Abridged and Annotated 1995-03-25 Performance Poetry Party

[Piano melody. Whoosh sound effect.] | Video Description: Black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb" transitions to a black screen with white text that reads "Enough Said / March 25th 1995" and a banner on the bottom left of the screen that reads "SpokenWeb Presents".

START

[Ambient sounds (voices).] | Video Description: Colour video. A plain performance space (55 Avenue des Pins East, 2nd floor, Montreal, QC, H2W 1N6), with a large stage (as revealed later in clip) with a microphone and long, grey curtains hanging from a rafter in the background.

[Introduces and reads "O Canada."] | Video Description: Camera zooms out to medium closeup on Endre Farkas reading, then zooms into closeup. Farkas wears a leather jacket, a fedora, and short salt-and-pepper hair.

things come around

That hat!

Endre was a stylish poetry veteran to me back then.

memories of the Urban Wanderers series

A Canadian translation of Ginsberg's America. Almost a line by line localization!

When did Urban Wanderers run?

It's great to hear this again

In the Ginsberg poem, it's I'm feeling sentimental abut the Wobblies, I think.

right up to the beginning of ES, '93?

I feel sentimental about Pierre Eliot Trudeau these days too.

UW that is

How does it feel listening to this, Endre?

Ronald McPoutines

Wow, before. I'll have to interview you about that, and revisit Impure for more info about it.

This poem is so topical since January.

Endre Farkas should negotiate for us with Trump!

[Finishes poem. Thanks audience. Audience applause. Dog barks. Endre Farkas addresses audience and steps away from microphone.] | Video Description: Camera zooms out as Endre Farkas walks across the stage, exiting on the right-side of the frame.

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

Video Description: Lee Gotham enters the stage via stage right. Gotham wears a loose shirt, dark trousers, long brown hair tied in bun, and a beard,. Camera zooms into medium closeup as Gotham picks up microphone and unravels cord from around stand, moving the stand away to stage left.

Terrific

not a few prescient bits

OH NOooooo!

[Performs poem beginning with the line "The problem is we get wasted in alleyways".] | Video Description: Camera zooms into medium closeup shot on Lee Gotham pacing slowly across the stage and reading into microphone.

Nice facial hair.

Did you wear that shirt to evoke Mishima, Lee?

[Pauses. Addresses audience. Vocalizes. Audience members briefly interact.] | Video Description: Lee Gotham breathes before addressing audience. Camera zoom into closeup as Gotham pauses and closes eyes. Gotham hums into microphone.

Great!

Nice!

[Performs poem beginning with the line "Those wheels").] | Video Description: Lee Gotham performs, pacing around the stage. Camera zooms in and out between medium closeup and extreme closeup on Gotham.

[Transitions into addressing audience. Audience laughter. Audience applause. Addresses videographer Drew Duncan. Audience laughter. Addresses audience, causing more audience laughter and applause.] | Video Description: Lee Gotham addresses audience. Lee Gotham laughs and smiles at the applause. Camera zooms into closeup on Lee Gotham, who looks into camera lens and addresses videographer Drew Duncan. Gotham addresses audience, walking toward stage right.

That was a masterful recovery from a memory lapse.

Go Lee!

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Performs Unknown Composition. Ambient noise (voices).] | Video Description: Camera zooms into closeup on guitarist, Sam Shalabi, glancing between sheet music and guitar, chewing something. Shalabi wears a yellow shirt, short dark hair, and glasses. Camera zooms out to medium shot of the two musicians, including an unknown pianist next to amps on stools and sitting before two large-paned windows. Unknown_Musician1 wears a patterned shirt, white pants, short dark hair. Camera zooms into closeup on Unknown_Musician1 who reads sheet music while playing. An audience member briefly passes in front of the camera's view. Camera continues to pan between Shalabi and Unknown_Musician1, and zoom in and out.

rather than blather, I love it

Does anyone know the name of the keyboardist playing?

Video Description: Fade-in of black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Reads poem beginning with the line "The problem is we get wasted in alleyways").] | Video Description: Camera zooms in and out between extreme closeup and medium closeup on Lee Gotham, who wraps a hand around the microphone and performs poem, occasionally glancing down at pages. Gotham wears a loose shirt, dark trousers, long brown hair tied in bun, and a beard,

Was this a second-floor space? I'm trying to remember it. Did Enough Said happen there more than this once?

Lee, I found the shift from page to stage quite a challenge at times too!

HELLO everyone... excited to see you all

[Pauses. Ambient noise (paper).] | Video Description: Lee Gotham briefly pauses performance to flip a page.

Fascist-itis?

Glad you could join!

[Resumes reading.] | Video Description: Lee Gotham resumes performing poem. Camera zooms out between medium long shot and medium shot of Lee Gotham.

Corey, I think this was the only ES event in this space. Jade, are you able to confirm?

It is the only video we have from Building Danse, and yes it is on the second floor

My teenage son is in the room with me, so watch your language Lee.

Finishes poem. Audience applause.] | Video Description: Camera zooms out as Gotham puts reaches down to place papers on the stage.

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

Video Description: Synthesizer player Tom Walsh and performer Todd Swift set up. Both wear black suit jackets over white button-down shirts, grey dress pants, bowties, glasses, and dark hair. There is a synthesizer, a music stand, and a microphone. A ceiling fan above them is briefly seen, as well as an unknown audience member sitting on the sill of one of the large-paned windows. Lee Gotham briefly passes through the camera's view, walking off stage right.

[Audience applause. Recording of unknown broadcast plays.] | Video Description: Camera zooms into a medium shot on Todd Swift putting on headphones. Camera zooms out, revealing Tom Walsh programming the synthesizers. Todd Swift puts a cigarette in mouth. Camera zooms into a medium shot of Tom Walsh, also putting on headphones. Camera pans between the performers.

Tom Walsh on keys methinks

Yes that's Tom

next to the t-bone, the sequencer became T's fave tool

[Performs composition titled "Albanese(?) Barbershop."] | Video Description: Tom Walsh presses a key on synthesizer, cueing a new audio clip. Camera zooms into Todd Swift lifting a stack of pages and beginning to perform. Camera zooms in and out and pans between the performers.

Bow tie

Were those headphones plugged in?

[Finishes composition.] | Video Description: Long shot of Swift and Walsh on stage.

Video Description: Fade into and out of black screen.

[Performs composition beginning with the line "One softness sets it going. The sea turns like glass."] | Video Description: Camera zooms out from closeup of Swift performing a piece to long shot of Swift and Walsh.

The long intro of the news report is so ruthlessly high concept.

It would have been great for Todd to be here to watch with us

They were such a great duo. The clangy horror-movie synth sounds fit Todd's voice and demeanor so well.

True!

Corey, regarding that venue question. I checked the database and it seems only three ES events not fully at Bistro 4. Enough Said 1995-03-25, Performance Poetry Party / Address: 55 Avenue des Pins Est, Montreal, QC, H2W 1N6, Canada / Venue: Building Dance.

Enough Said 1995-10-29, Refer END um? / Address: 4040 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC, H2W 1Y8, Canada and Carre Saint-Louis / Venue: Bistro 4 and Carre Saint-Louis.

Enough Said 1996-02-14, Lollapalooza Book Launch / Address: 1426 Rue Beaudry, Montreal, QC, H2L3E5, Canada / Venue: Fetish Cafe

[Finishes composition. Audience applause.] | Video Description: Todd Swift and Tom Walsh bow and walk away from their equipment.

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Frost and Christie perform a selection of short skits. Their set begins with Frost performing a poem beginning with the line "Well, the sun's gone down on a Rhine valley town" while Christie plays harmonica in the background. Audience laughter throughout.] Video Description: Camera cuts to a medium long shot of Colin Christie and Corey Frost on stage, looking at each other. Christie wears grey t-shirt over long-sleeved shirt and short, brown hair. Frost wears a white t-shirt, light wash jeans, long black hair, and glasses. Christie plays the harmonica while Frost performs a piece, walking around the stage. Medium shots as the pair performs a variety of short skits.

oh dear

it's so good

THIS is why we're here!

Oh thanks. Those addresses don't say much to me but I bet if I saw them I'd remember.

Yes, I remember the emphasis on 'Performance Poetry' at this event. I don't think there was an open mic at this one either.

We're not really in the same key

is that my Euro Deli t-shirt? I did a night shift at ED

What happened to all our hair?

Let's say the key conflict was intentional

It was exactly planned.

Quite a diverse performance it was

you guys are so conceptual!

Makes me laugh so much

This intro I'm speaking was a poem I wrote as an experiment in "Voice appropriation"---I then decided it was racist. But decided I'd use it in this collage anyway.

All the hair loss from each was given to me

I wish I could remember putting these together. We must have had so much fun.

I am digging the variety of eye glasses some of us have

A lot of this was excerpted from our fringe fest show

Pulp Fiction. We were really into Tarantino at the time

Yes.

Ah, was this post fringe performances, or trying things out for fringe?

Book (Title Goes Here) was the name of the show. We did bits of it in various venues.

this was before, fringe was in June 95

Are you sure this was in the 90s and not the 60s? My hair and jewelry suggests otherwise.

I've got POM on my stomach!

Sounds right, Vince. Maybe this was the seed that inspired the show.

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

This was blatant Fortner Anderson parody!

[Ambient sounds (floor creaking, footsteps.) Unknown_Member1 sighs. The Groupe performs a piece largely in unison.] | Video Description: Long shot of Unknown_Member1 of Groupe de Poesie Moderne carrying a milk crate upstage and crouching on it. The other six members encircle him and perform a piece.

Hot it glistens!

Oh wow, Groupe de poesie moderne!!!!!!!

Anyone have contact info for these guys?

[Audience applause. Vocalizing (repeating "toy boat" at different volumes and tones). Ambient sounds (movement, dog barking). Vocalizing begins to cohere at the same volume and rhythm.] | Video Description: Camera cuts to a long shot of the open stage area, with the black milk crate in the centre of the stage. An unknown audience member walks across the stage. An unknown person moves a microphone stand closer to centre stage. Camera pans toward them as they exit stage right. Two people enter the stage from stage right. Camera pans toward the right, where another set of performers is seen running and walking into the stage area. Members of the Fluffy Pagan Echoes move around the stage, each doing different actions, such as stomping, speaking into different microphones, or examining different parts of the stage. They assemble downstage centre, moving microphones closer to centre stage. Camera zooms into a medium closeup on Victoria Stanton. Stanton wears a black vest over a long-sleeved grey shrt and shoulder-length brown hair. The camera pans right to capture each Fluffy Pagan Echoes member. Ran Elfassy wears a white graphic t-shirt, green shorts over white pants, a necklace, and black toque. Vincent Tinguely wears a white graphic t-shirt, jeans, chin-length white hair, and glasses. Scott Duncan wears a flannel shirt and short curly brown hair. Justin McGrail wears a yellow patterned shirt over graphic t-shirt, short brown hair, and necklaces.

groupe de poesie modern - so great!

They were so epic

They were the real deal

The best

I loved these guys. I later did some direct tributes of there style, translating some of their pieces into English.

We need to find them!

So good

I think FPE learned a lot about writing vocal arrangements from seeing these folks in action

[Finishes composition. Audience applause.] | Video Description: The members filter one-by-one off the stage, exiting stage left. Camera pans right, capturing the members leaving through a door.

Video Description: Camera pans to the right to show the audience sitting and standing.

Yes we really did!

Makes sense

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

Speaking of...

And here you are!

speaking of fpe ...

It's so good to see this again

LOL

I was so intimidated by you, you were so good

[Address audience (introduce each member: Ran Elfassy, Victoria Stanton, Scott Duncan, Vincent Tinguely, and Justin McGrail).] | Video Description: The Fluffy Pagan Echoes address audience. The camera zooms into an extreme closeup on Ran Elfassy, looking toward the other members and counting them in.

Great vocal range

[Perform "Resistance is Reasonable."] | Video Description: Fluffy Pagan Echoes perform "Resistance is Reasonable." Camera zooms into first a medium closeup, then an extreme closeup, on Victoria Stanton, who performs a solo during the piece. Camera zooms out into long shot of the entire group.

The camera work is really good

FPE was to GPM (Groupe de Poesie...) like Anglo Montreal was to Franco Montreal.

Ah, that's kind Corey!

I think the text was originally by Victoria

Sound effects better than stars wars lol

Smash the windows - was it inspired by Stanley Cup riot

FPE was a little more fashion-casual, a little more organic. GPM was all turtlenecks and choreography. FPE was all plaids and politics.

Drew Duncan did the video work, right Lee?

Also GPM had a single author, whereas we were all writing stuff in FPE

Remember we had a "Resistance is Reasonable" stamp?

I'm sure Victoria still has that stamp!

I've got Resistance is Reasonable mercy, I'm pretty sure.

Vince - wasn't Resistance is Reasonable a Preston Manning quotation?

*merch

Reacted to Justin McGrail: "Vince - wasn't Resis..." with CRYING LAUGHING EMOJI

Oh Jesus I'm pretty sure it wasn't Preston Manning!

No, resistance is reasonable was mine, the accent was preston manning

[Finish "Resistance is Reasonable." Audience applause. Ambient sounds (voices, movement).] | Video Description: Fluffy Pagan Echoes members bow. Ran Elfassy picks up an object from the floor (a hat?). The group exits via stage right.

I like the counting on the fingers

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Performs poem beginning with the line "You see, man and woman have it, some choose to spread it".] | Video Description: Camera zooms out into closeup on Dee Smith performing, occasionally glancing down to read from pages. Smith wears a white shirt, patterned vest, necklace, earrings, rings, and short dark curly hair with headband.

Makes sense

[Finishes poem. Unseen audience member interacts. Audience applause. Introduces poem and addresses audience. Audience snaps and stomps to a rhythm.] | Video Description: Dee Smith addresses audience. Dee Smith directs audience to keep rhythm by snapping.

Dee Smith wow!

[Performs poem beginning with the line "What the hell, what the hell, what a situation." Audience snaps and stomps alongside.] | Video Description: Camera zooms out to medium closeup on Dee Smith performing, glancing down occasionally at their notebook.

I think Dee is still active in Montreal

It's so cool to see this piece again!

It really is - I remember it like it was yesteday

Love this audience participation

really good

lol ...no I am semi -retired & living in T.Dot! with a young family

[Finishes poem. Audience applause. Addresses audience. Audience laughter. Dedicates next poem. Audience laughter. Introduces poem.] | Video Description: Dee Smith flips through notebook and addresses audience.

What a classic piece, Dee! Thanks!

oh sorry my bad!

Awesome.

[Performs poem in Jamaican dialect, beginning with the line "Woman, are you alone".] | Video Description: Dee Smith performs poem written in notebook.

Magic at the mike

[Thanks audience. Audience applause.] | Video Description: Dee Smith closes notebook and thanks audience. Camera zooms out to medium long shot as Dee Smith tilts microphone stand down and walks off stage via stage left.

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Addresses audience. Addresses Ian Stephens. Audience applause. Ambient sounds (dog barking). Introduces "Hey, Garcon! Another Hotdog, Right Here!".] | Video Description: Norman Nawrocki enters via stage left. Norman Nawrocki wears a long-sleeved black sweatshirt and short brown hair with fringe. Camera zooms in and out on Norman Nawrocki adjusting microphone and addressing audience. Norman Nawrocki turns toward stage right to address off-screen audience member (Ian Stephens). Camera zooms into extreme closeup on Norman Nawrocki introducing poem.

Dam, how re-visiting these performances have me thinking how SLOW change occur

s l o w

Ian was alive then.

[Performs "Hey, Garcon! Another Hotdog, Right Here!". Audience laughter throughout.] | Video Description: Camera zooms in and out on Norman Nawrocki performing poem, glancing down to read from paper.

that's right it was the launch of ian's cassette

I didn't know Norman was on this. What a lineup.

I had no idea at the time how good a lot of this was

I was a Norman / Rhythm Activism fan boy

[Finishes poem. Thanks audience. Audience applause.] | Video Description: Norman Nawrocki nods and thanks audience. Camera zooms out to long shot as Norman Nawrocki exits via stage left. Ian Ferrier, with a cigarette and piece of paper in hand, approaches microphone via stage right. An audience member briefly passes through camera view.

yep "how slow change occurs"

We were ahead of your times... now we are witnessing these predictions

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Ambient sounds (movement).] | Video Description: Camera zooms out into medium long shot as Anderson puts hand to chin and steps sideways, facing stage left. Camera zooms into an extreme closeup as Fortner Anderson looks towards audience.

[Performs poem beginning with the line "I hate these poems. They stink of the Good Book". Audience laughter throughout.] | Video Description: Fortner Anderson enters via stage left and picks up microphone and unravels cord from around stand. Anderson performs poem, pacing throughout the stage, occasionally making gestures to accentuate performance and add humour.

Hello Fortner

I remember this poem!

wonder if Fortner still has that sweet suit?

Fortner still definitely rocks a suit

The squeaky floorboards could have been intentional, nice

Is it just me, but is Fortner an older, more angry Todd Swift?

Yesss

He's talking about us!

Sure thing

snot-nosed

post-modern lazy boy

he can sure deliver a line!

I remember this --- I felt it was a dig at us younger poets (me and Colin in particular because we make digs at him).

I like to think now that's true, Corey

I mean, if it was a dig, I liked it.

Babbling into the Warshaw dumpster!!!

Great line.

There was certainly a competitive edge to a lot of the poetic manouevring going on in them dayz

Pushing that hard word up the back of my spine

Reacted to Scott Duncan: "Pushing that hard wo..." with <3

Wow this poem is really strong!

I love the way he keeps switching hands holding the mic, like Sinatra, Dean Martin....

[Finishes poem. Audience applause.] | Video Description: Fortner Anderson puts microphone back onto stand and nods to the audience. Camera zooms out as Fortner Anderson exits via stage right.

Video Description: Fade to black screen with a white logo and white text that reads "SpokenWeb".

[Ambient sounds (voices, coughs, movement, dog barking). Recording of unknown Ian Stephens' medley fades in and plays, beginning with the line "23-12-91 under the bridge." Ian Stephens performs a piece.] | Video Description: Camera tilts before positioning upright again. Ian Stephens walks on via stage right carrying a chair, putting it down centre stage. Ian Stephens wears a brown jacket, darkwash jeans, black hooded sweatshirt, and a backward baseball cap. Ian Stephens places a bottle on the black milk crate behind the chair. Ian Stephens points and nods to an audience member (off-screen). Stephens takes off brown jacket and drops it next to the black milk crate. Ian Stephens walks up to the chair, takes out a book, drops it on the floor in front of him, and searches pockets. Ian Stephens walks back to brown jacket and searches it for a yellow object.

He's attacking everybody, including himself. It's great---so much spunk and spleen and spit.

oh wow ian stephens

Ian!

Wow this is incredible to see Ian.

[Ian Stephens continues performing a piece. Towards the end, he repeats the line "Thinking about cracks."] | Video Description: Camera tilts up and zooms into closeup to capture Ian Stephens removing hat, dropping it on the floor, and putting hoodie over his head. Stephens begins wrapping his head in yellow caution tape. Ian Stephens takes out a set of bottom veneers from sweatshirt pocket. Camera zooms into an extreme closeup as Stephens places the veneers in his mouth, attempting to chew and breathe through a small slit between the tape. Camera zooms out to a long shot and pans up and down to capture Ian Stephens' entire figure on stage, with caution tape draping to the floor. Stephens bends and limps, sitting in the chair centre-stage, making himself smaller and smaller. Camera zooms into a closeup of the fingerless gloves on Ian Stephens' hands. Ian Stephens twitches to certain words in the recording. Ian Stephens stands, waving his arms around him, and approaches the microphone stand. Camera zooms into extreme closeup as Ian Stephens holds onto the microphone stand and vocalizes into microphone.

His entrance, epic

Heart emoji Colin

Effective performance interpretation Ian

I think the memories of this are coming back, vaguely. I remember Ian doing these performances where he mimed to the recording, basically. In this one I wasn't sure he'd be able to breathe.

This I remember

I remember being scared

More great camera work

Yes, really incredible

I felt the anguish of the words; chilling for me

this is performance poetry

chilling

He was so unbelievably charismatic. And so kind also.

I'm reminded of a piece he did at Bistro $ that I remember really well, where he ventriloquized Ronald Reagan, basically.

Bistro 4

[Finishes poem. Thanks audience. Audience applause.] | Video Description: Ian Stephens addresses audience before stepping away from microphone stand. Ian Stephens unravels caution tape from around head and pops out veneer. Ian Stephens adjusts microphone and stares out at audience.

heavy

wow

i remember that too corey, maybe it was recorded too

[Black screen with white text rolling down listing the date, venue, performers' names, the researchers involved in the project, and copyright information.

It borders on bizarre that we had two amazing performers who were so beloved named Ian. And now we've lost them both.