Waxbuilt Castles

Waxbuilt Castles is the second full-length solo album by New Jersey’s Mikey Erg. As the drummer and principal songwriter in The Ergs! and at least a dozen other bands, Erg has as sturdy a set of pop-punk bona fides as you’re likely to find. Waxbuilt Castles is a departure, though.

Recorded in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Alex Clute - who performed with Erg in The Chris Gethard Show’s house band - it’s a set of songs that takes its central inspiration from the melodicism and craft of ’70s pop rock. In their production and arrangement, the songs emulate Erg’s pre-punk musical heroes -- ELO, Elvis Costello, Phil Ochs, and especially the Beatles.