Page 21 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2026

that is both hopeful and deeply personal. The first side of the
project celebrates what Erwin called “the miracle of being alive every day.” “It’s red hot with joy,”
he said.
The story behind Saint Social
stretches back much further than the band’s official beginning. Erwin,
drummer Bryan Bourque, and guitarist Justin Gollott have spent more than
two decades making music together in one form or another. While Erwin built
a successful career in Nashville writing music for television, film, and commercial
licensing, including placements with Netflix, Hulu, and BMW, he found himself returning to the Mississippi Gulf Coast whenever he had
the chance to play with Bourque and Gollott. When he moved home, those reunions evolved
into something bigger. Instead of performing songs Erwin had already written, the trio decided
to build a band around music they would create together. Saint Social was officially formed in 2020
during the COVID-19 pandemic, when rehearsals weren’t possible. Songs took 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.”
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.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
August 2026 | 21
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.”
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