From ‘Schitts Creek’ to the recording studio: Noah Reid to perform at the Englert

Some actors arrive in Hollywood as musicians who happen to pick up work as thespians while trying to find their footing as tunesmiths.

That's the way it was for cinema star Johnny Depp, who moonlights as a guitarist with the Hollywood Vampires. It's the same story for Billy Bob Thornton, who when not acting fronts the roots-rock act The Boxmasters.

"I arrived in Hollywood during the height of hair metal back in the '80s, and I didn't fit in," Thornton said during a recent interview. However, Thornton, who won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for "Slingblade,“ stumbled onto acting.

Like Depp and Thornton, Noah Reid is better known for his acting than as a singer-songwriter. However, the affable Canadian didn't pick up film and television work as a way to cover the bills while working on songs.

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"For me, being a musician and an actor are like being on two trains traveling in the same direction," Reid said while calling from Toronto. "I have no problem jumping from one train to another. Acting permeates me, and the same goes for music."

Reid, 38, landed the perfect role in "Outer Range," a quirky science fiction neo-Western show. Reid portrayed Billy Tillerson, who often sang to reveal elements with his character and to highlight the differences from his brother. His performances showcased his increasing instability and fascination with death. Tillerson was gunned down at the end of season one.

However, Tillerson lives on through Reid's EP "T is for Tillerson." The EP features songs he belted out on "Outer Range," such as Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" and Poison's "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."

"I wanted to make a record as Billy Tillerson," Reid said. "When I play those covers as Billy, it feels like I'm putting on a costume that somebody else created, but I get to wear that costume in a certain way. I get to interpret that song and take it to a different place."

It's a perfect example of how Reid melds acting and music. "They are really just as important to me," Reid said.

“Adjustments," which was released in 2022, finds Reid, well, adjusting.

"I started coming up with the songs in December of 2020," Reid said. "It was a time when everything was changing. It was a time living in what was dubbed unprecedented. It was a time of isolation, and there were big unknowns. I got married during the pandemic. I was making adjustments. I'm a big sports fan. I love to play sports, and I love the metaphors. Look at baseball, which like the creative arts, is a world when you're constantly making adjustments whether you're a pitcher or a hitter. When you're an actor, you receive notes from the director, and you make adjustments. I made my adjustments and made the album."

Reid, who will perform Friday at the Englert Theatre, impressed throughout "Adjustments" with his imagery, which is reminiscent of such acclaimed storytellers as Billy Joel and Ben Folds. While writing about soulless condos, Reid makes a point during "Another Bleeping Condo“ about how perhaps it's better to leave things alone.

"’And there's another big old beauty comin' down/Another piece of history is gone without a sound/And it's another jewel stolen from the crown/They're rippin' out the soul of this town.’ I just write what's on my mind," Reid said.

Reid is a ball of energy who writes, records, tours and acts. The married father of a three-year old son has no problem with the balancing act.

"I do the best I can," Reid said. "I put a lot of effort into what I do."

Reid also excelled while playing Patrick on the acclaimed sitcom "Schitt's Creek." He particularly enjoyed working with the show's stars, Canadian comic icons Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, who also worked together on the legendary sketch comedy show, "SCTV," from 1976-1984.

"It was a phenomenal experience on ‘Schitt's Creek,’" Reid said. "That show alone has created a pathway for me to play my music all over the world. I had the opportunity to work with an incredible group of people. Working with Catherine and Eugene was amazing. The level of humility and love from Catherine and Eugene was just fantastic. Those two are so incredibly talented and ruthlessly funny. They are the kind of people that are a pleasure to be around. I learned so much from that experience, and I'm still learning while working on other acting projects and with my music."