Runnin' With The Wild Ones

Hey Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew’s cranking up the good vibes with Runnin’ With The Wild Ones by Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts, a foot-stomping anthem from their 2025 EP Troubled Paradise that’s got that classic rock swagger and a heart full of rebel dreams. This track’s a high-octane love letter to young love and reckless nights, with Tuk’s gravelly croon and stadium-sized riffs painting a picture of tearing through neon-lit streets with your crew. In a Metal Planet Music review, they called it a “stadium anthem” with quick beats and clever lyrics that name-drop the band, weaving a tale of teenage highs and lows that grabs you like a joyride in a stolen car. Fans on X are eating it up—one Freak shared how they blasted it during a late-night drive, feeling like they were outrunning the world, while another posted about catching Tuk live in London, where the crowd went nuts, singing along like it was their own runaway story.

Dig this juicy bit: Tuk dropped a music video for Runnin’ With The Wild Ones that’s pure rock ‘n’ roll cinema, with a vibe like Springsteen meets The Ramones, as he told BraveWords when announcing the single’s release. The song’s got that ‘80s radio-friendly polish but with a raw edge, and Tuk’s shared on Facebook how it came from late-night jams where he poured his love for Thin Lizzy and Cheap Trick into every chord. A Reddit fan raved about its “infectious chorus” that stuck with them for days, while another recalled a gig at The Underworld Camden where Tuk dedicated it to “all the misfits chasing freedom.” It’s the kind of tune that makes you wanna roll down the windows and howl at the moon, a perfect fit for the Zoo’s free-spirited airwaves.

Now, let’s roll back to where this rock ‘n’ roll renegade got his start, ‘cause Tuk Smith’s journey is a gritty tale of passion and hustle. Hailing from rural Georgia, Tuk—born Thomas Smith—cut his teeth as a punk kid fronting the Atlanta-based Biters, a band that mixed glam, punk, and power pop into a cult favorite. After Biters flirted with stardom but fizzled in the industry’s chaos, Tuk moved to Nashville, founding Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts in 2019 with a mission to keep real rock alive. His bio on his site paints him as a survivor, channeling AC/DC’s swagger and Cheap Trick’s hooks into anthems for underdogs. Starting with dive bar gigs and a 2020 single, What Kinda Love, he built a loyal following, even landing an opening slot for Mötley Crüe’s Stadium Tour before COVID shook things up. Now running his own label, Gypsy Rose Records, Tuk’s all about honest, high-energy music that hits you right in the soul.

Zoo Freaks, if you’re feeling Tuk’s wild-hearted groove, plug into his world: swing by the band’s official website for tour dates and merch that screams rock ‘n’ roll, vibe with them on Facebook, check out gritty studio snaps on Instagram, and join the riffs-and-roses banter on X. For you super-fans, there’s the Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts Fan Club on Facebook, where folks swap live vids and stories from shows—like that epic Planet Rockstock set. No big fan sites yet, but the love’s growing, so keep an eye out. Keep spinning those records, and let Runnin’ With The Wild Ones fuel your next adventure.