I think "Lonesome Jubilee" is one of the best albums of John Mellencamp's career. The singer-songwriter from Indiana came through with a record that sounded very different from anything he had released before. It had a couple of top 15 hits, but mostly it seemed to define a sound for his music - one unlike anybody else's.
My favorite tracks include "Cherry Bomb" (one of the best songs of the 1980s in my opinon), "Paper In Fire", "Check it Out", and "The Real Life".
John Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
Here is a look at shows taking place from February 17-23, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Legendary rock band Kansas is bringing their iconic sound to the Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on Saturday, February 21, 2026. With a career spanning five decades, Kansas has defined classic rock with unforgettable hits like Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind. Their powerful live performances showcase soaring vocals, masterful musicianship, and a catalog of songs that have stood the test of time.
Alex Dawson is full-time faculty at Rutgers University, where he teaches creative writing with a focus on folklore, fantasy, and horror; hosts Inside the Writers House, a video chat with acclaimed authors from all over the world; and leads fable-fueled Study Abroad programs to some of the planet's most mythical places.
