Mikey Erg - Waxbuilt Castles - LP

Out July 26th on Don Giovanni Records, 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. “I really wanted to make my version of Paul McCartney’s first record,” explains Erg. “Homemade and very loose. Not too overthought.” Getting there took a bit of adjustment on Erg’s part. As a singer, he had to reconcile with hearing his voice in a quieter and more vulnerable context. “It was fun