Tip Jar - Road of No Return (2025)

Tip Jar, the Dutch Americana band consisting of Bart de Win and Arianne Knegt with their new album "Road of no Return". The recordings traditionally took place in Eindhoven and Austin, because the band again brought both Dutch and American friends to the studios: producer Van de Lest also played drums, as did John Chipman and Pat Manske, Tonnie Ector and Bill Small played bass, Joost van Es played violin, Walt Wilkins acoustic guitar and Scrappy Jud Newcomb electric guitar. De Win wrote most of the songs alone, but he wrote three with Knegt, one with Hendriks, one with RW Sitzler and R. Beresford.

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. 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.