The Ergs live in Toronto last Friday

Amazing. The Ergs are probably the best punk band on the planet. Their sound is difficult to pin down...think early Replacements playing the entire SST catalog, except with better hooks and songwriting. I hadn't seen them in 5 years, and they've only gotten better. They tore through a frenetic set of all their "hits", pushing the limits of the puny sound system. There are few bands out there who can manage this kind of raw energy, let alone make it sound listenable. And here's the thing about the Ergs: they can flat out play. Not only do these boys write fantastic songs drawing on an encyclopedic array of classic influences, they also have the chops to play the shit out of anything. Watching this hyperactive trio hitting on all cylinders was electrifying. My only complaint: I wish they played one of their country tracks (the Tupelo-influenced "Country Skronk" is one of my favorite songs of all-time. Go listen to it right now. C'mon, it's like 99 cents on itunes, and it's so fucking good. Go!).

The bad news: the Ergs are breaking up. As sad as this is, I can say one thing with great certainty: this band is leaving at the top of their game.

Well done, Ergs. I'll miss you guys.