A wildly prolific figure on the American pop-punk scene, Mikey Erg is a singer, songwriter, drummer, and guitarist who earned his punk handle from his stint with the New Jersey punk outfit the Ergs. He had been playing in bands for 16 years when he made his solo debut with 2016's Tentative Decisions, where he blended personal lyrics with songs that went from spirited bash-it-out punk to more introspective pop numbers. Erg's punk and pop sides would continue to coexist while jostling for space on his solo projects. His more thoughtful side took center stage on 2019's Waxbuilt Castles, with arrangements dotted with acoustic guitars and sculpted noise, while 2021's Mikey Erg was a full-on pogo punk session and 2022's Love at Leeds took a mature but full-bodied approach, captured on tape by Steve Albini.