Noah Reid plays Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Florida on May 8, 2025. Credit: Photo by Denis Morecraft

Think of all the times established actors have attempted to break into the world of music. Or, how about bona fide musicians who have fancied themselves as actors and have tried to become television or film stars? It’s easy to think of several cringeworthy instances.

But then there’s Noah Reid. Best known for his role as the humble, down-to-earth everyman in the wildly successful sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” the Canadian had already hatched out an impressive resume as a child actor before joining the cast of the comedy series, where he portrayed the no-nonsense, midwestern, sensible Patrick Brewer. The character was the perfect foil for David Rose, the flamboyant and snobbish urban scenester who would eventually fall in love with Patrick and, late in the show’s run, would marry him.

Currently out on the road as a solo act, Reid, is focusing on the musical side of his talents and is treating audiences to a glimpse into his songs and compositions while sharing lots of stories, anecdotes, and glances into his journey as a singer/actor in the process. Appearing last Thursday night at downtown Clearwater’s Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, Reid delivered an 85-minute set that included plenty of laughs as well as touching moments.

With three full-length albums to his credit, he had plenty of material to choose from. Accompanied only by the grand piano that took up a large portion of the theatre’s stage, Reid, donning a baseball cap, jacket, and khakis, hardly resembled a Hollywood actor or a rock star; but what his attire lacked in flashy showmanship was eclipsed in the heartfelt and comical performance he pulled off. Stylistically, Reid’s catalog and delivery most resemble the sound of 1970s soft-rock; with a vocal style that brings Paul Simon’s soft croon to mind, and lyrical passages that sound influenced by the work of James Taylor or Jackson Browne, Reid’s music harkens back to a time and vibe that was present way before the 37-year old artist was alive.

His early admission of this being his first time in the state of Florida drew early cheers in the set, as did his brief intro where he played a few bars of Eric Carmen’s ‘70s hit “All By Myself,” although Reid credited the tune to his fellow Canadian musician, Celine Dion, who also scored a hit with the powerful ballad.

Noodling on the piano for a bit while reflecting on his time as a struggling actor in New York City after coming to the U.S. to make it, Reid went down the proverbial rabbit hole in sharing stories about those lean years.

“I am going to play songs…eventually…” he announced while sharing tales about his adventures as an actor, which drew laughs and cheers from the unfazed audience.
As he admitted throughout the night, some of Reid’s compositions are dark and delve into themes of loneliness and isolation. Songs like “Left Behind” and “False Alarms” honed in on those topics and sounded even more poignant and heartfelt thanks to their sparse arrangements made up of only Reid’s vocals and piano chops.

While he typically tours with a full band, Reid shone as a soloist on this night and did plenty to convince any potential non-believers in the seats that he’s as formidable a musician as he is an actor.

His humor was present throughout the night, too. He joked about wearing a pair of dark shades he picked up for his tour and decided to wear them during the more gutwrenching numbers he performed, and admitted to taking on an alter-ego named “Gator” when wearing the jet black sunglasses. He also made concessions for some of the spicy language he threw in throughout the program.

“I apologize for my language,” he joked. “I’m a filthy-mouthed Canadian!” he announced, to great laughter. No one seemed to mind the expletives that peppered the spoken passages of the night.

One of the most entertaining portions of the night came when Reid spoke of his chance to meet renowned filmmakers and screenwriters, the Coen Brothers. Reid had the chance to audition for the duo’s 2013 film “Inside Llewyn Davis,” which tells the tale of a struggling musician looking to make it in the folk scene of 1960s Greenwich Village in New York City. His witty and engaging telling of the adventure made for great storytelling, and it kept the rapt audience entertained thoroughly. He didn’t get that gig, but it still made for some great storytelling.

Without trying to heavy-handedly approach the topic of the recent strained relations between his home country and the U.S., Reid took a moment to broach the subject, and did so in a classy manner.

“I’m a Canadian and an American, and it’s a weird time to be both things,” he said. “The U.S. and Canada have always had a symbiotic relationship. We are friends and we should stay friends and remain friends,” he proudly stated, and in doing so, drew the night’s heartiest and most passionate roar of applause and cheers.

Fittingly, Reid closed the show with his “American Roads,” a song about driving through the U.S. from his home in Canada in search of acting gigs in California. It was a fitting ending to a special night where those in attendance got to know Noah Reid as an entertainer who wears many different hats; he’s a storyteller, a potential comedian, and a pretty impressive singer-songwriter.

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This article appears in May 8-14, 2025.