BY: DESIREA CORBETT
On Saturday night, The Ergs brought a holiday blast of pop-punk nostalgia to the cozy confines of Crossroads in Garwood, NJ. It was a celebration, not just of their music, but of their roots, as this trio of South Amboy natives reconnected with their most devoted fans in a packed room that felt more like a family reunion than a concert. Formed in the early 2000s, The Ergs quickly earned their place in the pop-punk pantheon, but their hometown crowd still holds a special place in their hearts.
As I entered the venue, I quickly realized that this wasn’t going to be your average gig. The scene felt almost ritualistic: a group of fans were stretching in the crowd, seemingly prepping for a marathon. One fan, visibly excited, looked over at me mid-stretch and said, “I’m so excited! I’ve never seen them before!” Well, neither had I, considering the band’s breakup in 2008. Saturday night’s show was a special reunion, marking 20 years since the release of their landmark debut Dorkrockcorkrod. To honor the occasion, they played the album in its entirety, in the exact track order.
As the band set up, their personality shone through immediately. The Ergs are known for their wide musical tastes, and they demonstrated this with a playful homage to country music as they riffed along to the DJ’s playlist. The crowd, while relatively calm at that moment, responded with knowing chuckles as the band reminisced about their Waffle House pit stops during their touring days. But the fun and camaraderie were only just beginning.
Once the first notes of “First Song, Side One” rang out, the crowd erupted. The energy shifted from casual to chaotic in a split second. People surged forward, moshing and crowd-surfing, while I was sent scrambling to the side of the stage for my own safety (and to protect my camera gear). The frenzy of bodies was overwhelming, yet exhilarating—proof that these fans were starved for a live Ergs experience, and nothing was going to hold them back.
As Side B of Dorkrockcorkrod kicked in, the energy slightly tapered, but the intensity didn’t fade. The Ergs kept up a relentless pace, and their performance never lost momentum. The highlight came after the album’s conclusion, when they treated the audience to a punk cover of “The Peanuts Theme.” In honor of a Charlie Brown Christmas. The crowd, clearly in the holiday spirit, swayed in unison—each person moving as if they’d spent years practicing their best Peppermint Patty impersonation.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of The Ergs is their drummer, Mikey Erg, who also serves as the band’s lead vocalist. It’s rare to see a drummer command the stage in such a dual role, but Mikey made it look effortless. For the final track of the night, “Books About Miles Davis”, Mikey stepped away from his drum kit and took center stage, singing directly into the crowd. Without missing a beat, guitarist Jeff Erg and bassist Joey Erg powered through the song sans drums, creating a stripped-back moment of vulnerability before closing the show with full force.
By the end of the night, it was clear that The Ergs and their fans had become one unified family. The sense of community was clear—from members of the opening bands joining the Ergs on stage to fans handing whiskey to the band between songs, it was impossible to ignore the shared love for the music. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a celebration of 20 years of pop-punk joy, and as the night wound down, the hope was clear: these reunion shows are something everyone wants to see more of. The Ergs may have been on hiatus for a while, but if Saturday was any indication, their place in the hearts of their fans is as strong as ever.
Distracted 
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