NY-based artist The Bones of J.R. Jones announced today his new EP A Celebration will release on March 19th. Inspired by the American Southwest, it was written on his honeymoon during trips to Tucson, Bisbee, Joshua Tree, and other desert destinations. The six-song collection is everything its title promises: a celebration of the thrill of getting lost in something new, whether it’s a landscape, a sound, a perspective, or all of the above. Today he shared the lead single and video for “Bad Moves,” watch it HERE.
“This was the last song I wrote for the record, it was definitely an add on,” J.R. stated. “I had a very specific list of sonic qualities in mind—the point of the song was to give the EP texture and dimension. It asserts itself more than the other songs, which definitely feels a little dreamier, comparatively. The lyrics and intent behind this one were darker and kind of a nod to the animalistic instinct in all of us, which is where the driving pace of the song comes from.”
A Celebration marks a new stage in The Bones of J.R. Jones’ own evolution, fusing the songwriter’s southern gothic sound - a sound rooted in acoustic instruments and J.R.’s woozy vocals - with drum machines, analog synths, vibraphone, and the rich, dark tones of a Magnatone amplifier. The songs were recorded quickly, in a series of first takes and instinctual performances, with J.R. playing nearly every instrument himself. The result is an organic record with an electric pulse - a collection of music that, like the region that inspired it, is familiar one minute and otherworldly the next.
Over the course of three full-length albums and two EPs, Jonathan Robert Linaberry - the songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and one-man band behind The Bones of J.R. Jones - has woven his own tapestry of American roots music. It’s a classic sound for the modern world, influenced not only by blues, soul, and forward-thinking folk, but also by J.R.’s environment. Noisey once raved “He’s a one man band who can hold an audience rapt, rendering the cacophony of a stage full of musicians utterly unnecessary.”
J.R. also revealed a special series of virtual shows that will take place on his Instagram page with each show benefiting a local venue. Fans are invited to donate to J.R.’s PayPal/Venmo where half of the proceeds will be donated to each venue. J.R. is also making limited edition Linocut posters for each date featuring handmade wood carved letters. Visit www.thebonesofjrjones.com/shows- for more info.
Virtual Tour Dates:
02/05 - New York, NY: Mercury Lounge @ 8pm EST
02/27 - Los Angeles, CA: The Troubadour @ 8pm PST
03/18 - San Francisco, CA: Cafe Du Nord @ 8pm PST
04/17 - London, UK: Omeara @ 8pm GMT
05/14 - Austin, TX: Stubbs, Jr. @ 8pm CST
A Celebration Track List:
01) Stay Wild
02) Howl
03) Bad Moves
04) Keep It Low
05) Like An Old Lover
06) A Celebration
