Page 45 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Fall26 - Winter27

shape through shared digital files, with each musician recording
from home before combining the tracks into finished recordings.
By the time the band stepped onto a stage for its first live
performance, it already had a collection of songs—and years of
friendship—behind it. “It was explosive,” Erwin said. “All of a sudden,
this very deep, long-term love and friendship was kind of the DNA
of our music.”
> Saint Social
The band’s name reflects those beginnings.
Unable to gather in person during the pandemic, the musicians
wanted a name that captured both the joy of being together and the
sense that sharing music with others is something meaningful. To
Erwin, Saint Social represents both the everyday fun of community,
and the deeper connections people create through shared
experiences.
That philosophy extends beyond the band’s own music. Saint
Social has become a vocal supporter of the Coast music scene,
encouraging audiences to discover fellow local artists through
listening parties, intimate performances, and affordable live shows
designed to bring people together.
“People are hungry for
something real again,”
Erwin said.
The band has already
begun building a strong
following. Saint Social
was named Favorite
Local Band at this
year’s Gulf Coast Covey
Awards, opened for
Natasha Bedingfield,
and recently performed
before a sold-out crowd
at Ground Zero Blues Club in Biloxi.
Success, however, isn’t measured only by packed venues or
streaming numbers. In a time when artificial intelligence is changing
the music industry, Erwin believes live performance has become
even more important.
“The human act of making music, the human act of experiencing
music with other humans, is such an important piece of this,” he said.
The message behind “Tunes for the Gaslight Blues” took on even
deeper meaning after Erwin lost a close friend earlier this year,
reinforcing the band’s desire to create music rooted in hope rather
than despair.
“We just want people to feel seen and heard and known,” he said.
“There’s a lot to be tired about, but let’s pull together and not give
up.”
COASTALMISSISSIPPI.COM OCT 26-MAR 27 I PLAY COASTAL MISSISSIPPI 45