The Act: Brooklyn-based composer, writer and Oneida drummer John Colpitts (aka Kid Millions) began his side project, Man Forever, back in 2010. Attending a Fireworks Ensemble performance of Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Music inspired him to push the limits of live drum performance and experiment with minimalist instrumentation.

Now on his second tour with this rhythm project, the multi-instrumentalist welcomes local musicians from each city he stops in to play Surface Patterns or “Ur Eternity” from his new album, Pansophical Cataract. After this 40-day tour, Colpitts plans to re-examine the compositions he’s currently showcasing from his sophomore Man Forever album and move forward with what he hopes to be more foolproof pieces.

The Venue: The Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle (612 Fillmore Avenue), a hot spot on Dyngus Day, is in the heart of the city’s Polonia district on the lower East Side. The performance space of the venue resembles an elementary school gym, but the bar is well stocked with over 50 different imported beers and a large Polish selection. Sipping on a Zywiec during any show is a treat.

The Crowd: An attentive gathering of 20-somethings, mostly male, wandered in and out of the venue during the show. One young couple had their toddler in tow wearing noise-canceling earmuffs (good call) and a few others in the crowd came prepared with earplugs. While the attendance level wasn’t too high, the 30 to 40 people who came were quite welcoming to Colpitts and his music.

The Performance: The intense concentration Colpitts, Buffalo’s Steve Kerfien (drums) Vic Lazar (farfisa organ, or “woody” to Oneida fans), and Rochester’s Keith Parkins (bass) had throughout the 30-minute song was impressive. All four musicians rose to the challenge and kept their focus on their instruments the entire time. Long tones collided and each note played a part in the build-up of the piece. The result was a mesmerizing explosion of sound that I could feel throughout my entire body and the abrupt conclusion of the piece was quite a surprise.

Three local bands supported Man Forever with their own experimental music. All of Them Witches and Bear Flames warmed the crowd up before Colpitts took over. Bone Vapor  closed out the night.

The Verdict: While this type of performance is not for everyone, Man Forever definitely left an impression. Colpitts described the musical experience as a powerful wall of sound and he wasn’t kidding. The level and intensity of sound that the four musicians created was compelling and memorable.

Photo from YouTube.