Sawtooth Witch – “The Chariot”

Sawtooth Witch is a duo that got my attention recently, and The Chariot is a strong first full statement from them. Pat “Doc” Dougherty and Haley Fleming pull from hill-country blues, cosmic country, and a bit of house music, which sounds like a lot when you read it, but on this album it comes together in a way that sounds natural. Nothing about it comes off like a gimmick. It sounds like they know who they are and this is why I love them.

I just kept coming back to listen to the release and you can hear that this music was shaped over time in bars and taverns, and that matters. There’s a looseness to it, but also a clear sense of purpose. It never sounds thrown together. It sounds lived in, worked on, and trusted.

“The Hustle”, “You See Me?”, “Stories We Tell”, and “Leave the Light On” were the ones that pulled me in fastest, and they gave me a good sense of what Sawtooth Witch does well. There’s variety from one track to the next, but the album still holds together. And “Leave the Light On” is my favorite.

Another part that stuck with me is how much these two bring to the table. Doc handles guitar, vocals, piano, drums, and bass, while Haley Fleming adds violin, and that setup gives the record a close, personal sound. The Chariot is easy to enjoy because it sounds honest and fully its own. Follow Sawtooth Witch on social media this year to keep up with new releases and updates.