Jon LaDeau

Like many artist playing today Jon LaDeau is influenced by a range of styles and amalgamates them to create his version of Americana, foremost though is the blues, closely followed by rock 'n' roll and there's some country in the mix too. The closing track Rollin' Slow best exemplifies the latter with an upbeat rhythm and some tasty guitar from Scott Metzger. The overall colour of the blues is never too far away though. However this is not specifically a hardcore blues album but rather LaDeau's songs strive for something that is is own. The opening song Lucille is a good introduction to how this four piece sound. Jon LaDeau has a voice that is a distinctive enough presence, there are hints of a young Neil Young, to these ears at least, and in some ways that masters eclectic approach may also serve LaDeau well. This Way, a mid-paced rock song, points in that direction and is an immediate stand-out song on this eight track mini-album.The rhythm section of Jon Shaw and Taylor Floreth hold the bottom line down and allow the songs a base to build on. The train rhythm of Grapple propels the song along and allows the guitar to again take centre stage under La Deau voice and the guest backing vocals. The album was recorded by D. James Goodwin in Woodstock and sounds like it was a relaxed session. The dirty blues of the walking-paced Old Brown Dog, is a shaggy instrumental, a tribute to a favoured mutt perhaps? Midnite Sun is another song with a memorable guitar riff and vocal. All of the elements here show that LaDeau is a capable artist trying to get his music out there in front of people and while there's nothing here that hasn't been done before it is being done with a self-belief and genuine drive that makes this release an enjoyable one and the band are likely to be a lot of fun live. It's a starting point from which both the band and their fans can build. - Lonesome Highway (IR), June 2012

Blues traditionalist, country revivalist, Jon LaDeau is taking Brooklyn to the genres usually reserved for Austin, Chicago and New Orleans. This is a truly down home American style, presented with grit... irony-free. His latest record sticks to these styles with glee as LaDeau's guitar work shreds like a latter-day Stevie Ray Vaughn. At times, his voice recalls the George Harrison from 'All Things Must Pass,' a rocker who still understands the roots of his sound. Tracks like 'Lucille' and 'Grapple' especially carry with them the railroad grooves of delta blues under jackhammer guitar licks. See him when he plays his ongoing residency at Way Station in Prospect Heights on November 30th. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - The Deli Magazine, November 2012

Jon Ladeau brought his original, soulful oldtime Americana
- New York Music Daily, November 2012