originally published: 01/23/2024
Photo by Chloe Horseman
New York-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones (a.k.a. Jonathon Linaberry) released a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" on January 23, 2024 that will appear on the deluxe version of his latest album Slow Lightning.
Available February 9, the deluxe edition of Slow Lightning will add the cover and brand new song “Out For Blood” to his first full-length album in more than five years that was released last fall.
J.R. Jones explains: “‘My Hometown’ was one of the first songs that spoke to me as a kid. I must have been 6 or so and my dad bought me, Born In The USA. I had a little boom box and played that cassette until it warbled and went off its spools. I will never forget what that music meant to me. The way it made me feel. It's probably a big reason why I do what I do.”
“Truthfully, the Deluxe record came around because I'm proud of the way ‘Out For Blood’ came out. It might be one of my favorite tracks. It feels understated and still direct to me. Something that just sort of settles into itself. The trouble was I couldn't find a home for it in the sequencing of the record, but I knew I wanted to release it. This felt like the best way for it to receive the focus it deserves, while still being an outlier on the record.”
J.R. will hit the road on an 4-date east coast run making stops in Massachusetts, Brooklyn and Philadelphia before embarking on a west coast tour that kicks off February 7 at Soda Bar in San Diego, CA. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit his website.
Released on October 13, 2023, Slow Lightning was met with acclaim from American Songwriter, Holler, Magnet Magazine, Glide Magazine, NYS Music and The Alternate Root, who called it ”a record that doesn’t sound like anything but itself.” The album’s radio single “The Good Life,” which was released alongside a moving official video starring actress Maggie McDowell, was praised by Atwood Magazine who proclaimed, “‘The Good Life’ radiates with smoldering folk rock passion and perseverance as The Bones of J.R. Jones echoes our endless individual pursuit in song.”
The Bones of J.R. Jones is a New York-based songwriter, storyteller, visual artist and “one man band who can hold an audience rapt, rendering the cacophony of a stage full of musicians utterly unnecessary” (Noisey). His 2021 EP, A Celebration, was praised by American Songwriter, Under The Radar and Atwood Magazine, who called it “an intimate, visceral outpouring of vulnerability, reflection, connection, and wonder.”
Slow Lightning Deluxe tracklist:
1) Animals
2) Slow Lightning
3) The Good Life
4) Blue Skies
5) Preservation
6) The Flood
7) Heaven Help Me
8) I Ain’t Through With You
9) Love Is A Sickness
10) I’ll See You In Hell
11) Salt Sour Sweet
12) Baby Run
13) Out For Blood
14) My Hometown
Tour Dates:
1/24 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
1/25 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
1/26 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby's All Right
1/27 - Amherst, MA - The Drake
2/7 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
2/8 - Venice, CA - The Venice West
2/9 - Templeton, CA - Club Car Bar
2/10 - Mill Valley, CA - Sweetwater Music Hall
2/14 - Reno, NV - Cypress Reno
2/15 - Talent, OR - Talent Club
2/16 - Portland, OR - The Showdown
2/17 - Seattle, WA - Madame Lou's
2/18 - Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo House
EVENT PREVIEWS
The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Jonatha Brooke
(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Jonatha Brooke on Friday April 24, 2026 at 7:30pm. The singer-songwriter merges evocative folk, melodic pop, with an edgier roots rock sensibility.
MPAC presents The String Queens on April 24th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Praised for its authentic, soulful, and orchestral sound, The String Queens (TSQ) is a dynamic trio that creates stimulating musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine! The String Queens come to Mayo Performing Arts Center, Friday, April 24, 2026 at 8:00pm.
Sweet Honey in the Rock Brings 50+ Years of Music and Message to McCarter Theatre Center
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Sweet Honey in the Rock, the GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble celebrating more than 50 years of artistry, returns to McCarter Theatre Center on Friday, April 24, 2026 with its signature blend of socially conscious and spiritually uplifting music. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Outpost in the Burbs presents Rhett Miller of Old 97's
(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs presents Rhett Miller on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8:00pm. Rhett is a revered singer-songwriter known for his more than three decades fronting the popular rock band Old 97's who were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2025 Americana Awards at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
Clint Black Brings His Back On The Blacktop Tour with Special Guest Gareth to CarteretPAC on April 25th
(CARTERET, NJ) -- Clint Black Brings His Back On The Blacktop Tour with Special Guest Gareth to the URSB Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8:00pm.
The Chapin Family presents: Harry Chapin’s Greatest Stories LIVE
(WAYNE, NJ) -- The Chapin Family presents: Harry Chapin’s Greatest Stories LIVE on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Shea Center for Performing Arts. In the long rich history of Family Groups in American Roots Music, this family has a special place. When these singers, songwriters and extraordinary live performers come together, magic happens. Showtime is 8:00pm.
Sold-Out Cabaret Returns: The Light Between – A Modern Cabaret Comes to Lincroft on April 25th
(LINCROFT, NJ) -- After selling out 200 seats in just days, The Light Between – A Modern Cabaret returns for a special encore performance Saturday, April 25, 2026 at The Earth Room at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County. Created and performed by PJ Casbar and Tom McCormack, the show blends original music, musical-theater favorites, and modern pop into a character-driven cabaret evening that moves between humor, storytelling, and moments of theatrical surprise. Showtime is 7:30pm.
The Newton Theatre presents Kashmir: The Spirit of Led Zeppelin - 55/50 TOUR
(NEWTON, NJ) -- Kashmir: The Spirit of Led Zeppelin brings its 55/50 TOUR to The Newton Theatre on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 8:00pm. The tour celebrates two groundbreaking albums - the 55th anniversary of Led Zeppelin IV and the 50th anniversary of Presence. This tour promises an unforgettable journey through the soundscapes that have influenced generations and continue to inspire.
João Bosco Quartet - 80th Birthday Celebration of Brazilian Music Legend João Bosco to take place at McCarter Theatre on April 25th
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents the João Bosco Quartet in a special performance celebrating the legendary Brazilian artist's 80th birthday and more than five decades of groundbreaking music-making on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 7:30pm. Presented in association with Brazil LAB, this performance celebrates João Bosco’s extraordinary career.
Albert Music Hall presents a Modern Country Music Show on Saturday
(WARETOWN, NJ) -- On any given night at Albert Music Hall, audiences are more likely to hear early honky-tonk or the songs of Johnny Cash than the modern country sounds of artists like Luke Combs or Miranda Lambert. That will change on Saturday, April 25, 2026, when the Hall leans into the modern era with a special show dedicated to new country music.
MORE EVENTS
Click on the listing to bring up its webpage
