have to turn it on for you
Saskatoon
Saskatchewan
The Parktown Hotel
Room 206
Pool across the hall
The lifeguard lifts the lid
She leaves me be
Jacuzzi time
The gusts go high
A force controlled by her
Warm jets too strong to tickle
solitudes
In my hot pepper print speedo
No fluids flow from me
Just smooth
mechanical bursts
timed and spraying
over the sides
Through the window
Snowy landscape
45 below
Reminder
So long ago
Not so long ago
Our passion in a hot tub
Until things went sideways
When what was entangled
Were my allergies and isolation
Things went sideways
We started having sex sideways
Because it was 'easier'
I just made amends
Addendum
The sex was mostly good, wasn't it?
(silence)
There was passion
The jacuzzi reminds me
There was sideways
The jacuzzi reminds me
Noted, amended
Regrets
The force of the gusts and the jets
Never forget

karaoke/scaretactics/pivot

2012-01-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

I have returned from shows in Vancouver and Saskatoon, more will be discussed soon enough...
My second article on karaoke for the AC club TO is up now:
http://www.avclub.com/toronto/articles/sweet-daddy-siki-at-the-duke-of-york-inn,68079/

The latest episode of Scare Tactics may be the craziest one yet, 'career killer'?, skip to clip 3:

http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/scaretactics/

And I will be doing a reading from my new book:
Pivot Readings at the Press Club
Featuring Robert Dayton, Andrew Faulkner, and Andrew McEwan
Wednesday, January 25
The Press Club
850 Dundas Street West
8 PM
PWYC

2012-01-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

Hey vancouver!

JULY FOURTH TOILET AT THE WALDORF THURS NITE
The Canadian Romantic one man show dinner and book launch Friday nite! jan 13th...
Nice article here:
http://www.vancourier.com/entertainment/Dayton+dons+robe+bares+soul+Canadian+Romantic/5978609/story.html

2012-01-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

I will be on the Nardwuar show tomorrow (Friday January 6th) at 4PM Pacific time discussing The Canadian Romantic, July Fourth Toilet, playing some music, and much more:

http://www.citr.ca/index.php/listen/

An Evening With the Canadian Romantic: Vancouver, Friday the 13th of January

2012-01-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Not only will this be a full evening with dinner, it's also a book launch for The Canadian Romantic, a full pen-and-ink art book!
Presented by UNIT/PITT at the Dunlevy Snack Bar, 433 Dunlevy Ave., Vancouver BC on Friday, January 13 2012 | Tickets ($25, performance plus dinner; $40, performance plus dinner plus book) on sale in advance, available online at http://www.publicationstudio.biz/events/canadian-romantic .

This will be a one of a kind evening that combines large amounts of shared laughter with soft music and unsettling feelings of desire…!

Robert’s most recent project is his series of videos and performances as the persona of The Canadian Romantic, a melodramatic figure of faded glamour who tries to bridge and explore the gap between Canada and romance with somewhat dubious results. Some key Canadian Romantic videos will be played. The Canadian Romantic himself will be performing live, taking topic suggestions from the crowd for his infamous impromptu candlelight Recitations. Expect glittery Bon Mots aplenty from a man of way too much experience. You will come alive with laughter feeling like you’ve woken up at an undisclosed time with make up smeared across your face.

After that will be a curated tour of the forgotten musical Recitation genre, which also includes the notion of famous Ac-tor as Singer: expect the plummy tones of Telly Savalas, Bruno Gerussi, Richard Harris, and a few glorious unknowns! This musical genre has been a key influence on The Canadian Romantic.

2011-12-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

I am in the Christmas "Gifts By artists" group show selling my dolls, currently up at Art Metropole, Toronto.
Two of my posters are in the PIN UP art show opening Thursday 15 December at 7pm at Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art (1286 Bloor Street West, Toronto). Posters are available in limited editions of 5 at $75 each. Only 3 of each poster are available for purchase online - 2 posters are reserved for sale at the opening: all sales support Mercer Union’s exhibitions and public programs.

Running alongside the new works selected for PIN UP, Mercer Union will feature a special exhibition of Toronto gig posters drawn from guest curator Michael Parke-Taylor’s extensive collection. This show provides a rare opportunity to peak into the former AGO Curator of Modern Art’s personal archive of paste-up print design. The selection offers an eclectic index of posters for famous and not-so-famous musical acts who have performed in Toronto over the last fifteen years.

As well here is a sneak peek of the upcoming book of The Canadian Romantic book:

KARAOKE KOLUMN

2011-12-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

Oky Doky Karaoke

My first of a series of regular karaoke columns for The Onion Toronto AV Club is now out on the streets and online, read it here:
http://www.avclub.com/toronto/articles/oky-doky-karaoke-at-thai-one-on,65348/

2011-11-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

Nice audio interview with my ole pal artist Jason Mclean, he says sweet things about me that made me misty eyed:
http://www.inkstuds.org/ ?p=3822

Scare Tactics

2011-11-28T10:41:00.001-08:00

Watch me on Scare Tactics tonite, Much Music, 9 pm Eastern Standard time (it's on MTV if you are in America)...this one is in a scary gambling den!

The Canadian Romantic- Notes On Camp

2011-10-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Romantic gets colours explained to him.

i only tell you this because i love you

2011-10-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

I will be reading from “A Woman’s Guide To Self Love” and punctuating it with my own frequent interjections tonight (Thursday) at “I Only Tell you this because I love you: readings from discarded self-help books”, 8 pm, with Lauren Bride, Allison Cummings, Luke Garwood, Meghan McKnight, Kathleen Phillips, Lindy Zucker, and Matt Lemche, Musics from Blake Howard, 10 bux, all proceeds are part of an ongoing fund-raising campaign to support the artistic activity of Sore for Punching You, artistic-director Allison Cummings. 688 Richmond Street West, Toronto

2011-10-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

http://londonfuse.ca/auction/robert-dayton-sit-back-music

My pal Jason Mclean asked me to take part in a fundraiser in London, ON. So far no bids. oh well. So what else is new? Unsure if I like it, Jason said he liked it. I dunno.

All Night Painting

2011-10-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

I was asked to be a saboteur in an all night painting competition conducted by Paul Butler at the Art Gallery of Ontario. (that’s me in red) The audience and other contestants did not know that this was my role. These are some of the things that I did:

I would show up to each challenge late.

I called my mother in front of all the other contestants complaining how I was older than them and had paid my dues, had a large CV, and didn’t need to win the prize of a show at the MOCCA because if I didn’t have a show there by now, it didn’t matter. My Mother was not in on it so she tried to talk me into it.

Very early on while I sat around looking depressed without making so much as one mark, one guy yelled at me to “Get to work!” so I told him to leap over the balcony and die. He cursed at me, I told him that there were children present. I kept staring at him. He was such a ruckus that security escorted him out. Security also kept their eye on me. My painting was a valiant effort that ended with the words, “I give up.”

The second challenge was to paint to a Neil Young tribute band. I kept yelling for songs off Trans, when they said that they didn’t know any I stormed off. I painted the words “music for dad” and “Neil young was smart- he left Canada” and an image of Neil young snoring.
For the third challenge I complained that I didn’t like the artist model so I painted a volunteer from the audience, I told her that I was doing her a favour so stop texting.

For challenge four I got people from the audience to paint for me. They asked if I wanted to see their painting. “No, I don’t care.”

Challenge six was to paint to a Guy Maddin film, a previously unseen one, never shown anywhere before starring a tranny, some oral, I painted for a bit then ran and leaped into my canvas. This was after another contestant had whipped some drunk obnoxious guy really hard with paint, he ripped her top off and she had to run and get changed.

Also I’d stare down the crowd a lot and grotesquely flirt with the girls. I painted the name of the corporate bank sponsor on my tee shirt (someone suggested this idea to me). After eating fish, I’d get people to smell my fingers. I also drank breast milk straight form the source. I couldn’t be that mean to the other contestants, I even gave massages by the end as some of them worked really hard and made some good paintings.

I think it was a success. I am still recuperating.

BEES (!) - A TWO DAY EXTRAVAGANZA OF ART AND MUSIC

2011-09-29T13:00:00.001-07:00

I will be pontificating on bees as The Canadian Romantic at this....dolls will be for sale.

The White House Studio will become an immersive honeycomb of hive activity as our next shindig reflects our questionable lack of judgement.
277.5 Augusta Ave.
Toronto, ON

Friday - Sept 30th - 9PM-2PM
OPENING NIGHT / RECEPTION
DJ PETER MALCOLM
ROBERT DAYTON IS THE CANADIAN ROMANTIC
(AND TBA)
& A Mad Honeycomb Dance Floor

The Canadian Romantic doll for sale on Etsy

2011-09-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

Buy it here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82654477/the-canadian-romantic-doll

Limited supply!

Opening for The World Provider Friday September 23rd!!!

2011-09-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

That's right The Canadian Romantic is opening for The World Provider this Friday September 23rd 2011 at The Tranzac Main Hall (292 Brunswick Ave.)in Toronto.
GET THERE EARLY: I HIT THE STAGE AT 9 PM!
Also on the bill is tomboyfriend.
The World Provider has built a special stage set!

Check out this great video by The World Provider:

And there is a new batch of The Canadian Romantic dolls for sale at the show all glittered up just for youuuuu!

The Canadian Romantic- Tonetta Video World Premiere!

2011-09-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

Tonetta drops by to premiere his hot and hypnotic new smash video Platinum Balls, light topics are discarded.

Shot and edited by Craig Irving. Directed by Robert Dayton and Craig Irving.

The Canadian Romantic will be opening for The World Provider and tomboyfriend at The tranzac, Friday, September 23rd..!

July Fourth Toilet- recorded musical selections with wild footage

2011-09-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

July Fourth Toilet music accompanied by silent footage of a glammed out show at The Brickyard, Vancouver, Canada, early 2000s? It's got bubbles, balloons, kisses and more!
July Fourth Toilet are Canada's wildest and most unpredictable band ever. July Fourth Toilet-Twinkle Bell/Land Of Fruit/ The Emblem Is In Your Control/ Sweet Gnome/ Deep Sea Diver

More here:
http://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com/

The Canadian Romantic Meets Tonetta

2011-09-06T11:06:00.001-07:00

Great July Fourth Toilet review "White Album"

2011-09-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

Well, it's slow having people realise that July Fourth Toilet are the wildest and most unpredictable Canadian band of all time!!!! (and I say this with modesty)

Review by Amy Lam from the new issue (#4) of Offerings (great paper available free around Toronto) of our White Album (PWYC from our bandcamp page):
“This is July Fourth Toilet making their way through the Beatles White Album. I did a song by song comparison and I think that about 50% July Fourth Toilet are better and 50% Beatles are better. I like the Beatles’ “Savoy Truffle” better. The Beatles are more straightforward about going to the dentist if you eat too many chocolates, which makes it actually more insane. July Fourth Toilet’s “Honey Pie” is someone asking “can we do a song off Rumours instead.” and they do, so it’s better NOT ONLY by virtue of concept. “Goodnight” by both bands is a tie in terms of whether or not you can actually listen to it while trying to relax in your bed. “Martha my Dear” by July Fourth Toilet is them playing the Beatles song at 3x speed on a record player. When iTunes 26 comes out you will be able to play July Fourth Toilet’s “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and hear the Beatles’ version. July Fourth Toilet are the best band in all of history and if you don’t like the Beatles you’re an idiot.”

http://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com

Opening for Simply Saucer this Thursday!!!

2011-08-15T11:23:00.001-07:00

July Fourth Toilet- jody’s Back Show (Ms. T’s May 22 1999)

2011-07-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

jody had disappeared from July Fourth Toilet for a while. A ritual was held to bring him back.

HAPPENINGS

2011-07-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

Bzzzy days...
This Thursday I am part of a Nirvana trib at The Silver Dollar singing a song.
Then Friday at the Comedy Bar The Canadian Romantic opens for Neil Hamburger! Get tix before it sells out! He's in town for two nites with Nick Flanagan but I will only be on the Friday bill....
....because my rock band WET DIRT plays its' first show with new mine-up opening for The Bon's album release with The Weirdies. On at 10:30. Bovine Sex Club.

New video by The Canadian Romantic: so much mail

2011-07-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

The Mailman shows up and is sad. Are you sad?
ENJOY!
He will also be opening for Neil Hamburger at The Comedy Bar, Friday July 15th, Toronto.

Last FEELINGS for a while.

2011-07-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

Tuesday july 5th, The Beaver 1192 Queen West, 9ish PMish

is the last FEELINGS for a while, I have to take a ME-ternity leave

...but I was just in Montreal so I'll be playing some new records, yayyy! Prizes and projections by Eyesore, the neatest video store!
Midnite candlelight recitation by The Canadian Romantic...

FEELINGS is the creme brulee (but made with warm salty tears) of DJ nites.

"I do this for you, there is nothing else like this, the mood of the room is shaped by what I provide, I am so honed like a beam of light that the Midnight Candlelight Recitation will be intensely fashioned and crafted going to` places unexpected. I will make love to you with my voice and soul and musical selections, I don't care who you are, NO COVER but the cover of night.Your life energies need us, this is a nice city but a tad stiff, it needs a massage, my hands can do that, lower, lower, lower, lower....
My Midnight Candlelight recitation is always a hit with the people! What are recitations? Intense spoken reflections of the soul in a romantic manner. We are here to help you get through this mortal life. Have a request? I will fulfill you in a voice that has been trained and honed from the deepest core of my being. Close your eyes? Is this a record? No, it's me talking to you right now, there'll be records after."
FEELINGS is a special night where we spin music that you probably won’t normally hear. A boutique mix of :
ELUSIVE DREAMINGS/PRIVATE PRESSINGS/FREE FORMS/CAN CON CONCRETE/B SIDE EXCURSIONS/ELECTRONIC PRIMITIVA/EMOTIONS/EURO HORRORS/INTENSELY PERSONAL VISIONS/DEEP PSYCH/UN-EASY LISTENINGS AND BALLADS/PRISON SOUNDTRACKS/FANTASTIC JOURNEYS OF WONDER/ORGAN-ISMS/NEO-BAROQUE
With a midnight candlelight night recitation by The Canadian Romantic

This will be ...special.

THE CANADIAN ROMANTIC DOLL

2011-06-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Romantic doll to be sold at The Evening With The Canadian Romantic at Blue Sunshine Psychotronic Film Centre (3660, Boul. St-Laurent, 3e Étage) in Montreal this Saturday July 2nd. Drawn by Robert Dayton, screen printed and made by Philip Franklin, sewn and photographed by Madge Isabel Colleran. It’s a VERY limited supply! Each one comes glittered just like The Canadian Romantic himself!
Front:

Back:

MONTREAL: AN EVENING WITH THE CANADIAN ROMANTIC

2011-06-27T13:34:00.001-07:00

If you are in Montreal….

Robert Dayton Junior Presents:
AN EVENING WITH THE CANADIAN ROMANTIC

Saturday July 2
Doors 7:45pm
Showtime: 8:30pm

Blue Sunshine Psychotronic Film Centre

3660, Boul. St-Laurent, 3e Étage
Montreal, QC

This will be a one of a kind evening that combines large amounts of shared laughter with soft music and unsettling feelings of desire…!

Robert Dayton’s most recent project is his series of videos and performances as the persona of The Canadian Romantic, a melodramatic figure of faded glamour who tries to bridge the gap between Canada and romance with somewhat dubious results…. Some key Canadian Romantic videos will be played and a BRAND NEW VIDEO will be unveiled! The Canadian Romantic himself will be performing live, taking topic suggestions from the crowd for his infamous impromptu candlelight Recitations. Expect glittery Bon Mots aplenty from a man of way too much experience. You will come alive with laughter feeling like you’ve woken up at an undisclosed time with make up smeared across your face.

After that will be a curated tour of the forgotten musical Recitation genre, which also includes the notion of famous Ac-tor as Singer: expect the plummy tones of Telly Savalas, Bruno Gerussi, Richard Harris, and a few glorious unknowns! This musical genre has been a key influence on The Canadian Romantic.

FEELINGS: I LOVE ROBIN GIBB EDITION TONITE (TUESDAY JUNE 21st)

2011-06-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

Join us tonite, Tuesday, June 21st, at The Beaver (1192 Queen Street West) as we celebrate Robin Gibb starting at 9:30 Pm with the velveteen double album melodramatic orch-pop opus Odessa by the Bee Gees. THIS IS A DOUBLE ALBUM ABOUT A SINKING SHIP! NOT DISCO! REMOVE THE STIGMA FOR GREAT SIBLING HARMONIZING ORCH-POP! It was the single from this album that made Robin leave the act and his brothers to make two solo albums Robin's Reign and the rare, precious, and unreleased Sing Slowly Sisters: we'll be playing both! Melancholia, speed, and strings, and drum machine. It's like "There's A Riot Goin on" if Sly Stone was a skinny white Commonwealther with bad teeth. We'll also be playing The Bee Gees without Robin, the Bee Gees with Robin back in the band, and some early 80s electro pop work by Robin. And more!
If you think The Bee Gees were only about disco, you couldn't be more wrong....I'll be mostly spinning some great maudlin orch-pop!

Read this:
http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/review/229/
Prizes and projections by Eyesore Cinema.
Robert Dayton, Junior Presents FEELINGS with D.J. Body Beautiful and a midnight candlelight night recitation by The Canadian Romantic at the Beaver (1192 Queen west)

See The Canadian Romantic's videos here:
www.youtube.com/thecanadianromantic

"I do this for you, there is nothing else like this, the mood of the room is shaped by what I provide, I am so honed like a beam of light that the Midnight Candlelight Recitation will be intensely fashioned and crafted going to` places unexpected. I will make love to you with my voice and soul and musical selections, I don't care who you are, NO COVER but the cover of night.Your life energies need us, this is a nice city but a tad stiff, it needs a massage, my hands can do that, lower, lower, lower, lower....
My Midnight Candlelight recitation is always a hit with the people! What are recitations? Intense spoken reflections of the soul in a romantic manner. We are here to help you get through this mortal life. Have a request? I will fulfill you in a voice that has been trained and honed from the deepest core of my being. Close your eyes? Is this a record? No, it's me talking to you right now, there'll be records after."
FEELINGS is a special night where we spin music that you probably won’t normally hear. A boutique mix of :
ELUSIVE DREAMINGS/PRIVATE PRESSINGS/FREE FORMS/CAN CON CONCRETE/B SIDE EXCURSIONS/ELECTRONIC PRIMITIVA/EMOTIONS/EURO HORRORS/INTENSELY PERSONAL VISIONS/DEEP PSYCH/UN-EASY LISTENINGS AND BALLADS/PRISON SOUNDTRACKS/FANTASTIC JOURNEYS OF WONDER/ORGAN-ISMS/NEO-BAROQUE
With a midnight candlelight night recitation by The Canadian Romantic

This will be ...special.

RIOTA

2011-06-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

This seems currently apropos for vancouver. July Fourth Toilet's cover of Destroyer's Riota into Wings' Jet:

Speaking of July Fourth Toilet and Macca: July Fourth Toilet- The White Album cassette
From 1994, July Fourth Toilet’s version of The White Album. Our 1st release, previously only on cassette, before we played live, different and much more difficult than our other stuff, but still pure Toilet. Some folks in Frisco used to drop acid to this. I dare you to listen to it in one sitting!
http://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com/album/white-trash-album-cassette

As well, the Gonzales' movie Ivory Tower that I am in plays Friday at 2 PM at The Toronto Underground Cinema:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/story.cfm?content=181253

If you are in Berlin, my Y2K Compatible zine is sharing shelf space with Becky Johnson's at Wunderkabinet which is as Becky states, "a now-travelling series of themed contemporary curiosity collections that sets in in instalments around berlin's art and craft sphere. it is all curated and maintained by leah buckareff. The current incarnation is housed at etsy's berlin/international headquarters in a modular construction called 'the turtle'. I hear there is an arm chair there and possible some floor cushions to support comfortable and easy literary perusal."

WET DIRT

2011-06-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Ah hello.
So WET DIRT has a new line-up, got kinda of a late nite street strut to this 4 piece rock band. WE ARE READY TO PLAY! Come forth!
Meanwhile a couple ruff mixes of the original line-up are posted here:
http://wetdirt.bandcamp.com/

ta!

Download Something For Everyone

2011-06-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here I am 39...riding a cusp...freshly turned...and fully frustrated at the rate of 12 dollars/hr...ah yes, birthdays and thos eold frustrations come up as I ask, "What am I doing with my life?" Where to next, big boy? Gonna see if you can make things happen outside of anti-charismatic Canada? Good luck!Ha ha! Shit, got to do my gratitude list: okay, talent to spare (it'd be nice if backers noticed, like "Hellooo!" okay Robert enuff...), a sweet GF, I don't look hard done by, able to eat everyday, playing in a band that is sounding kick-ass (now if only the world can hear it...Robert, ENOUGH!...)...
I am archiving as much July 4th Toilet as I can. With the second album up, the first album "Something For Everyone" is finally up for 'pay what you like' (including free) download with reviews et al...
We recorded it with intent of making a warm pop album, to make people feel loved.
Listening to it now I'd say, it's a really great charming album with the only real weak spots being some of my vocals, sigh, it was my first album...I'd love to recut the vocals on a few of those tracks, c'est la vie, adds to the off kilter, enjoy:
http://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com/album/something-for-everyone

FEELINGS presents: Children's music edition, Tuesday May 24th!

2011-05-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

TONITE! 9 pm- 1 am! sooo excited!
My collection of children's music is simply too large so I have selected the WILDEST stuff !!!!
There'll be cookies plus: a midnite candlelight Recitation by The Canadian Romantic!

Robert Dayton Junior presents: FEELINGS: Children's Music Edition
Yes, we will be getting way out and into the dementia of old Children's records with their technical innovations, free expression, and even their curious religious viewpoints!
Note: RAFFI free zone!
DJ Body Beautiful will spin the electronic wizardry of Raymond Scott and Bruce Haack; the production wildness of Spike Jones and David Seville; the charming grace and wit of Jim Copp and Ed Brown; the shoddy, drunken puppetry of Funtown; the fuzz guitar super hero themed explosions of The Super Dupers; the Christian country Chipmunks rip offs of Floyd Robinson's Charlie The Hamster and friends; the bubblegum glam of Rock Fantasy and Clyde The Guitar Playing Elephant; the anti-abortion messages of Little Marky...and more!

Note: this event is 19 and over, children shouldn't hear some of this music anyways...it's disturbing (especially Little Markie)
Projections and Prizes by Eyesore Video!
No cover but blankies!

DOWNLOAD THE 2ND JULY FOURTH TOILET LP

2011-05-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

For those who want MP3s of July Fourth Toilet's highly regarded 2nd album (with links to how to get the vinyl), it can be had for any price including FREE!, note: the first half of the album is verrry different from the second half, more surprises will be posted soon:http://julyfourthtoilet.bandcamp.com

Feel free to feel free and to tell any interested parties.

July Fourth Toilet Rock n Roll Show Nov 13th, 1998

2011-05-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

July Fourth Toilet Rock n Roll Show Nov 13th, 1998 Some folks on here didn’t know me in the olde days and wonder what I was like…heh heh…here’s one of the worst. Enjoy! Rated PG. The nudity has been blurred.

The insufferable frontman gets so drunk that he has a black out on stage. One of the messier July Fourth Toilet shows.
Their next show was an Apology show, a romantic pop set that apologised for this one with a fruit basket and corsage for one lucky audience member (Evan Symons).

For those not in the know, July Fourth Toilet is an act we formed in 1994 in Vancouver with a mandate of no 2 shows the same, this show’s theme was Rock n Roll. Almost all songs had Rock in the title except for Henske/Yester’s Snowblind et al…this was a more pared down line-up, vids currently on YouTube and future YouTube posts will show some different folks in the band. Our last shows were at The Vancouver Art gallery and Pub 340 for our 2nd album Balls Boogie (available through Art Metropole’s site click here )…we will play again one day.

2011-05-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

I'll wipe your tears, Canada....

(Though this may just be a sign from God to leave the country, can I take it as a personal sign aimed directly at me?)...

Sometimes I feel that I can relate to a vast majority of people then an election reminds me that I really just live in an easily pierced bubble that doesn't even make a neat sound when it does get pierced.

2011-05-02T07:56:00.001-07:00

Today is the day where you can either vote for a Harper Government or a Canadian Government.

2011-04-24T10:44:00.001-07:00

I am performing as The Canadian Romantic tonite, Sunday, Toronto, at Hour Of Power Easter Special - one night only at Unlovable (1415B Dundas St W) hosted by Nick Flanagan...
I think I may completely improvise it based on audience suggested topics....

2011-04-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

I must amend previous post by adding, "...must...never...take...self... so damned seriously!"
Part of this is by doing tardy self- promo.
Here's something for tonight:

FEELINGS

If you are in Toronto this Tuesday April 19th, I will be spinning as DJ Body Beautiful at The Beaver (1192 Queen west) for FEELINGS. No cover but the cover of nite. 9-1 with a Midnite Candlelight Recitation by The Canadian Romantic. I will be premiering the hot new Kanye West track entitled, "DJ Body Beautiful Is A Better Tastemaker Than Me, So It's Best If You Just Let Him Spin Music By Disfigured Gospel Singers, Don't Even Play My Song At All."

BLOATED SELF IMPORTANCE

2011-04-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Congested and tired which means that I am on edge. Yesterday I went to the post office. I went in looking at the employee thinking, "You better not blah blah blah" or "If you do blah blah blah, I'll be so pissed!" And the guy was actually super sweet and helpful! I could have killed him. What are those kind of counter-active thoughts called? I hate having them.
Doing a blog sweep yesterday I went in being too hard on myself. Not too much was swept (elements of libel). I left some elements of morbid self-pity and bloated self-importance. Blogs really help to facilitate bloated self-importance. Look at me! Look at me! Hey everybody, look at me! I can wiggle my hips! Whoah! A tree just fell in the forest. Maybe the word 'blog' should only be used in the singular. Blog really help to facilitate self-importance. Thaaaat's better.
Ya know, I think I am fucking coo-coo. Reflection and sparked reminders. Mental elements that show that I am kinda, well, crazy. Sigh. Plum loco.
I'm seeing character traits in myself that I despise, that really need work. I am certainly better than I was, but my warped social instinct needs to get straightened. The fact that I can get so defensive. I am certainly less passive-aggressive than I used to be but I have been seeing taunting glimmers of it lately.
When I feel socially awkward I must gab less and listen more, unless I am cornered by someone dull then I should just jet!

SPRING CLEANING

2011-04-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

I think that I may remove some of the more embarrassing, self-pitying, and frantic blog posts (even though my head is congested today). Will I be able to get to them all? And won't I want some sort of record which shows that, yes, I am half-crazy?

FEELINGS/ISSUES

2011-04-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

I forgot to plug this and it's happening tonite! Toozday nite!
BRAND NEW! Alternating every Tuesday nite at The Beaver (1192 Queen Street west)!
Issues and Feelings!

This Tuesday (April 5th) Robert Dayton, Junior Presents FEELINGS with D.J. Body Beautiful and a midnight candlelight night recitation by The Canadian Romantic
See The Canadian Romantic's videos here:
www.youtube.com/thecanadianromantic

"I do this for you, there is nothing else like this, the mood of the room is shaped by what I provide, I am so honed like a beam of light that the Midnight Candlelight Recitation will be intensely fashioned and crafted going to` places unexpected. I will make love to you with my voice and soul and musical selections, I don't care who you are, NO COVER but the cover of night.Your life energies need us, this is a nice city but a tad stiff, it needs a massage, my hands can do that, lower, lower, lower, lower....
My Midnight Candlelight recitation is always a hit with the people! What are recitations? Intense spoken reflections of the soul in a romantic manner. We are here to help you get through this mortal life. Have a request? I will fulfill you in a voice that has been trained and honed from the deepest core of my being. Close your eyes? Is this a record? No, it's me talking to you right now, there'll be records after."
FEELINGS is a special night where we spin music that you probably won’t normally hear. A boutique mix of :
ELUSIVE DREAMINGS/PRIVATE PRESSINGS/FREE FORMS/CAN CON CONCRETE/B SIDE EXCURSIONS/ELECTRONIC PRIMITIVA/EMOTIONS/EURO HORRORS/INTENSELY PERSONAL VISIONS/DEEP PSYCH/UN-EASY LISTENINGS AND BALLADS/PRISON SOUNDTRACKS/FANTASTIC JOURNEYS OF WONDER/ORGAN-ISMS/NEO-BAROQUE
With a midnight candlelight night recitation by The Canadian Romantic

This will be ...special.

Then Tuesday April 12th Lorenz Peter Presents: Issues with DJ LP playing Space Disco, Canadian synthpop & new wave vinyl! etc... 10:00 till close.
Lorenz is a talented musician and artist in his own right with unique personal visions whether it's playing synths and FX in Corpusse, making his Vermillion Sands style alien landscape paintings, or his crazy ass comix!To Hurting People

Since we are struggling with pain, even at this moment, we have first hand knowledge of what it is like to experience the silence of God. Sometimes the immense loneliness of pain-whether physical, mental or emotional-is completely overwhelming!
As you listen to us spin, let the music wash over your brokenness as great healing waves of God’s merciful love until you hear the music once again.

From our hearts to yours,
D.J. Body Beautiful and DJ LP

still time to bid

2011-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

See the previous post about the auction?
The

art auction is almost over, up at the Gladstone until April 5 from 12-5pm each day
(free admission). Act fast.
Bidding on my painting will not only help Japan, it will help my fragile ego. Oh, and there's plenty of other great art as well.

Toronto Loves Japan

2011-04-01T07:11:00.001-07:00

This is my piece being auctioned off for The Toronto Loves Japan auction, happening at The Gladstone tonite (April 1st) 7-10 PM. Tell any pals with an excess of money. It's for a great cause (did you hear about Japan?), my man Shayne Ehman (Lord Falcon) asked me to be involved, no hesitation. $20 suggested admission (includes raffle ticket)

*Special one night only auction and raffle with art gifts and surprises*

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:
Sonja Ahlers, Paul Aloisi, Nicholas Aoki, Stephen Appleby-Barr, Andrew Remington Bailey, Ashley Barron, Marc Bell, Diego Bergia, Katie Bethune-Leamen, Shary Boyle, Mat Brown, Robin Cameron, Tyler Clark-Burke, Trudie Cheng, Mark Connery, Robert Dayton, Taku Dazai, Brett Despotovich, Yuri Didrichsons, Nicholas DiGenova, Brian Donnelly, Dave Dyment, Shayne Ehman, Matthew Feyld, Melissa Fisher, Brendan Flanagan, Theo Gallaro, James Gardner, Shannon Gerard, Dana Gils, Heather Goodchild, Adrian Hayles, Heydon Park Artists, Sachi Hirano, Derrick Hodgson, Jay Isaac, Melinda Josie, Nathan Jurevicius, Adrienne Kammerer, Kozyndan, Nobuo Kubota, Chris Kuzma, Patrick Kyle, Christy Langer, Aaron Leighton, Tessar Lo, Amy Lockhart, Jamiyla Lowe, Derek Mainella, Chris Martin, Megan McKenzie, Jason Mclean, Alex McLeod, Julie Moon, Jennifer Murphy, Alicia Nauta, Tibi Tibi Neuspiel, Noel Middleton, Luke Painter, Roula Parthenou, Sandy Plotnikoff, Brad Phillips, Katherine Piro, Andrew Pommier, Lauchie Reid, Tony Romano, Kathryn Ruppert-Dazai, Tania Sanhueza, Jennifer Rose Sciarrino, Seth Scriver, Emiko Sekiguchi, German Shible, Lisa Smolkin, Jordan Sonenberg, Jennie Suddick, Derek Sullivan, Team Macho, Jon Todd, Michael Toke, Celeste TooGood, Karen Tracanelli, Howie Tsui, Brett Tyler, Lara Vincent, Andrew Waite, Meichen Waxer, Jacob Whibley, Billy Bert Young, Hyun-Chung Yu and Balint Zsako.

Camp

2011-03-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

Just read a quote on camp that relates to me further than previously realised, could be a salvation or a dagger in the heart: "To be camp is to present oneself as being committed to the marginal with a commitment greater than the marginal merits." (Mark Booth) Maybe it's time to watch Black Swan again.
Below is a proposed album sleeve that I somewhat recently designed for Points Gray (unreleased album by me, Dan Bejar, Julian lawrence, late 90s, wish I could attach MP3s, guess I'll leave that for my tumblr account).
Finding a label for it has proven impossible and depressing and the story of my life.

I learn the hard way that Canada rewards banality, but will I learn the same lesson about the rest of the world? There may be no place.

The Canadian Romantic - Episode Twelve: Real Mail

2011-03-21T09:21:00.001-07:00

The Mailman brings The Canadian Romantic a letter that sparks an urgent message to all Canadians and then some!
Episode 12 - Real Mail
Directed By Robert Dayton & Craig Irving
Written By Robert Dayton (with Chris Locke)
Shot and Edited By Craig Irving

The Canadian Romantic - Episode Eleven: Mail Ritual

2011-03-03T09:23:00.001-08:00

BRAND NEW EPISODE! Yayyy! It's been a while...

This time around the mailman brings The Canadian Romantic a letter from Jason Mclean...
If you enjoy this please feel free to share with your loved ones, we're making it for the pleasure of people...

perpetual neuroses machine

2011-03-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

Creative neuroses. A common theme.
Often perpetual.
"Oooh, Robert are you ever satisfied?", my close pals ask.
PREPARE TO BE WHINED! ...again...perhaps one day I can dine.
I am currently hustling and pitching good albums to labels, a strong book project to publishers. And it can drive me crazy. I certainly get enough validation and approval from trusted sources. Yes, I know that they are good and not just taking up space. Often people are totally surprised that I've never had a label or publisher before. I look bigger than I am, people often think that I am totally set up. I know that with a couple of the projects I've had some people say, "I can't believe that no one's released this" which just messes my mind further. With some labels that I pitch to I get "This is really great" a lot but nothing further. Sometimes they act like they just know someone else will put it out. The worst feedback that I have received (so far) was from one publisher, a publisher I respect, that is known as being notoriously picky, telling me that my work wasn't "polished" enough which made sense to me at the time as much of their books are rather technically refined and precise, but then weeks later I saw that one of their latest books looked like a bunch of crude finger paintings and I asked myself, "What's the audience for this? Who would want to buy this?"
I'm not supposed to let it get to me. It's outside of my control, right? Just move on to the next one (I did). It's eating me up inside.And I can't get bitter...again, I've taken measures to not get bitter (again), even moving to a new city.
The thing I am most sick of hearing when I tell random people that I am searching for labels/publishers of pretty much any size (but the right fit, etcetera) is, "Why don't you just do it yourself?"
From now on, I will respond by banging a table and yelling, "Do you know who I am? Do you know the things that I have done? Oh, you don't? Well! For near on twenty years now I have been self-publishing numerous little mags, even a newspaper, etc., and have even- with various acts- released half a dozen albums, numerous tours to strong response. Not to mention the numerous performances, art shows, and mags I've contributed to. Hmm. And you don't know this...perhaps it's because it's had no backing! I repeat: no backing!" Many of these projects that I do have garnered more attention than some of the stuff out there that actually has backing but, because it was DIY it lacked decent distribution (case in point: a rave review from a noted authority causes people in England to want to get an album of mine but the 'distributor' tells them it's sold out- tho it's rather not). I'm told that I am the most known unknown source. I'm not deliberately trying to be obscure. I'd like to create (communicate/express) unhindered and not lose money. Many of my peers and collaborators are garnering well deserved success so that they can develop and grow and do what they do and do it well with something to say. I sometimes have to hear a few of them complain about their lack of acclaim, yet they have labels, or complain about their Italian dealers, yet they actually have dealers, or having to tour, yet they have booking agents and huge shows...I love them but it can be hard for me to listen to sometimes.
I'll admit that some of this sounds like horn tooting, some of you readers of this blog know my history and output- that's how you found this blog- but some of you don't so I have to back up my complaining. How much do these feelings of mine stem from a sense of entitlement? Hmm. Well, is it really too much to want backing after putting so much into it? There is a sense of ego at play here that mixes in with a sense of selflessness, of considering the audience, to make sure that it is relatable yet not banal. Cynics seem drawn to my work. Another ridiculous notion is one of focus when it's obvious I raise a high bar for each project, maybe I should ask James Franco to put his name to it. Or Banksy (yuck).
By writing these thoughts am I sabotaging greater successes? Shattered illusions. I feel like I created multiple mythos long ago so does that even matter, or is the constant reinvention at stake? Nobody knows that I am actually 200 years old (as someone suggested the other day) so the youth culture chips don't need to be cashed in (bless you Debbie Harry).
I've been learning to let go, to not force things, but those feelings have been creeping up again.
I can't stop creating, it's a force working through me that keeps emanating, anti-block, it's spiritual, still it actually feels more spiritual when I feel like I am working towards something...
I'm tired and I don't know what the fuck I am doing wrong. I'd just love to know so I can improve and grow and make things happen.

YESTERDAZE

2011-02-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

Tonite (Saturday Feb 26 at Dbl Dbl Land, 209 Augusta) I'll be the host of a bar called "YESTERDAZE" for a celebration of the release of young mother's limited edition cassette, "collected works for solo piano"

This newest (it doesn't even exist yet), hottest club in toronto, "YESTERDAZE" is opening for one night only before it closes to make way for a waste disposal plant.

preemptively pegged as "the most authentic vintage experience of 2525", by none other than cultural icon/cartoon wizard walt disney, who has been freshly revived from cryogenic stasis for this very event.

in an effort to enhance your clubbing experience, there will be free nutritional supplements available throughout the evening.

this is not an evening to be missed.

featuring performances by:

nick flanagan
http://www.myspace.com/nickflanagan

half automaat (carl didur)
http://soundcloud.com/zacht-automaat

huckleberry friends
http://www.myspace.com/huckleberryfriends

young mother
http://soundcloud.com/young_mother

environment by:

xenia benivolski
joele walinga
augustina saygnavong
jesse james laderoute

drinks by:

juliann wilding

2 LIVE Canadian Romantic appearances...

2011-02-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Doing two Canadian Romantic performances in Toronto Wednesday and Thursday:

The Box
The Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W (backroom)
Wednesday, February 23 · 8:00pm - 11:30pm
The Box invites you to our winter evening of short words, film, performance and music by:
Claudia Dey
Robert Dayton
Dr Ew
Lynne Heller
Kathleen Phililips
Annette Mangaard
Annie Onyi Cheung
John Southworth
+ door treats from Alert Music, Arc Poetry Magazine, Carousel, Coach House Books, Dandyhorse, DC Books, Geist, Grain Magazine, Hunter and Cook, Mercer Union, Pedlar Press, Public, The Malahat Review, Matrix, Shameless, Tightrope Books, Transit Publishing, Worn Journal and others.
The Box is a quarterly salon night of readings, performances, screenings, interventions and networking that aims to bring diverse communities and audiences into an environment of artistic and social intermingling.

The Parkdale Comedy Experiment
The Shop under Parts & Labour, 1566 Queen St. W.
Thursday, Feb. 24th 9-12.
Come laugh and funny jokes and trade weird stuff at the bodega!
Don't forget about the meat raffle!? YOU DESERVE IT!
Hosted by Conor Holler & Sara Hennessey
This months guests:
Robert Dayton
Sexy Girl Party w. Sleepover Dad
sketch by Ladystache
Improv by Falcon Powder!
And music by Jenna Rogers.
9pm, $3

2011-02-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

sigh, I hate when I post a vid here, the sidebar covers part of it up...this appears to be a recent problem....

The Canadian Romantic- Valentine's Day Special

2011-02-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

This is way too belated, sigh, better late than never, shit happens, the sentiment holds....

CATS! And other animals...

2011-01-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

Oh hello...
Bit of a headcold.
Congestion.
Moving forward...
Working a bit more on the book and other projects.
I now have a tumblr where I mostly post random ephemera:

http://robertdayton.tumblr.com/

The Canadian Romantic is now on Twitter, follow him:
https://twitter.com/TheCanRomantic

And here is the latest Canadian Romantic vid: Episode Ten: Cats! And other animals..., if ya like, link it up, tell pals:

last minute deejaying....tonite....

2011-01-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

It is January 25th and I deejay tonite at The Ossington (61 Ossington).
Last minute!
Informal FEELINGS!
9 pm
Midnite Candlelight Recitation.
I'll spin this:

The Canadian Romantic: Wind Of Mail

2011-01-17T12:01:00.001-08:00

I am told that this is the most depressing day of the year. I don't feel it. the day's not over yet. Do you feel it? Here's a video. Hope you no longer feel that but feel the video, feel me. Feel free to repost, link, love, et al, if you like like like.

The Canadian Romantic: Your Mail

2011-01-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

If ya dig it, feel free to link, repost, comment, I want as many people to see as possible this weekly series....

FEINT

2011-01-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

I perform as part of Feint of Hart again this Thursday, so good, it's free and it inventively mixes comedy with music and multimedia and costumes and more, yes yes. So nice to be asked to be a part. This is part four but no matter, just go enjoy the continuing story of an all male Naval academy's regular talent show...
In the Arbor Room, Hart House, University of Toronto
DOORS 9PM
SHOW 10PM SHARP
FREE

I'd blog more when I was aching and breaking open spilling guts, things go awry.
And now?
I feel fine.
I feel just fine.
Shouldn't I blog then? Or is this just a platform to complain, not praise. Oh exalted!
Someone added me as a friend. They had some sort of piercing that marked them as a self-described individual in broad brushstrokes. It kept me from blogging. The act of blogging felt so inflated and self-important. Get out of myself.

A FRESH YEAR

2011-01-02T08:29:00.001-08:00

ANOTHER YEAR

2010-12-31T19:02:00.000-08:00

This is going to be the best 2011 ever!

The last 2011 sucked.

Many people are really hoping that this year is better than last year, well, it is actually up to us to make it a better year. Us, and The Illuminati, of course.
Ta!

SASKATOON FINDINGS

2010-12-27T18:24:00.000-08:00

Saskatoon? Yes, I was there for a few days, yes. And it was. It was. Homogeneity. Yet in the old shops there lingered items. One shop had a knit thingy like the multicoloured start of a knit afghan shawl, deep V woolly band with fringe in red, blue, yellow, and white. One dollar. Same shop had a VHS entitled Primal: an instinct for the original. It's for hairstyling, upon watching it all I got was a slightly fuzzy taping of CTV. In another charity shop was a VHS called Glitterball, if only, it's a British children's movie about aliens. Same shop: first Care Bears LP by Flo and Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) of The Turtles. Canned Hamm performed at the Bubblegum Achievement awards in LA a few years ago where Volman and Kaylan got an award for their work on The Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake. Somewhere there's a photo of me with Mark Volman. Wish I knew where.

What else did I get in Saskatoon? A book by one of my fave sci-fi authors, Michael Moorcock, about space-rock band Hawkwind, "Rocking on the edge of time. Rock and roll sci-fi."

A pivotal Brian Aldiss sci-fi novel entitled Cryptozoic which is a psychosexual thriller about man and time.

A hyper-stylized graphic novel from the late 70s entitled Psychorock by Macedo, sci-fi glammed out Euro fantasies with imagery that looks like it came off a fifth dimensional van.

A rare 1967 romance comic with the glossiest pages entitled Mod Love, hyper-stylized as well, like the Yellow Submarine movie, better than Peter Max. Link to pages here:
http://kathykavan.com/?tag=comic

The very 80s post-apocalytptic comic miniseries Slash Maraud with an Eastwoodian hero and a blue haired fighting female in a zebra print leotard, people on the fringes of society:

An issue of Hex, which was the series where Wild West comic book hero Jonah Hex gets zoomed into an unreadable post-apocalyptic future.
Jack Kirby taking on the kung-fu craze in issue three of Richard Dragon, it's as good as one would hope even though he didn't write it (Denny O'Neill did).
A Canadian comic book entitled Super Shamou that warns against solvent huffing in the North West Territories.
A Canadian comic book entitled Binkly and Doinkel that teaches children about harmful chemicals. This was actually also a series of televison PSAs (I wish these were up on YouTube) as well as a puppet show that I saw as a small child. Binkly and Doinkel were aliens and the comic book still looks great!

If anyone wants further details, let me know.
Otherwise, here's a video:

TIDINGS

2010-12-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

New vid, every week, if you feel lonely, sad, et al this X Mas, you are not alone...maybe this vid will help.
Feel free as well to drop me a line if you do feel that way, I understand:
moustachedpainless@yahoo.com

TONETTA WROTE A SONG ABOUT ME, PLUS: LONER SHOW

2010-12-18T00:10:00.000-08:00

Well, actually my character The Canadian Romantic:

As well my interview with the talented Brian Barlow of The Loner Show is up at Hunter and Cook. It's all about the many characters that he has created and how the last Loner Show is this Sunday nite at The Rivoli. 5 bux. I will be performing , along with over 60 other people for a minute each, as The Canadian Romantic:
http://www.hunterandcook.com/archives/449#more-449

That show will be wild!

This Tonetta vid was posted after trying to call him at 5 PM all week as he was going to come on my The Canadian Romantic show, he became elusive then this vid just appeared. Weird day today. Before that vid appeared I found out about Captain Beefheart dying, I knew it was coming as he'd had advanced MS for quite a while but it still hit. Just can't stop listening to Beefheart, the sonic tones of "Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" (my fave) are just so overpowering. I took him for granted for so long but just so pivotal, so pivotal. I remember as a teeny bopper in Northern BC (pre-internet) reading weird allusions to him and wondering what the deal was, ole but needed it, had it on cassette, went with my Mom, ROCKING POETIC INTENSITY, I was looking for wilder and wilder sounds and there they were, showing possibilities, so many, he even dressed well, a personal style God: his moustache, tortoise shell specs, I once found a scarf just like on the cover of Bongo Fury, so bummed when that went missing, even his paintings helped show me viscerality.
Please share your personal thoughts on Beefheart, love to hear them....

CHRISTMAS FEELINGS/LONELINESS/NEW CANADIAN ROMANTIC

2010-12-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot to post this...The Ossington (61 Ossington) asked me back and it was organised last minute so that I could play my X Mas records, yayyyyyyy!I just bought two new ones: The Rotary Connection (psych-soul) and Spinal Tap!
Tuesday, Dec 13th, 9 PM. My fave vid store Eyesore Cinema is donating prizes: if you bring some non-perishables for the food bank you increase your likelihood of winning...

As well The Canadian Romantic will be appearing for his Midnite Candlelight recitation. Oh, and here's his new video:

Just as I was about to go on meds, I feel like I have turned a page recently. May it continue. Strange these feelings when even confidence is being restored. Oh, those pendulum swings of ego manifestations from self-grandeur to self-pity. Numerous baseball bat hits to its' kneecaps the last couple of months, some of which have been detailed, some of which I won't...In terms of female relations, I've often feel like saying lately, "I deserve far better than this. I do not deserve to be treated this way. In fact, no one should be treated this way." I made rules the previous week of no asking girls out, keeping away, they have to come to me for I do not want to be hurt anymore. I have too much to offer for that kind of run-around. Rules break, eye contact is made, I have an amourous character, is this wise?
However, I may just be crazy, deluded. With hopeful growth. My name is Jesus Christ and I will fuck you, skip the martyrdom.
Part of my pain is that I have had mountains and lost them. When an ex (who looks like a red-headed Caroline Munro but better: by the way, people have all this celeb lust and there are people just walking down the street who look far better, dress better and are probably way more interesting than most celebs) that deep love and laughs were shared with, bringing out each other's good qualities, well, of course I will feel deep loss. Mind you, with the previous ex I wondered if I'd date again and it got better (with a former child actress rebound on E thrown in-between of course). So deep pain from what I've had (gone to never return), more gratitude of what I've had, the life I've lived, what I have, the gifts I've been given.
I'm doing okay. My current vibe: fuck it.
I don't care about my needs! I'm simply more into delivering the goods to others right now. And if they reject it then, well, it just wasn't right or it is their loss, not mine.
Who knows what is to come?
I'd been pretty depressed, sad, and lonely, so encountering other folks who are in a bit of that same boat who say, "Those new vids made me less depressed, etcetera" makes me realise what I have to do and why I have to do it. If I can get it to more folks, even better. Of course, if I can also make people less lonely and depressed by using my other gift (my large penis) then even better.
I don't really need to exist in my own head all the time, thank you very much.
Sure hope this feeling lasts.
Hey, here's something, I went to a party yesterday for a charity. It was filled with people that went through unimaginable horrors and had to escape to Canada. They were laughing and had dignity.
Cherish your day.

The Canadian Romantic with guest Henri Faberge

2010-12-06T11:55:00.000-08:00

A new video. Find The Canadian Romantic on Facebook as well:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Canadian-Romantic/177334005628060
Our first guest Henri Faberge who has been doing a monthly residency of rather ambitious productions at Hart House of late. The Canadian romantic is midly catty, perhaps, he is threatened?

LOCKED IN

2010-12-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

Last night: riding my bike to a date that all signs show is not going to go well- it's out of my hands and opting out is bad form-it eventually goes worse than imagined. En route my mind races back to when I was in a relationship and wishing that I could be there again. But I can't. No use living in the past. This is now. No other options but the present. I am locked in and can't get out.

INTERVIEWED

2010-11-30T15:45:00.000-08:00

Focused? Oh yeah, I am FOCUSED! Focused on checking my e mail every two fucking minutes...

Refine that!

I have recently decided to drop all current creative projects and focus all of my energies on Facebook.

Or have I, Chrissssst? These laser beams are shooting out of my tips, even while sick, they keep coming. Lonelier than ever, solution: work alone. Confidence comes running back into my bloodstream, still lonely.

Here's a brand new in-depth interview with me, makes me look like I do and think about shit:

http://canadaisamusicmec.ca/2010/11/ciamm-interviews-robert-dayton/

Back to work/sleep/awakedness.

The Canadian Romantic Episode Two

2010-11-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

Filmed them in a row, working up a glow...
Feel free to subscribe, imbibe on em, share em, trade with friends, there are now two.

With all projects I say of late, "What's the use?" then all of a sudden put a new vid up once a week. Something is driving me. Friday night, I was cornered by a friend who started talking about me being esoteric with a limited audience. I did not bring the topic up, I just wanted to have a good time at a show, take my mind off of my problems. I became depressed (aren't I always? this is the first heaaaavy break-up where I did not choose the meds: wise decision?). He saw that I was becoming depressed. He kept on talking. A woman wanted to say goodbye to me and apologised profusely for interrupting, my eyes said, "Rescue me from this." Finally my bladder spoke an interior monologue and I dashed to the WC for my freedom.

Saturday, I did as little as humanly possible (Friday night's conversation stuck with me).

Sunday, I attended a group art show of which I am a part, Index G, large prints made and for sale. A fellow artist was telling me how this may be the wrong city for him as well and he's had astological cartography to prove it! In New York City, people like Roy Scheider -fresh from tennis and with a much taller woman- would come up to him thinking they knew him (Buck Henry as well). I may need to do this astrological cartography.
Then I attended a launch for a book of which I am a small part, I co-conducted a lengthy Kim Deitch interview:
http://www.conundrumpress.com/wp/?page_id=835

I had bitten my tongue, the very tip, and felt it all last week. Healing now. Sore throat today. Home from work. Nothing will get done. It's nap time.

Lately I've been thinking, "These may be my lost years."
Then I think, "Naw, I landed a role in an office supply commercial."

Please do not respond by saying, "I saw that!" Granted the more it runs, the more money I make and it was a real hoot to shoot. The following video is more meaningful, but perhaps it is far more esoteric than whoring laptops to the masses...

The Canadian Romantic

2010-11-22T06:33:00.000-08:00

I just don't know.
Ever since I got back from LA it's been one thing after another, nothing related to health or money fortunately, but many rejections in all manners and disappointments (the latest: a bailing on the Canned Hamm X Mas show in Vancouver at the last second, let's just say that Canned Hamm is pretty much finished after ten years and I am obviously sad about it). Some say that maybe I am just not being patient about these things (err, my Toronto band has been dormant for a year- is that patient enough?). I do have to be careful to not let my mourning fall into self-pity and victim mentalities. Perhaps the key isn't so much about patience but learning to let go and listen to the universe because I am starting to feel that I am really being told something right now.
That said, while these things happen I still have some perverse masochism to forge ahead on projects (revised proposed title for my book project: "The Lonely Bed").
Here's my latest. "The Canadian Romantic."
Shot and Edited By Craig Irving, bless him.
This is episode one, more to come on a regular basis.
If you like it go on YouTube, subscribe, leave comments, vote, and share it with your pals, link it up, yeah, bless ya.

CRY OUT FOR MUSICIANS

2010-11-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

Bassist needed for intense Toronto-based 4 piece rock act. Style, substance, and ability to tour a must. Drop me a jot if this applies to you or anyone you know....

I am serious about this.
Quite.
The act was getting a good response, call me 'self-important' but in today's tepid climate, this music is needed.
I will not post on Craigslist due to the fact that I am not desperate and have some semblance of dignity.
(if the above pic is you, do not apply)

I approach this city with a renewed confidence and vigour, though total stalls and rejection occasionally sucker-punch me.
It is only a test to see how much I can handle before I break.
Monday started with promise, my own tenacity amazes myself sometimes, how I can just put myself back together, this promise was dashed for a few reasons, the day turned utterly lousy, but I just kept right on going, check this potential suitor text message- she had long brown hair and a penchance for dictionaries: "I'm really busy. I'm sorry. Honestly I don't really have time for dates right now." I didn't ask to be single. Next up was sodas with pals, which made things better, at the end of the night a pretty girl was looking at me from across the room, I steeled myself and said hello to her, she said she was looking at me because I looked like a child rapist/killer from a movie she just saw, I kept my dignity and told her directly that it is probably not a nice thing for one to hear.
That day I had awoken full of joy and gusto which proved to me that I am not depressed, just that certain rejections (in all sorts of facets, such as artistic) affected me.
When I'd tell some people afterwards what had happened they'd feel a need to offer this sort of poor hard knuckle advice of 'suck it up', 'keep a going', 'it's all 90 percent rejection', 'don't take it personally' which caused me to wonder, "Do these people even stop to actually feel things?" It was hanging out with close pals the following eve that moved me further away from the noose (though a voice in the back of my head asks, "Is it really worth it to keep going?").
When I went off on my lil trip last month my confidence returned refreshed (a confidence that had previously waned for a few reasons) and now that I am back, these are just numerous little karate chops at it, trying to break me and test my resilience.
Yes, it is important to make contact, especially when you think someone may be looking at you.
I can say that I've had a world of such opportunities: missed and not missed but, more often than not, it is the confidence that grabs the latter. I've talked to many female friends in this burg who feel unattractive because no one even notices them and they are nice looking women!- maybe folks are just too caught up in their bullshit hustle bustle, I dunno, maybe it's people's fear. Does it hurt for someone to simply say, "You've got good style"?
On the topic of style, someone gave me weak advice to dress differently 'even as an experiment' and it just rings false and rather desperate (not to mention that it may have been a knock on my long cultivated appearance). Can you imagine? I automatically thought that if I'd taken that advice years ago I'd never have met some of my amazing friends and women I'd dated and fallen in love with, not to mention the fact that it'd cause one to feel extremely awkward and self-conscious. I hate to fall on appearances, but it is a mode of attraction that can lead honestly to personality. High standards must be maintained! Would I really want to attract someone that'd be into my new disguise? Gawwwd, what would we talk about? Careers? Here's a shit question: "What do you do?" Oh, and how much do you make? Sayonara. Let's call it a screening device (side note with wounded pride: as attractive and fascinating as the gals from my shitty shitty day were, their very natures were adequate enough as a screener, a 'I deserve -and have had- better' kinda nip-in-the-bud). I don't understand the taboo with one night stands, I've had more than my share but ask other folks and it's all poo-pooed, "Oh noooo, never!" However, I will say from experience, I'd never want a one night stand with someone I could barely stand! Standards must be maintained.
Forgive the lack of brevity but these are my thoughts on a day where the grey clouds are a little more busted and clarity is more apparent.

Oh, and we need a bassist. Thanks.

Hallow-recap and upcoming Henri Faberge show!

2010-11-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Dress up for Halloween?
Listen, honey, once you become a costume you never need wear one again, I put enough effort on stage and in the day-to-day attire anyways....

Saturday night Tim McCready had a pre-Halloween party and organised a performance of sacred harp singing! Sacred Harp singing! WOW! It is a type of singing that is so unearthly yet meant for the untrained singer. I found it a challenge. I mean I'm a rock n roll singer! But it felt good to get out of the comfort zone and do this kind of choral singing with ten people.

The same could be said for Halloween night. Getting into a zone and out of the comfort zone. It was my first collaboration with W.A. Davison- though we have been friends for a couple of years now and I dig his musical stylez. It was improvisatory, he used snippets of Halloween records altered along with keys.
This was done in a 'haunted house' set up by Henri Faberge, Juliann Wilding, and Joele Walinga. I love these guys and love being a part of their activities, they have good energy and good ideas! The house looked wild! Long red drapes for the entrance. Red lighting. Containers filled with teeth and such. Eerie performances.
I think our piece came off well, I lay naked under a sheer blue sheet on a creepy child's bed that was set up for the house. I imagined myself as a little girl who locked her mother in the basement, then as a creature who makes snakes that form occult formations come out of people's mouths . I could not see a thing but heard some idle chatter: grrrr, but was told after that it went well. Video soon?
A spur of the moment improvised garage rock jam happened in the basement with a member of The Bicycles, an intriguing woman, myself, and Lorenz Peter of Corpusse- man, I forgot about his garage organ roots, thought he was all about space synths! Lorenz and I had never jammed before and we'd known each other foreverrrr.
I asked people for song ideas and started singing about hairless cats, garbage removal, and gingivitis.
What a night.
One guy was dressed as Gary Wilson.

Back to Henri. He's got a big show on Thursday!Total multi-media! I'm in it as a left wing ranting hippy, check this info:
HENRI FABERGE'S FEINT OF HART : EPISODE II
A theatrical serialization of Henri Fabergé's early years.

EPISODE II: Thursday, November 4th
Arbor Room (Hart House, U of T)
DOORS 9PM
SHOW 10PM SHARP
FREE ADMISSION

EPISODE II

FEATURING
ALEX TINDAL
DOLDRUMS
KATHLEEN PHILLIPS
ALLIE HUGHES
ROBERT DAYTON
RANDY LEE
MIGUEL RIVAS
ARNOLD FABER
KAYLA LORETTE
ALANA JOHNSTON
MATT FOLLIOTT

and many more!

"FOR THE LADIES" up now at Hunter and Cook site

2010-10-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

In my recent moods I've been wondering about my life, it just gets darker and darker, has anything been furthered on my move to Toronto? I did say that I'd evaluate after two years. So I evaluate and get depressed. I go see a doctor. It's one of those doctors that believes in natural cures. He suggests to me, "Why don't you see this great clown that some rather 'in-the-know' friends have been telling me about? He will surely lift your spirits. His name is Robert Dayton." I yell at him, "Who you calling a clown, you quack!!!"

Anyways, Hunter and Cook Magazine has a BRAND new website:
http://www.hunterandcook.com/

They've featured six of ten examples from my "For The Ladies" series of art works.
Click here to see!

Yes, THE WORK IS FOR SALE, talk to me.
And, of course, the new ish features the first in-person in-depth interview with the force known as Tonetta that I did and wow...

TORONTO MUSICS

2010-10-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hi.
Hi.
Maybe it was the allergies, maybe it was jetlag, maybe it was the weather, maybe it was everything! Coming back was most difficult...
...made easier when I saw the faces of loved ones, those pals that I adore.
Saw a bunch at an art opening curated by Jay Isaac at RUINS then ventured to a rock show.
I had choices. Choices. I was thinking about Joe Preston, hadn't seen that guy since the 90s! When I was visiting LA, and one day over coffee, Allison Wolfe brought his name up. "What happened to that guy?"
"He's doing a one man project called Thrones."
I get back to Canada days later and he's playing. I needed to see him.
Then that sweetheart who I need to hang out with more by the name of Sean Kennedy tells me that a guy named Midnight from Cleveland is playing at midnight with women draped on him as he shreds songs from his album "Total Fucking Midnight." Aw mannn, choices.
His MySpace page is here:
http://www.myspace.com/athenarsmidnight

I hope to one day see Midnight.
I go see Thrones, bass guitar, burly man, mass pedals, man, eerie vocoderisms and attachments to be something spiritual, sparse drum machine punctures. Loud and needed.
unfortunately his vocal mic was not on for a couple songs. What the-?
This venue is a tragic one. Upstairs women are rendered unattractive by the fact that they are eating overpriced entrees of exotic meats (lamb heart, anyone?) guzzled down with wine. I have read quotations about them saying that it is 'punk' to do this. Downstairs the venue is made intentionally uncomfortable to replicate a DIY experience. Hmmm. Often DIY didn't set out to be uncomfortable, it was just we had to use whatever was at hand. This place is oozing money and yet went for a concrete bunker aesthetic. Fakery. I needed orthopedic shoes to hang out there. I'm not old...I'm not old....please...I'm not old...I just don't want my spine to curl up into a Golden Spiral even if it is in concordance with the universe! They have no stage, so short people have to use elbows with intention, also: shop lighting to sting the eyes! Must say this: friendly and hard working staff.
The local opener (and I don't feel like naming names, it doesn't do any good, I want to get at the underlying elements not single nouns out)played 'experimental metal' yet they were so by-the-books, playing it safe, people seemed to be into them, a small support group was held outside on a small patch of astro-turf laid out primarily for smokers. And me. As I bitched. Toronto, playing it safe...yeeeesh...

Two nights later. Sunday. I take it back. I see two Toronto acts that were great. Sure, they didn't have rock instrumentation or drums -just saying- they were great!
Six Heads had all of their stuff on a table and they'd just use some of it as needed for their improvised sounds...
Gastric Female Reflex is an appropriate name, two lads sucking on some amplified throat bits while using technology in an organic manner.
Bless em!
They both opened up for Rob from Climax Golden Twins from Seattle! I hadn't seen him perform in forever! Acoustic murder ballads, acoustic guitar chaos, loud drones, all of the above.
He was on a Sublime Frequencies tour, the label that documents as anti-purists the far reaching corners of the globe. We watched his doc on India which showed religious ecstacies on the bustling streets of India, nuclear reactors as a backdrop...
http://www.sublimefrequencies.com/

So I get all down on the safe TO music...but must keep in mind the great stuff that comes out of this city!
I share these links with you in hopes that you check it all out! And please turn me on to stuff as well...I want to know!
Six Heads:
http://www.myspace.com/6heads

Gastric Female Reflex:
http://www.myspace.com/gastricfemalereflex

Mantler:
http://www.tomlab.com/front/index.php?action=artist_detail&artist_id=6

Hank:
http://www.weepingtruckers.com/hank/hankrecordings.html

Pony Da Look:
http://www.myspace.com/ponydalook

Romo Roto:
http://www.myspace.com/romoroto

Corpusse:
http://www.myspace.com/corpusse

(a documentary about Corpusse just premiered at pop Montreal, it's made by the World Provider!!! I'm even interviewed...neat...! Can't wait to see it...)

I am also intrigued by recent acts Henri Faberge and Dentata...

...and then there's Tonetta! I just did the first in-person and indepth interview with this YouTube star in ish 7 of Hunter and Cook magazine and it comes out saturday nite at Paul Petro gallery on Queen: exciting!

L.A. Vacation 4 : Endgame

2010-10-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

Maybe I should have posted this sooner. I've been back for a week now and things are foggy....
One of my stand up comedy gigs was at Spaceland opening for Neil Hamburger. For such a desperate depressed guy, that guy has really helped a brother out time and time again over the years. How did it go? Great! Super well! And it was quite a strong bill.
Brody Stevens blew my mind with his intense inside riffing, I wanted to tell him how much I enjoyed his set but I was kinda scared of him:
http://www.brodystevens.com/

And there were also the fine talents of Keith Lowell Jensen:
http://www.myspace.com/keithlowelljensen

And *MAJOR ENTERTAINER* mike h whose new songs get catchier and catchier, he even sang a duet with Tom Green:
http://www.myspace.com/mikeh

Afterwards Mike H stood between Tom Green and I and said that we both couldn't be more different from each other. I asked Mike to elaborate but he wouldn't.
I got to talking about the nature of being onstage with Keith Lowell Jensen's pal whose name I tragically forgot!!! Sorry. I told him that I was nervous- it was a good bill, and luckily I used the energy for the act. Keith's pal said I looked confident. Maybe being onstage so much in the past has helped. However. Being up there alone telling jokes is such a different beast, it takes adjusting, and this pal of Keith's really knew that, he had performed for years with a hardcore band and, I think, even a circus sideshow, so making the comedy switch is not always so seamless. It can be loooonely!
Tonight it only felt lonely just before hitting the stage...

If you are ever in LA stay at The Hollywood Inn.
Kidding!
read some reviews here

Bandmate Scott and I had accommodation shenanigans in that, through freak occurrences, we almost had no place to go. Luckily, a super kind benefactor bought us a room for 8 nites at the Hollywood Inn which sure beats staying out on the street! This benefactor has our eternal gratitude!
I do not want to sully this gratitude in any way but I've got to tell you tales. When our toilet stopped working the manager blamed us for it-twice! When the phones stopped working the manager simply said, "No outgoing calls."
Blood stains on the walls.
Numerous shady men appeared at this hotel with shady much younger women.
Here's the capper, my Toronto agent wanted me to tape an audition for Rogers (who, in a separate matter, were racking up my phone bill repeatedly calling about a mildly late internet bill) because the casting director asked for me specifically. I didn't have a camera or a computer! So I had to scramble, as well as prep my audition: very stressful. A rather lovely girl (sigh) that I'd just recently met asked a friend of hers to tape it for me. Success! End of story? No. Now the director wanted to talk to me on Skype. At 7 AM. More scrambling. More stress. Friends loaned me their Skype. I checked it out at the hotel and everything was working fine. Come the morning of the interview nothing worked, Scott helped me out, we tried everything. It was no use. Standing at the front desk was another sad sack with a non-functioning laptop and no desk clerk in sight. The hotel had somehow turned off their wireless. They also knew that I had an important interview that would gain me hundreds or more of dollars.
And as time slowly ran out, the audition people said something to the effect of, "We'll keep you in mind for future roles..."
Nearly in tears I stammered, "I am on vacation...I have done everything in my power...let me run to Starbucks."
Which I did. I did my audition all stressed out in the middle of a Starbucks.
What a miserable couple of days. Thankfully I have a great and understanding agent!
Did I get the role?
No.
I heard that I lost it due to the insanity of that morning.
That is how the acting business works, by the way. They can always find somebody else, so if you can't make the audition happen then, well, tough cookie...

Okay, here's a happy note: my pal Simone took me for a workout with Richard Simmons.

He's a hoot!!! Sometimes it was hard to work out for laughing!
He commented on my heart shaped sweat stain and noted my distinct lack of rhythm. As an ice breaker, he tried guessing my favourite subject in school to no avail. "Chemistry? Math? Biology?" A few minutes later he asked the group if there were any singers in attendance.
Simone yelled, "Robert's a singer!"
"Oh, what do you sing?"
I retorted, "Anything without rhythm."

My pals Marika got me and a date some tickets to see John Carpenter speak at the massive and legendary Egyptian Theatre. I am a big John carpenter fan, however, they didn't even screen a 35 MM film copy of Escape From New York: it was blu-ray!!! During the Q and A, I wanted to ask a question that had been bugging me for years (What was his synopsis for Halloween 7 with Jamie Lee Curtis that was most unfortuantely rejected for being too weird?)but there were just too many questions, including a woman who just wanted to know how to be in his movies. As he left, a massive throng followed him with autograph pens in hand.
L.A. I love it. Sure it can be desperate. It can be kinda self-absorbed and kooky but so am I.
Coming back was hard. I packed a sweater but was still shivering.
My allergies kicked in badly when I landed in Toronto which helped to make me very depressed.
My ex sent me a nice e mail, it had been 8 months since telling her that I needed space to get over the relationship, the email was nice but it messed me up, I'd greatly inflated a "How are you?" in my mind and had difficulty in composing a reply.
Leaving the house, I'd smile at girls to no response, in talking to them aloofness reigned ("Meh...I'm on facebook..."), but that happens to all genders and persuasions in this city, I know, I've asked around.
I fell into a morass of self-pity, this time with confidence in my abilities.
People have been telling me that I should live in LA but it's just not that easy to move there. And, I wonder, would it make a positive difference on my career? An outlet?
The positive thing is that finally after a few days of being back I saw my pals and it was nice....
I will forge ahead as it is all I can do.

L.A. Vacation 3

2010-10-06T11:02:00.001-07:00

I have come to realise that when it comes to records and comic books-especially used or soiled ones- Toronto is a real Mecca (just check out the Toronto Comic Art Fair which happens once a year, Holy Moses...).
Los Angeles, not so much.
I hit Meltdown Comics because of its' large Dan Clowes designed sign and found... nothing. Nothing that I didn't already have, at least.
When I went to Amoeba Records five years ago it was awe staggering. This time around it was picked over. I did find a few Joe South albums. I love that Joe South. Love that rugged sensitive sound.

At one of The Dingaling nites I met the owner of The Black Tent Press label, who just put out a limited edition Tonetta single following the now sold out LP. This single is incredible! It's a totally immersive and dank environment that has a kind of groove to it, short and sweet on pink vinyl. It's been mixed and mastered to sound great, you can hear all the little things he does in the background while sometimes his voice is so sweatily close to your ear that it distorts, a tad different than the YouTube versions but still very Tonetta. Tonetta is the best thing to happen to music in years. Yes, he is strongly visual, he's YouTube famous! But these records show that he's a solid intuitive musician making clever arrangements from trashy musical elements, in even the dirtiest of songs he can make a unique turn of phrase, the songs are catchy and work well on their own.
Tonetta is 62.
Richard Sax Ross must be in his 40s or so.
I don't really believe this but, I have been stating that I will now discount the musical work made by people in their 20s. It's just only one decade in the person's life and if they are still making music afterwards then the wheat has been separated from the chaff.
I somewhat kid as a deliberately ageist reaction to ageism in pop.

I did find an amazing book in LA that I never knew existed! My pals Kim and Richard took me to a lending library started by a former NEA head of Lit in a more disadvantaged area of L.A. There's been library cutbacks made in L.A. so this storefront fulfills a service. Tucked into one shelf was this:

I am a big Terry Southern fan and The Loved One is one of my favourite motion picture comedies, it's a rather controlled zany film, made just before those star-laden comedies got zany for zany's sake. This book is full of crazy captions and glorious photos: the movie itself is a rare comedy that looks gorgeous (so does Dr. Strangelove which Southern also wrote).

And, yes, the original Evelyn Waugh novel is a work of greatness!

Kim and Richard run the Esotouric Bus Tours which does numerous theme tours such as Hotel Vice, Black Dahlia and more! They really know their stuff!
They took me to The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, an old church founded by former revival tent preacher Aimee Semple McPherson. I got a sort of Elmer Gantry vibe from it. They would do elaborate pageants, give lots of food to the poor, and she even disappeared for a month to great controversy!

Kim's grandparents do a video blog and mentioned Lady GaGa in one episode. Because of this, one crazy company sent the grandparents one of their products: a Lady GagGag blow up doll. Luckily, the grandparents never saw it. To get this item out of their house, it was given to me. It looks nothing like Lady GaGa, not realistic at all, but in terms of basic blow up doll function, it does its' job, but is not nearly as good as an attractive woman.

Anyways. Kim and Richard do a regular salon at Clifton's. Clifton's is my dream cafeteria. It opened in 1931 with a mandate of no one being left unfed. The food is dirt cheap (goes right through you but I kinda like it) and the surroundings are wild! Wild life wild! Bears catching fish and other sights! There's even a small serenity chapel designed to look like it was cut out of a tree, with an ancient pre-recorded sermon and a lit tableaux of fake nature through plexiglass (it is a curious theme this emulation of nature in Christianity, and it is a recurring theme, I have Volumes one and two of albums entitled "The Birds Sing his Praise" which is a man whistling like birds overtop of organ music as a testament to God and creation).
Clifton's has just -just!- been bought by what people deem 'hipsters' , there is a fear that it will be gentrified, this is combined with a relief that it won't go out of business, I am curious to see how it plays out, it is a place for the disenfranchised (and always has been as the old photos show) so fingers are crossed.
I was fortunate enough to present my latest art works at this Salon.
Documented here:

L.A. VACATION PART TWO

2010-10-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

Canada can't do Mexican food. L.A. sure can. I even had vegan Mexican. in regards to lard, I just didn't want to know.
I crashed everywhere from mansions behind the Marmont to Echo Valley apartment floors...and I'll say this: L.A. homes are niiiiice! Art Deco and Mexican influence! Easy on the allergies.
So after a coupla days I did Club Dingaling which is a Tuesday night thing put on by Don Bolles and Nora from Fancy Space People. It's a pretty special night where they get as wild and freaky as possible. I met Don many years ago where we bonded over records, he had talked me out of some LPs by an odd eerie female Christian ventriloquist that I saw as a child who forever scarred me. Don's got quite the Christian children's record collection. Much of the music he spun at Dingaling crossed over with what I'd spin at my Feelings nite, so it felt just like home! Maybe L.A. is. He also showed some insane VHS projections, usually of cheap puppets in Christmas pageants.
At this Dingaling I was performing solo doing a recitation as The Romantic. Sometimes when I perform solo I think that I am doing worse than I actually am. The sound was odd: I thought everyone was talking when it was actually the cigarette smokers outside audible through an open side door just off the stage! People told me later that the place was hushed! When I asked "Should I wrap this up?" a woman yelled, "Yes!" I replied, "I love it when women say yes."
I walked off feeling vulnerable.
But it actually went over well. People were into it. One fella came up to me and said, "I'm jaded and I really liked that."
But my act was weird for the too-cool-for-schoolers. I didn't think people finding a slow talking hushed romantic to be weird but it was! I honestly don't think of what I am doing as weird. I don't black out onstage or get naked anymore, I try not to push or force things. But it still comes off as weird.
With Hallmark I was striving for ballad oriented songcraft but people were saying that even Hallmark is weird! And I was trying to be normal and natural! I guess that's just the way it is.
Anyways I wanted to unwind and stick around at Dingaling to watch Shazzula Nebula from France play her set but my ride wanted to leave: bummer....
Back to Hallmark. Playing with people who are all totally committed to music, right into it, is such a good feeling! All five of us were crackling. Scott had flown out from Vancouver just to make this happen. We are an LA/Vancouver/Toronto group. The shows went smashingly! We were actually set to play Dingaling the following Tuesday but, alas, the police came crashing down and said that the club didn't have the proper paperwork for live music. It was completely out of our hands but we couldn't help but feel depressed.
A few days later we played a gallery and it went super well. Don showed up and after a few of our songs he started mad texting to set us up a show! And he did! We played on a terrific bill at a venue a few days later called Showcave. Don said we were like Jobriath if he was good, ha ha! The opening act was a guy called Richard Sax Ross, a lone man singing over backing tracks and playing electronic sax bathed obscured in blue lights...Night music. Had an 80s ballad style to it but his own rather earnest take. He had stopped playing music due to personal tragedy but people like Ariel Pink have encouraged him to go on and the world is better for it! I was amazed by him, simply amazed. I strongly urge you to check him out. We also played with seminal LA synth punkers Nervous Gender and a catchy set of songs by Steve Moramarco of Abe Lincoln Story! It was a great bill!
It truly felt great to play.
Someone was telling me how a lot of bands just don't have intensity and it's true. Both LA and Toronto are immersed in a kind of limp indie pop. Ten years ago I proposed the theory that if people dressed up to perform, the music would get interesting. I have been proven wrong many times of late. I wound up at one show with some indie popper in a long elaborate coat looking completely awkward singing his limp songs.
I want to perform great songs and make them crackle! And connect with the audience.
I so loved playing again, we all want to play again soon, maybe December in Vancouver, February in LA, I hope so, we love it, the Hallmark album sounds good and we want it to see the light of day! We believe in it!

I was also on a couple bills doing comedy.
Wayyyy out in Santa Monica is a house that converts its' garage once a month into a venue called The Comedy Carhole replete with chairs and lights! An AM radio is turned on and off for the comedians' entrances and exits. I luckily got the final bars of "Something" by the Beatles. The place was packed! I wandered into the house and saw maggots on the ceiling! Why? I don't know. Back to the garage. My set went super well but I had to jet away and on to the bus! Yes, the bus. They run in LA. They're actually not bad! Comfy seats, TVs, and every stop is announced, I made my way around mostly okay!
Of course I got lost and a lovely lady that I met picked me up and made sure I was okay, bless her heart!
Where did I have to jet off to? To see Kim Fowley sing "They're Coming to take Me away Ha Ha" at a birthday party.

Giddle Partridge introduced me to this looming figure with a pretty 20-something on his arm. I asked him how long it took him to record side two of Outrageous. "Fifteen minutes." He then told me that one man went mad and another committed suicide from making that album. Luckily I brought some grains of salt with me. It was an odd party. Rather aloof. People tripping out. Everyone dressed all freak beat. I felt under dressed. A fella said I looked like Holger Czukay from Can. Someone else at a Hallmark gig said I looked like Werner Herzog in the 70s. This felt good and alleviated all doubts about me shaving my moustache. It stays! The moustache stays!
But enough about me. This is my blog.

LA VACATION DIARY

2010-10-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

Toronto. Late August/ early September or so.
I was bummed out from a creative endeavour. Oh, it received a strong response from those who saw it but due to circumstances (time of year, lack of gallery promotion) nothing sold and I felt drained from all the energy I put into it, other projects temporarily set aside.
My day job contract was ending.
I needed to get away to L.A.
For good? Oh, how I wish that were feasible, I am at Canada endgame: Toronto, the last place within the borders, thousands of dollars and much paperwork is needed to leave this country.
Jessica, my bandmate in Hallmark lives in LA, she really wanted me to come out and get the band going again. I was all for that. Committed. It should blossom and grow, not wither and die. It had been a year since I performed a full set of music!
What do we sound like? Here:
http://www.myspace.com/hallmarkgroup

Vacations can inspire and recharge and possibilities can be explored.

Sept. 9th
On the flight over a pretty young lady was getting set to do something exciting at the VMAs (Video Music Awards) which apparently were happening that weekend. She smiled at me. I would have tried chatting with her but her attention was taken by a video blogger, helping her out, also attending the awards. I was left to eavesdrop over idle gossip about popstars that I'd never heard of. Still...she smiled. This was a good sign.

No walls.
I found this on my trip. Was it because I was in vacation mode? Approachability. Is this a West Coast thing? An American thing? A West Coast American thing?
I am making a list of the most Romantic places in Canada:
#1. Montreal
#2. Vancouver
#3......I stall.....
I found from my stay that these women who smile, who sometimes even approach me in LA, what a feeling they give. It doesn't matter who smiles first, it feels good. That chopped liver feeling was fading away.
Due to eyeglasses, my peripheral vision is crap but now I see glimmers out of the corner of my eye, I am usually so oblivious, too self-absorbed to notice people noticing me. And I must notice them. I must bring romance back with me as Toronto needs it, Canada needs it. I must smile more, compliment more. And use it in all my affairs! I hope that I can bring this back, this feeling and use it, not get self-conscious by my surroundings but use that little light within to shine.
The sun in LA was shining! A heatwave was had but, I didn't mind (although I worried for those who could suffer death or injury from heat exhaustion). That's what little canary yellow short shorts are for. Who's going to look at a bald spot sunburn anyways?

Jessica picked me up from the airport and she drove me straight to some Mexican food done right.

Sept. 10th
I hung out with my pal Mike Hickey. Coffee in Silver Lake which is near Echo Park where I was crashing. Echo Park is gentrifying but still a wonderful neighbourhood. Silver Lake is gentrified. Everyone gratuitously uses the word 'hipster' here and as it is a word of flux, they usually use it to mean 'young person with money, occasional purple V neck tees.'

Sept. 11th
Can I remember the day-by-day? I don't know. I really don't.
Mike, his girlfriend Marika, and I got tacos with our pals Gregg and Simone. Who's the first person I randomly see in LA? George Hamilton? No. Tony Curtis? No. Then who? My ex girlfriend's best friend. He's great, a sweetheart, yes, but it still felt kinda painful, and I had to ask how my ex-girlfriend was, of course.

Mike, Marika, and I make our way to a free show. Lots of free shows in LA. the legendary Don Bolles (The Germs, Celebrity Skin, 45 Grave, and-most currently-Fancy Space People who are awesome!!! check this:
http://www.myspace.com/fancyspacepeople ) was playing an early Alice Cooper tribute, stuff from the crazier first couple albums! I love Alice Coop and hadn't seen Don in yearrrrs. Was it good? Yeah, they totally captured that sound!

Sept. 12th
Sundays are nice.

Sept. 13th
So are Mondays. I really should have kept notes.

More to come...

GOOSE

2010-09-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

This appeared in the last issue of Paper Rodeo....
Moral obscure.

A GAL AND HER GUITAR

2010-09-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

In trying to shrink my ego (life long process) I notice that I namedrop too much, usually names that nobody knows, so here's some names everyone knows: Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, John A McDonald, Lady GaGa, The Smurfs....

Pfffft.
In keeping with that humble spirit, enjoy this drawing of a gal and her guitar....

Last couple of days of art show...

2010-09-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

"For The Ladies" new works by Robert Dayton, Junior.
The art show is up until September 5th...

Gallery Hours: Wed -Sun (1- 6pm)

INDEXG PRINTROOM
50 Gladstone Avenue
...Toronto, M6J 3K6

416.535.6957

Yay.

The Return Of FEELINGS to Toronto...with prizes: Thurs, Aug 26

2010-08-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

Nice to be doing this again...
The Ossington, 61 Ossington, 9 pm to laterish
With D.J. Body Beautiful and a midnight candlelight night recitation by Robert Dayton, Junior
NO LONGER EVERY WEEK! NO ONE KNOWS WHEN WE'LL STRIKE AGAIN! September? No, I'm busy exploring other cultures (ie. performing in L.A.) giving lavender to the needy that month.
So come to this Thursday, August 26th....we have everything to give and nothing to lose because we've lost everything.
We have been asked to return from our sojourn.... We are rested. During this time of reflecting upon our time of reflection called FEELINGS.
Have you experienced loss?
We are your gain.

(our new sponsor EYESORE CINEMA has provided us with PRIIIZES!!!! and projections (astral)).

I do this for you, there is nothing else like this, the mood of the room is shaped by what I provide, I am so honed like a beam of light that the Midnight Candlelight Recitation will be intensely fashioned and crafted going to` places unexpected. I will make love to you with my voice and soul and musical selections, I don't care who you are, NO COVER but the cover of night.
Your life energies need us, this is a nice city but a tad stiff, it needs a massage, my hands can do that, lower, lower, lower, lower....
My Midnight Candlelight recitation is always a hit with the people! What are recitations? Intense spoken reflections of the soul in a romantic manner. We are here to help you get through this mortal life. Have a request? I will fulfill you in a voice that has been trained and honed from the deepest core of my being. Close your eyes? Is this a record? No, it's me talking to you right now, there'll be records after. And before.

Bask in them....
FEELINGS

With DJ Body Beautiful plus guests

FEELINGS is a special night where we spin music that you probably won’t normally hear. A boutique mix of :
ELUSIVE DREAMINGS/PRIVATE PRESSINGS/FREE FORMS/CAN CON CONCRETE/B SIDE EXCURSIONS/ELECTRONIC PRIMITIVA/EMOTIONS/EURO HORRORS/INTENSELY PERSONAL VISIONS/DEEP PSYCH/UN-EASY LISTENINGS AND BALLADS/PRISON SOUNDTRACKS/FANTASTIC JOURNEYS OF WONDER/
ORGAN-ISMS/NEO-BAROQUE
With a midnight candlelight night recitation by Robert Dayton, Junior

This will be ...special.

To Hurting People

Since we are struggling with pain, even at this moment, we have first hand knowledge of what it is like to experience the silence of God. Sometimes the immense loneliness of pain-whether physical, mental or emotional-is completely overwhelming!
As you listen to us spin, let the music wash over your brokenness as great healing waves of God’s merciful love until you hear the music once again.

From our hearts to yours,
D.J. Body Beautiful...and our new special friend -----Eyesore Cinema

YES, MY ART SHOW IS STILL UP

2010-08-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

"For The Ladies" new works by Robert Dayton, Junior.
So the opening happened, the art show is up until September 5th...
If you haven't seen it yet, c'mon down...
Gallery Hours: Wed -Sun (1- 6pm)
It isn't listed in any press or blogs or anything so feel free to tell your pals. I'd love for people to see it, maybe even buy a piece or ten! Whoah! Yeahhhhh, believe it or not, the work actually looks sellable (documentation up soon).
For those who've seen it, the response has been good, it may be some of my more resolved work, ten full colour pieces. As usual, it's overly ambitious, leading to post-partum but don't let that taint the joy of the work itself.

INDEXG PRINTROOM
50 Gladstone Avenue
...Toronto, M6J 3K6

416.535.6957

"For The Ladies": New Works by Robert Dayton

2010-08-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

Gahhh, got the work done, very stoked, please come if ya can!!!

"For The Ladies" by Robert Dayton
Opening Reception - Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 2 - 6 pm
8/11/2010 - 9/5/2010
INDEXG PRINTROOM
50 Gladstone Avenue
...Toronto, M6J 3K6
Gallery Hours: Wed -Sun (1- 6pm)
416.535.6957

ARTIST STATEMENT:
With "For The Ladies" I conducted a public survey where I asked anyone- no matter their gender or if gender- who identifies as a lady: "What would you, as a lady, like to see depicted in my art (or, more simply, art in general)?"
I then proceeded to make work based on as many of those responses as I could muster, sometimes even combining a few responses into one piece. What were the responses? You'll just have to find out for yourself!
My intent was to make art as an active form of communication.
I wanted to make work that is hopefully without any form of posturing of machismo. I have a personal dissatisfaction with some elements of masculine culture. See, I do not readily identify with certain masculine tropes- are we binary? Can one dwell in the grey areas between feminine and masculine tropes? Admittedly, once one gets into gender issues, it gets thorny. Is gender dying? I am straightish whiteish maleish but how often do I feel that way? Do I feel like a lady? Should I be more conscious of my identity in the world? LOADED! Let's keep it light.

This show has a playful tone, my work is playful.
I also wanted to bring out some of the more romantic elements of my work. Utilizing the responses I received, these works on paper use my standard tools of pen and ink and water colours. I've been pretty deeply affected by the early 70s glam revival of art deco and have used that palette in this show and in many aspects of my life.

If you need to use high resolution files please send us an email: mail@indexg.com
Further info e mail: moustachedpainless@yahoo.com

ROCTOBER COMIX REVIEWS

2010-08-04T06:43:00.001-07:00

Hey folks, wrote a slew of comix reviews- a lot of really great stuff!- over at Roctober.
The link is here:
http://roctoberreviews.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html

MIXED FEELINGS with MYTHS tuesday Aug 4th,

2010-08-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Ossington (61 Ossington, Toronto)
Tuesday, August 4th...
A special Mixed FEELINGS with
From Vancouver: MYTHS
Midnight Candlelight recitation by Robert Dayton, Junior
DJ Body Beautiful will spin sounds before and in-between.
...
NO COVER but the cover of night (but a hat will be passed as they are from out of town)...
MYTHS is on at Ten PM

Check em oot:
http://www.myspace.com/mythsband

TWO WOMEN MIXING PERFORMANCE WITH DANCEPOP WITH NOISE WITH COSTUMES WITH YOU....

As it'snot really a FEELINGS nite my selections may be more, er, erratic in keeping with theme of our touring performers....

2010-07-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

2010-07-29T05:29:00.000-07:00

2010-07-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

MONTREAL THIS SATURDAY FOR FEELINGS!

2010-07-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

I am so eggcited for this special nite and my pal Otis Fodder will be my special guest deejaying as DJ Summertime Smile.
July 24th, Casa Del Popolo (4873 Boulevard Saint Laurent), 10 pm- 3 am
No cover but the cover of night...

Bask in them....
FEELINGS is a special night where we spin music that you probably won’t normally hear...

Midnight candlelight night recitation by Robert Dayton, Junior.
...
DJ Body Beautiful and special friend DJ Summertime Smile will spin a boutique mix of :
ELUSIVE DREAMINGS/PRIVATE PRESSINGS/BALD HEADED BALLADEERS/FREE FORMS/CAN CON CONCRETE/B SIDE EXCURSIONS/ELECTRONIC PRIMITIVA/EMOTIONS/EURO HORRORS/INTENSELY PERSONAL VISIONS/DEEP PSYCH/UN-EASY LISTENINGS AND BALLADS/PRISON SOUNDTRACKS/FANTASTIC JOURNEYS OF WONDER/ACTOR AS SINGER/
ORGAN-ISMS/NEO-BAROQUE/MORE

This will be ...special.

2010-07-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

YOKO

2010-07-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

The Turtles- Battle Of the Bands

2010-07-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Turtles? Yes, they were under-rated especially with this album where they pretended to be about 10 different bands! I met Mark Volman once, I was in awe....

Lindsey Buckingham- Go Insane

2010-07-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

This album can be found for 50 cents and it's GREAT!Uber-slick 80s production, some hits, yet-yet!-he truly sounds like he's Going Insane! By the BEST Fleetwood Mac member and has a suite for Dennis Wilson...

2010-07-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

From same place as previous post. Dwight Twilley- Sincerely, a great power-pop album.

2010-07-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

Done for an ish of Roctober for Gary Pig Gold(who put out the 1st Simply Saucer single wayyy back when)'s list of albums you need to own. And, yes, you do need to own this album....

2010-07-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

2010-07-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

2010-07-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

2010-07-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

A WAY OUT

2010-07-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

PUSSY HORSE

2010-07-04T18:36:00.000-07:00