With “Piece of the Action,” Rusty Reid throws open the vault and lets the past come roaring back to life — not as nostalgia, but as something alive, sweaty, and unmistakably rock & roll. This track comes from his long-lost, newly unearthed double album The Unreasonables — a record recorded decades ago, shelved, forgotten, and now finally stepping into the light. That origin story alone gives the album a mythic weight, but the song itself doesn’t lean on that history — it stands on its own grit, swagger, and undeniable pulse.

Where Reid’s more recent catalog leans into singer-songwriter depth, philosophical musings, and social reflection, The Unreasonables is his raw, emotional, unfiltered younger self — a time capsule featuring a band locked into a live-wire chemistry. This is music born from instinct rather than analysis; desire rather than theory. And “Piece of the Action” captures that lusty, impulsive, hungry edge of rock that often gets polished out in today’s production-heavy era.

The groove is driving, primal, and unpretentious — a throwback to when rock didn’t need a thesis to hit you. The guitars are sharp and immediate, and Rick Poss’s lead work deserves its own applause — fluid, gritty, and electrifying without ever slipping into excess. Reid’s vocal delivery has that lived-in confidence, the kind that doesn’t need to shout to make its point. It’s rock as conversation, rock as flirtation, rock as motion.

And the attitude? Playful, teasing, slightly dangerous, but not cynical. This isn’t sneering rock & roll. It’s lean-in rock & roll — the kind with a wink in its eye and smoke still rising off the floor.

What makes The Unreasonables special is that it’s not trying to sound vintage — it is vintage. It’s the sound of a moment that could easily have vanished completely, now restored and reintroduced with full knowledge of what it means to still want, still hunger, still chase connection and thrill.

Rock is at its best when it remembers to be human, and Rusty Reid remembers.

We spoke to Rusty Reid about his journey so far.

Do you have an interesting moment or story from your early life that has had a significant impact on your journey into music? 

Rusty Reid: Hi there, Odyssey. Thanks for the interview. Sure. I was born into a musical family, at least on my mother’s side. She was a good singer, and most of her relatives either were singers or players. We had a good record collection that included Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis and many others. So I was tuning into popular music by the time I was three or four years old. What was kind of surprising to the family was that by eight or ten I was composing melodies. We didn’t have many other songwriters in the family. To this day I think I’m stronger with melody than with lyrics. And that all dates back to childhood.

Are there any artists that were influential to your musical journey? How have they inspired your sound as an artist?

Rusty Reid: Oh yeah, so many through the years. Starting off with the Beatles probably first and foremost, but Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Paul Simon, the Doors, John Fogerty. By the time this latest rock and roll album was being recorded I was influenced by Tom Petty, the Cars, Elvis Costello, the Clash, the Police and the punk vibe (my side job was running sound at a punk club in Houston). Since then I’ve learned a lot from Maria McKee and Nirvana and U2 and such. A UK band I’ve loved for quite some time is Del Amitri. Saw them on one of their recent U.S. tours. Love Justin’s singing and songwriting.

How would you describe your sound to new listeners? What do you think sets you apart?

Rusty Reid: Well, my sound shape-shifts to some degree. I think there’s a constant of interesting lyrics and compelling melodies, generally guitar-driven, plus my voice. But the themes wildly diverge. This latest album is my fourth. It’s titled, “The Unreasonables” and is just chock full of straight-ahead rock and roll, sassy, sexy, sultry, you know all the things rock should be. But some of my other albums are more pointedly political or philosophical or even spiritual (not religious). I’d invite listeners to just bounce around in my catalogue and see how it goes.

What’s your creative process? Where do you normally start when it comes to writing and recording? Do the lyrics come first?

Rusty Reid: I often start with a title or key thematic idea, then noodle around on guitar, or more rarely piano, and see what flows out. In my earlier days I would write songs in one sitting, but nowadays I prefer to let them come piece by piece and simmer with them for a while. Lyrics generally begin to emerge early, but I don’t put as much stock in those “instant lyrics” like I used to. They are good as place-holders, but are subject to change for the better. Ditto for the melody and chordal structure. I will tweak those as the song develops. I think it’s important for songwriters to carefully examine the components of their songs as they emerge. Ask whether this is the best lyric, or the best chord I can come up with here in this spot. I would say that many times you can probably do better if you put your mind to it.

Have you had any challenges or adversities in your life that you feel have shaped you as an artist?

Rusty Reid: Certainly as I got older and cared less and less about “success” or sales, etc., that freed me up to write about what is important to me. That’s where the philosophical, political and spiritual themes are coming from. Really, any artist of any kind must do their art for themselves. Sure, it’s great when you get praise, and even better if you can make a living out of it. But those are a tiny fraction of the artists in the world. Artists tend to be their own worst critics, so in my opinion if you create something that you think is good, whether anybody else thinks so or not, that’s a creative success.

Are there any moments or achievement from your career so far that you’re most proud of?

Rusty Reid: So far, I would say that my 2019 album “Head to Heart,” which was remixed for its fifth anniversary in 2024, is my “opus.” It’s my worldview in music and lyrics. So in my opinion, that’s my most successful work. But the other albums and a few singles are the favorites of various fans. So go figure.

Which do you prefer, the creative process or live performance? Or do you enjoy both equally?

Rusty Reid: I best enjoy the creative process, which includes the writing and then the recording and then the mixing of a song. Performing is fun, but it’s always been a bit stressful for me. And I sometimes feel less an “artist” and more an “entertainer” in that mode. Nothing wrong with that specifically; that’s where the money is for most acts. In writing mode and recording I feel confident and in charge. On stage there are so many variables that you can’t control, which can make every gig a bit dicey, sometimes something to just survive. I’ve never been on a big, long tour, but I would imagine that the performers (see, that’s another word separate from “artist”) are frequently just going through the motions. Guess the paycheck is worth it, but it doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.

Do you as an artist require fans to fully understand your message in each song or do you encourage subjective interpretation from every listener?

Rusty Reid: Almost all of my songs are pretty understandable. I typically don’t write in the abstract. I say what I want to say, hopefully in a poetic way. They are still open to some interpretation, and certainly application to the sense and sensibilities of the listener. I get a chuckle out of songwriters admitting that they don’t know what their own song is about; they just leave it to the listener to interpret. To me that’s kind of solid evidence that it’s not really about anything.. it’s just a jumble of words that maybe sound cool together.

Does the political landscape have an impact on your music, or do you keep your personal opinions separate from your work as an artist?

Rusty Reid: Yes, my songs and lyrics are very much influenced by what is going on externally and on a wider scale of community. My “spirituality” is not religion-based. Indeed, I truly believe that religion is anti-spiritual; it aborts the true spiritual seekers’ journey. Ironically, it is the true spiritual seeker who is following the actual tradition of most of the founders of the various religions, who, having rejected (at least to a significant degree) the religion of their time, had their epiphany or enlightenment or “vision” alone, out in nature… not crowded together in a human-made building clonishly accepting what is handed down to them. I’m a defender of the truly sacred, and that is not any “god” or “dogma” or “rites” or “ritual” which are almost certainly and fully manmade figments. I’m focused on the verifiable aspects of reality that are authentically precious, including nature and the higher values of human consciousness such as virtue, honor, justice, wisdom, truth and love. “Head to Heart” explains it all if you wish to explore more.

What are your future plans? Any new songs/projects on the horizon?

Rusty Reid: Yes, my next project is yet another detour. It will be an album of all cover tunes. I’ve only released two such songs, but now here comes a whole album – actually, as is my wont, really a double album. I can’t yet reveal what the common theme of all these cover songs is, but I’ll let you know very soon. Hope to have that album out in early to mid 2026. Hope to talk to you again then.

“Piece of the Action” is available now on all major streaming platforms

Listen to Rusty Reid and other similar artists on our Spotify Playlist ‘New Music Spotlight - Indie & Alternative’

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