Some bands spend years chasing a sound. Easy Thieves stumbled into theirs over smoked brisket and a few cold beers. What started as a laid-back afternoon between four longtime musicians—Marc Vega (guitars), Jeff Rood (guitars/vocals), Jim Pawloski (bass), and Rick Colclasure (drums)—quickly turned into something more serious. Those half-finished riffs and lyrical scraps got a second life, eventually becoming The One You Want To Rescue, a 10-track debut that blends southern indie rock with hard-earned storytelling and unforced chemistry.
From the jump, the album feels like late summer in a small town: equal parts easygoing and haunted. Early listeners have called it “southern-inspired indie rock with a hint of country,” but that undersells the emotional depth. Beneath the breezy grooves and fuzzed-out guitars are lyrics that wrestle with personal wreckage—regret, relapse, and the fragile work of trying to save someone before they go too far. From the opening track – “Day 12”, a standout, to the emotional, cinematic closer, “Stetson”, the album sits with that tension: “It’s about the person you want to pull back from the edge,” the band says. “Whether that’s a friend, a lover, or the version of you that’s slipping away.”
Despite its casual origins, the record is anything but throwaway. Co-produced by Bryan David (Anthem Recording) and mastered by Austin Gordon (Commonwealth Mastering), the sound hits that sweet spot between refined and raw. Guitars ring, drums punch, and Rood’s vocals sit right in the pocket—steady, weathered, believable. The band pulls influence from the likes of Drive-By Truckers and Wilco, but never mimics. What you hear instead is a group that knows who they are and isn’t in a rush to prove anything.
The sequencing flows like a good mixtape. Audience pleasing tracks like “Intoxicated” and “Drowning” offer dynamic pivots—sometimes slow-burning, sometimes raucous—but always tethered to that smoky, southern backbone. It’s music made by players who trust each other, and that looseness comes through in all the right ways. Nothing feels overthought, but everything lands with intention.
Looking ahead, Easy Thieves are already deep into their next chapter. Eleven new songs are in the works, with plans to play live shows in late 2025. “We’re stitching together a setlist that’ll hit like a reunion for some, and maybe find a whole new audience,” they say. “Originals, a few covers to grease the wheels, and a lot of sweat.” The live show promises to echo the same honesty and unpolished charm that fuels the album.
The One You Want To Rescue isn’t trying to be a statement record—but it ends up being one anyway. It’s the sound of seasoned players reconnecting with why they started making music in the first place. Play it loud in the garage. Spin it during golden hour. Share it with someone who’s been through some shit. Because sometimes the right song doesn’t just move you—it pulls you back from the edge.
Listen here: Spotify Link