Partytime! The Hackensaw Boys live with Timo de Jong. Wednesday 10 April 2024, Patronaat Haarlem

Photo: Wout de Natris

I tried to figure out when I saw the band last and I couldn't. Was it 2022 or before Covid? It doesn't matter. The family went down to Patronaat and came back with two new fans, as the youngest two got their Hackensaw Boys baptism. For the first time in some years Hackensaw Boys stood on stage like a true band, that in energy and presence came close to what went about years ago. This was not just good, this was great fun.

My first show may have been in 2004 or 05 in the Q-Bus, Leiden (the second as well). Since, I saw the band probably twenty times. This was the first time since the release of 'Hackensaw Boys'. I was surprised about how well these songs stood up and by the album itself, so I found after having bought it at the show.

Over the years, and that includes the years before the blog in the magazine of old, I have written so many times about the band, that it is hard to find a new angle. What I noticed most, was how happy the songs make me. Sure, there are very serious songs as well, but all through the show I felt happy, I had a smile on my face and I noticed that the band and its music had the same effect on all around me. The combination in the songs of these elements, dynamics, sing-a-long, energy and speed of playing, make for a potent show that make people sing and dance. While the serious songs have the quality to convince besides. With singer and guitarist David Sickmen the band has a quality songwriter who knows how to create all these effects in his songs and a lyricist with a story to tell.

Photo: Wout de Natris

Singing along to old favourites from the 00s, was the highlight of the evening, of course. 'Nashville', 'Dance Around', Alabama Shamrock' are among the better songs of the band, ever. With the latter song I even wooed my soon wife-to-be a long time ago. It was on a cd compilation called "Liedjes 1". As I already wrote, I heard a lot of songs I was less familiar with, as I only bought the latest album at the show. They are so much better than I had expected. In short, my love for the band is back, totally and unconditionally. See you next time!

The show opened with a solo performance by Groningen (ex-Meppel) singer-songwriter Timo de Jong. Donned with a golden brown deep voice De Jong sings his songs seriously, but also totally appreciative of the support he is providing for The Hackensaw Boys. He knows he is in the way of the audience and the band they want to see. De Jong placed himself in a brilliant spot by proving himself to be a true entertainer. We were invited to sing along to songs we had never heard before and we did! Not as a courtesy but because we wanted to. He told nice stories in between his songs, introducing himself and the songs. A song about an exploding anthead anyone? Timo de Jong has it.

The songs themselves all were extremely nice. In combination with his extremely pleasant voice, they were easy to listen to and absorb. By the end of his show we were all warmed up and eager to hear more music. In a way Timo de Jong was an ideal support act, because his singer-songwriter, folk, country songs fit the bill, but are not in competition with The Hackensaw Boys in any way. What he did was entertain all present and the response of the audience showed their appreciation of his efforts.

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His album 'Heart At Rest' was released late spring last year. It turns out that I have it in my mp3 collection. The album escaped my attention in the deluge of albums that reach me. But now I do know why the song 'Big Grey Boxes' rang a bell with me. It was in my weekly singles review of week 9 of 2023. That voice did not escape me, I notice. The name did.

We went home with the album, our first joint album buy, and it lands really well. Too late for a review but you should have gotten the message that 'Heart At Rest' is very much worthwhile. Our three sons all went home with Timo's name written with a marker somewhere on their body. Don't ask me why. A bit crazy but they had a great time with this music of which two had never heard before.

Wout de Natris