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Jack V at Ultimatum Festival 1985-05-01
The following is a transcription of Jack V performance of "Poesie Guerriere" at Ultimatum, Wednesday, May 1st, 1985 at the Foufounes Electriques. Alan Lord provides a description and interpretation of the performance in his memoirs: "For his performance—called Poesie guerriere—Jack read a few texts, then smashed a mirror, invoking "seven years of bad luck!" He then stripped down to the waist and smeared war paint on his face. He started dancing, prancing and swaying in abandon like a wild man, and soon a regiment of a dozen drummers joined him onstage one by one—a post-punk marching band—martially rat-tatting their snares. Jack was feline and menacing, irresistibly magnetic. This was poetry beyond words, like Alex nodding you his glass of Moloko Plus in A Clockwork Orange. When we watch Jack's clip we feel the shock of realizing his performance anticipates by some 35 years that of Joaquin Phoenix dancing down the stairs in Joker." Jack V entered the alternative scene by playing bass for Roro d’Haiti and later for Monty Casin, in First Aid Brigade. Lord determines that ultimately, Jack V "gave the most memorable performance of the festival".
Annotations
00:00 - 00:05
Light static.
Recording
00:05 - 00:06
Buzzing.
Recording
00:06 - 00:59
Performs "Poesie Guerriere", vocalizes, sings and recites text [French] [underscored by recorded buzzing sound].
Jack V
00:59 - 01:00
Smashes mirror.
Jack V
01:00 - 01:01
[unintelligible].
Jack V
01:01 - 01:02
Cheers.
Audience Member
01:02 - 01:05
Ambient chords, distorted speech and vocals.
Music
01:05 - 01:08
Applause.
Audience
01:05 - 05:54
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", recites poem [French] [underscored by ambient chords, electronic instrument, other various electronic musical sounds, guitar, drums, distorted vocals, regular vocals and various recorded sounds].
Jack V
05:54 - 06:09
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", sings [French] [underscored by guitar, drums, electronic instrument, and regular vocals].
Jack V
06:09 - 10:08
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", recites poem [French] [underscored by guitar, drums, electronic instrument, regular vocals, distorted vocals, distorted speech].
Jack V
10:08 - 11:43
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", sings [French], underscore shifts [regular vocals and distorted vocals].
Jack V
11:43 - 13:12
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", recites poem [French], underscore shifts [underscored by recorded speech, rhythmic sounds, and electronic sounds].
Jack V
13:12 - 13:37
Electric guitar, drums, and melodic buzzing sound.
Music
13:37 - 13:45
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", speaks [French] [underscored by electric guitar, drums, and melodic buzzing sound].
Jack V
13:45 - 16:52
Electric guitar, drums, bass, melodic buzzing sounds, and kazoo-like sounds.
Music
16:52 - 17:12
Keyboard and marching percussion.
Music
17:12 - 17:56
Continues "Poesie Guerriere", reads poem [underscored by keyboard and marching percussion]
Jack V
17:56 - 20:21
Keyboard, marching percussion, and electronic sounds.
Music
20:21 - 20:21
[End of recording].
END