JOINT WINNER OF “BLUES & SOUL MAGAZINE” ‘BLUES ALBUM OF 2012’ ALONGSIDE TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND’S “EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’”
“One of the problems of blues is that it’s seen by many as something played by old-timers with beards. Meet Mitch Laddie, the young band leader from the North East who makes Joe Bonamassa seem old by comparison. A one-time member of Walter Trout’s band (Trout writes the sleevnotes for ‘Burning Bridges’), Laddie has been a blip on the blues circuit since his 2010 album ‘This Time Around”, but we don’t remember as good as he does on this latest album. Writing, playing, singing and self-producing might seem a little ambitious for a 21 year-old, but Laddie copes, bottling a guitar tone that’s fatter and rougher than a bear’s arse, rolling off some outstanding funk blues on Paper In Your Pocket and Would You, and penning lyrics that go far beyond sixth-form drivel (even his one cover choice shows maturity: a supercharges take on Marvin Gaye’s ‘Inner City Blues’). For guitar anoraks it’s worth hanging around for the finale of ‘Mr Johnson Revisited’: a nine-minute virtuoso tear-up that’s almost Satch-worthy. 8/10
CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE
...”No one is doing stuff like this in the UK, let alone 21-year-old Geordies hailed as blues guitar talents. It’s brave, it’s very impressive and it is very refreshing that he’s not dipping into the predictable SRV, Gary Moore, Joe B pool like the majority of his young contemporaries are these days...The same kids that buy Kings Of Leon and John Mayer, are gonna just luuurve Mitch Laddie, that is if he sticks to the less heavy rock end of what he is doing. That is his niche - his USP. As I said; no one else is doing this style in the UK right now. I will go this far; he is the most exciting young blues player of the current bunch and probably the only serious prospect for major global success this country has produced in several decades. You can quote me on that too...” 8/10
BLUES AND SOUL MUSIC MAGAZINE
“...The boy can write; the mostly self-penned material here is every bit the equal of the top-notch playing and singing, and taken as a whole this is a massive statement which inevitably invokes a whole host of forbears without ever compromising its individuality. Wishful-thinkers have been unveiling new blues messiahs since the fall of Eric Clapton, and for the most part they’ve been deluding themselves. God knows where they’re coming from right now though, because instead of one or two hopeful contenders we’re suddenly faced with an honest-to-goodness tsunami of astonishing talent, sounding for all the world like it’s been around for years, but delivered by artists (and I mean artists) barely (if at all) out of their teens. Of which Mitch Laddie is a prime example, with distinct claims to being the best of the lot.”
LEICESTER BANGS
“Hailed by American Bluesman Walter Trout, Mitch Laddie’s second album offers a diverse range of styles and demonstrates the Englishman’s virtuoso as a guitarist and song writer. At the age of 21, Laddie is clearly confident in his ability and has produced a fluent record that eases between heavy blues tracks with incendiary guitar riffs to softer, mellow tracks carried by the rich vocals and lyrics...What’s most impressive throughout the record is Laddie’s ability to seemingly improvise riffs and to run with it. Plus he often displays Clapton-esque guitar skills that’s most noticeable in “Gone,” which flawlessly displays how to build a solo to an explosive finale.Laddie is starting to gain a reputation which is very much justified in Burning Bridges. Laddie is a more than competent player, playing the blues beyond his years. Burning Bridges has lots of potential to be commercial hit and will certainly put Laddie on the British blues radar as he emerges as one of the top players.” 8.5/10
BLUES ROCK REVIEW
“...Burning Bridges’ isn’t so much a slow burner as an album with hidden depth that offers more with each repeated listen. It’s an album that confirms both his chops and an improving vocal style but above all establishes Mitch Laddie as a song writer of substance. Rock-blues never sounded so innovative and refreshing.”
**** (4/5)
PETE FEENSTRA - GET READY TO ROCK
“I feel it is fair to say that Burning Bridges is a much more commercial offering than TTA and will without question appeal to a much wider audience. We still have the intense guitar solos that make the hairs on the back of your neck dance around, but on a lesser scale, which for me only makes them much more intense and powerful. Also with this album we are treated to a much richer and solid sound that not only continues to highlight Mitch’s ability as a guitarist / song writer, but also highlights the ability of the band as well. With some sublime bass riffs and hooks from Rhian and Lee tying it together with some fast paced skin action, we are now getting to see the complete picture and I quite like it...All in all this is an excellent second album from Mitch. It was never going to be an easy feat to follow up on what was such a good first album, but Mitch has succeeded. If this is the way Mitch is moving forward then I for one am really looking forward to album number three.”
ROB STANLEY - THE MIDLANDS ROCKS
“Gritty, purposeful and impassioned, Laddie posses an unhinged quality that separates him from the usual suspects. A young gun with some serious angle”
GUITAR & BASS MAGAZINE
NEW ALBUM “BURNING BRIDGES” - OUT NOW
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