Timo de Jong and The Leadbeaters live. Rode Bioscoop, Amsterdam, Sunday 6 April 2025

Photo: Wout de Natris

Let's get this party started. This could well be the motto of The Leadbeaters and party we did. I would never have heard of this dhow, were it not that Timo de Jong, who played in our living room in February had not announced it there. He said he was going to practice with a band in Amsterdam the next day and going to record later this year. We jotted the date down in our agenda and took the train to our capitol city.

We walked into this obviously old venue, with an atmosphere where I can imagine my grandparents walking around in when they were courting in the 1910s. Should they have been in to socialist or communist propaganda films, which I cannot imagine in any way they'd be into. Good Catholics as they were.

In the middle of the venue microphones and instruments were standing in a circle, classic bluegrass style. There were a few chairs and I made sure we got some of them. A beer for me and a glass of white wine for the ladies. We were ready for the show.

Timo de Jong opened the afternoon with three solo songs, including the great 'Ring Them Bells' and  the saddest love song about two ants ever written. His deep voice resonated nicely in the Rode Bioscoop. After these songs, he was joined by six musicians (although one came in late), on fiddle, guitar/banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, upright bass and charismo/triangle/spoons. Not to forget lots and lots of voices. To my surprise there were even two  familiar faces, as the bass player Thomas Olivier is a member of The Hackensaw Boys when they play in Europe and his son has been detected on stage there also.

A range of songs came by in the blue grass, cajun and folk style. Little mistakes were allowed for as it is all still new. But what an energy and what a joy to listen to, clap your hand and stomp your feet to. Not to forget sing-along to where possible or invited. There was even a The Hackensaw Boys cover, 'Listen To The Radio'. Note to self. The next time don't forget to take my snakeskin leather boots.

Photo: Wout de Natris

What became apparent during the afternoon was that my reference for this kind of music is The Hackensaw Boys, but especially the songs of former band member Ferd Moyse IV. He played the fiddle and his songs were not so much blue grass as cajun (or zydeco). I only realised this at this show.

After the break, Timo de Jong played one more song with the band, the latest single '(And In The End) We're All Gonna Die'. They had the whole audience jodeling in this ode to life with its expected outcome. Timo said farewell and that was when the party really got started. The Leadbeaters were smoking and there was no stopping them. In age ranging from anywhere between 60 and 18 the band members were really going at it. The force and stamina of the rhythm section was matched by subtlety and skill on the lead instruments. The voices sounded as if they came from deep in the bayou, with that strange sounding, highish drawl cajun singers are famous for. All in Amsterdam.

Photo: Wout de Natris

A speciality of the house are songs that start quite fast, go faster and then even more, until a moment where you expect limbs to start falling off. These are songs that become musical workouts and for some of the members it shows in the colour of their faces. It does lead to an ever more enthusiastic audience, that much is certain, but it also hurts and it shows.

What struck me most, is how much fun this music is and that it spreads joy. To players and audience alike. Some songs allow for singing along with, others strike you like a tidal wave with its brute force, while finally there is a point for rest every once in a while, though exceptions to the rule. The Leadbeaters have it all and then some.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght