Name: Gerard Erker and Neil Salsich
Start: 2025-12-18T19:30:00-06:00
Location: Blue Strawberry STL

Gerard Erker is a St. Louis–born singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and founding member of the acclaimed roots-rock and jamgrass band The Mighty Pines. Known for his thoughtful songwriting and expressive voice, Gerard has spent the last decade touring extensively across the United States, collaborating alongside members of Railroad Earth, Michael McDonald, Sam Bush, Trey Anastasio Band, Greensky Bluegrass, and Yonder Mountain String Band, among many others.
A true “Swiss Army knife” of American folk instrumentation, Gerard seamlessly moves between mandolin, fiddle, guitar, clawhammer banjo, electric mandolin, and vocals—earning him a reputation as a sought-after collaborator on stage and in the studio. Known for lead playing that blends grit with groove, he fuses folk roots with rock and roll energy, delivering what you might call “bluegrass soul wrapped in a rock and roll jacket.”
The Mighty Pines released Live Pines in September 2025. Recorded on a hot July night at a Missouri festival, the album is truly “lightening in a bottle”, showcasing the band’s strength as powerhouse live performers and entertainers. The album features many extended solos and psychedelic jams. In 2020, Gerard co-wrote and released Late Last Night with The Mighty Pines, produced by Grammy Award winner Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. The album solidified the band’s genre-fluid sound and Gerard’s reputation as a dynamic lead and harmony singer, songwriter & arranger. In September 2023, he released his first single under his own name, “Hey KDHX!”—a protest song sparked by controversy at St. Louis’s iconic community radio station.
Locally, Gerard is a cornerstone of the St. Louis music scene, performing in tribute projects honoring legends like John Hartford, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Prine, and The Grateful Dead. Gerard regularly collaborates with Sean Canan’s Voodoo Players, Arkansauce, and the house Irish musicians at McGurks, while leading various lineups under Gerard & Friends. Whether performing for thousands or in intimate solo settings, his shows offer captivating experiences filled with soulful vocals, masterful musicianship, and a genuine connection that keeps audiences coming back for more.

Neil Salsich's first memory around music was when his father made a mixtape for him. He listened to it relentlessly to the point of wearing it out, but growing up, Neil never saw music as a career. During high school, he gigged in coffee shops around St. Louis for fun when he wasn’t playing sports or in class. In college, he majored in English with a minor in music and ended up failing his minor. Thankfully, he didn’t let that stop him from pursuing something he was passionate about. In 2014, Neil quit his day job to pursue music full-time with his band, The Mighty Pines, and is still with his band today. He appeared on Season 23 of “The Voice.”