Tip Jar – Road of No Return
This is the 7th Tip Jar studio LP. Some songs were recorded in the Netherlands & others were captured faithfully in Austin, TX. You heard right. What a contrast. But listen to the music. It’s about as true Americana as one can get. The opener is so homegrown & rural you can taste the turnips & fallen green apples under the tree as the trout jump from the stream. That’s the warm feeling stirred up in the title track “Road of No Return.”
The band magically conjures traditional savoring flavors that run through their veins, voices & fingers as they play. There are 12 signs on the Road of No Return (Digital Release Jan. 10/LP & CD Dec. 14, 2024/Shine a Light Records/47:00). Performed diligently.
The vocals trade off in a diversified well-balanced manner. The album was produced by Eric van de Lest (drums/harmony) & Tip Jar. It has a gentle convincing depth somewhat similar to the late 70s-early 80s Canadian New Wave band Spoons with Sandy Horne & Gordon Deppe (“No More Growing Up,” “Arias & Symphonies,” & “No Electrons”). It’s The Spoons’ approach & how they conveyed their originality that I’m comparing to Tip Jar. “All Good” is a rousing vocal piece like The Spoons — with an infectious optimistic melody.
Bart de Win (Wurlitzer/accordion/piano/keys/whistle/harmony) & Arianne Knegt (harmony) primarily hold down the lead vocals warmly, colorfully, and fascinatingly. Arianne has an angelic voice in her solo spots and could stand beside the best (Christine Collister, Susan Osborne, Sandy Denny, Judith Durham & Emmylou Harris). “Standing On the Corner” with its highly energetic melodic workout sounds like the finest folk/country this side of Peter, Paul & Mary backed by Goose Creek Symphony. Now that’s a viable combination. Exhilarating stuff.
I find the music well arranged & presented with equal measures of poignant ballads, soft vintage jazz & rollicking rootsy numbers. I played several more than once. There are multiple musical influences for sure but Tip Jar manages to shake it up enough to render the influences as a measure of reminiscence & not so much an obvious connection to anything. That takes skill & talent. The band has the goods, they continue to impress because they’re authentic & always delightful. A real treat.
Highlights – “Road of No Return,” “All Good,” “Night Train,” “Standing On the Corner,” “Be Someone,” “Literal,” “Wish I Were a Cowboy,” “Window Girl,” “On My Way” & “Corner of Your Heart.”
Musicians – Walt Wilkins (acoustic guitar/spoken word/harmony), Scrappy Jud Newcomb (electric guitar), Bill Small (bass/harmony), Pat Manske (drums/spoken word), John Chipman (drums), Harry Hendriks (banjo/acoustic guitar/8-string ukulele/harmony), Baer Traa (harmony), Joost van Es (violin) & Tonnie Ector (double bass).
Color photos courtesy of Nicolette Verhoeven, Rob Freeman & Ronald Rietman. A handsome 6-panel CD package with a 12pp colorful stitched lyric insert included. CD @ Bandcamp & https://tipjar.nl/press-kit + https://hemifran.com/news/detail/p/1816/Tip%20Jar/Road%20Of%20No%20Return/
Enjoy our review of their previous album here: REVIEW: Songs About Love & Life On the Hippie Side of Country