Sawmill Joe
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Sawmill Joe

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"The Lumineers Cover Sawmill Joe — Who is Sawmill Joe?"

There’s nothing better than when a popular band generously brings attention to an up-and-comer. And this week’s gold star goes to The Lumineers who killed it last night at The Fonda. During their set they covered a song by a man named Sawmill Joe and encouraged the audience to look him up. So I did. And the guy is just as good as I anticipated. He’s got a country blues grit in his voice that makes him sound as if he’s been doing this for a million years, only he’s shockingly younger than you’d think. He lives in Denver, and he works a day job at a sawmill (get it?), which likely explains the authenticity behind his music. - The Dishmaster


"Sawmill Joe gets folky at the hi-dive on Saturday, June 30"

You couldn’t make up Joe Cheves unless you thought you were being clever and writing some film in collaboration with the Coen brothers about a folksinger from the first half of the twentieth century. Cheves, who fronts Sawmill Joe (due at the hi-dive on Saturday, June 30), looks like he stepped out of another era and sounds like it, too. Instead of merely singing about working hard in soul-crushing conditions, Cheves actually knows what it’s like. Far from a quaint affectation, this guy’s husky voice was earned.

~ Tom Murphy, Westword - Westword


"Sawmill Joe gets folky at the hi-dive on Saturday, June 30"

You couldn’t make up Joe Cheves unless you thought you were being clever and writing some film in collaboration with the Coen brothers about a folksinger from the first half of the twentieth century. Cheves, who fronts Sawmill Joe (due at the hi-dive on Saturday, June 30), looks like he stepped out of another era and sounds like it, too. Instead of merely singing about working hard in soul-crushing conditions, Cheves actually knows what it’s like. Far from a quaint affectation, this guy’s husky voice was earned.

~ Tom Murphy, Westword - Westword


"Pastarun Music Online Review"

Let me start out my thanking The Lumineers for introducing me to the rugged, unpolished stylings of Sawmill Joe. As the name implies, Sawmill Joe is a simple, and nearly archetypal country folk trio. They truly work in a sawmill, and bring to mind the “for the people” aspect that folk music tends to lose track of at times. Possibly nothing illustrates the stark contrast better than The Lumineers. With their whirlwind rise to fame, the Lumineers are at the peak of the folk music mountain as of now. Sawmill Joe, on the other hand represents the country-blues musicians of yore. Moving from Maryland to Minnesota before settling down in Denver for the past 5 years, Sawmill Joe’s raspy crooning speaks to many aspects of the American psyche. Despite their fame, it’s great to see the Lumineers helping out a local musician who may be just steps behind in the quest to making a musical living. With one album out on Bandcamp, you’re able to support Sawmill Joe for as low as $5 for his ten-track, self-titled LP. If Joe’s vocals don’t pull you in, his infectious smile is sure to do so. - Pastarun Music


"Pastarun Music Online Review"

Let me start out my thanking The Lumineers for introducing me to the rugged, unpolished stylings of Sawmill Joe. As the name implies, Sawmill Joe is a simple, and nearly archetypal country folk trio. They truly work in a sawmill, and bring to mind the “for the people” aspect that folk music tends to lose track of at times. Possibly nothing illustrates the stark contrast better than The Lumineers. With their whirlwind rise to fame, the Lumineers are at the peak of the folk music mountain as of now. Sawmill Joe, on the other hand represents the country-blues musicians of yore. Moving from Maryland to Minnesota before settling down in Denver for the past 5 years, Sawmill Joe’s raspy crooning speaks to many aspects of the American psyche. Despite their fame, it’s great to see the Lumineers helping out a local musician who may be just steps behind in the quest to making a musical living. With one album out on Bandcamp, you’re able to support Sawmill Joe for as low as $5 for his ten-track, self-titled LP. If Joe’s vocals don’t pull you in, his infectious smile is sure to do so. - Pastarun Music


"A.V. Club review"

Joe “Sawmill Joe” Cheves is the stuff of country-blues legend. When not recording music and playing in dive bars, Cheves works at Olde Tyme Lumber, six miles south of Boulder, where he lost a finger earlier this month. Originally from Frederick, Maryland, before moving out to Minnesota to get a job in the iron mines (as mentioned at the beginning of “The Trade”), Sawmill Joe has lived in Colorado for about five years now. With the release of this new album, he may have found a home for good. This debut sounds like a humble beginning for a man with obvious talents. Sawmill Joe’s story isn’t the only thing that sounds like it came straight out of the Mississippi Delta—the songs on his self-titled album sound like they could have been recorded by Alan Lomax himself. They’re simple, heartfelt, and at times angry or sorrowful. This is the stuff that comes from the roots of the roots; it’s not imitation and it’s not affectation. Vocally, Joe can go from gravelly growl to cracking high-pitch country twang in one song. When most the songs consist of a simple blues guitar line and vocals, the feeling and passion in Joe’s voice comes through clearly, and it’s one of the highlights of the music.
“American Dream” is a love song that takes aim at money and religion, with the chorus, “If love don’t count for somethin’ won’t you please tell me what does?” On a song like “Destitute Blues,” you can easily peg some of Joe’s influences, like Mississippi John Hurt or Blind Lemon Jefferson. But where some artists would go over the top and just record a cover song, Sawmill Joe remains original. Listening to Joe’s songs, it’s hard to believe music like this is still being made in the 21st century. These songs about struggle and love are a soundtrack to one man’s life, but they are relatable and memorable regardless of where you come from. Not all the songs here are desolate solo efforts. Denver musician Lief Sjostrom brings cello to a few tracks, including the unrequited love song “Be Your Man.” The cello isn’t overpowering, and it adds another dimension to some of the songs that’s refreshing and makes you wonder what kind of power Joe would have with a full band behind him.


~ Matt Pusatory, A.V. Club - A.V. Club Denver/Boulder


"A.V. Club review"

Joe “Sawmill Joe” Cheves is the stuff of country-blues legend. When not recording music and playing in dive bars, Cheves works at Olde Tyme Lumber, six miles south of Boulder, where he lost a finger earlier this month. Originally from Frederick, Maryland, before moving out to Minnesota to get a job in the iron mines (as mentioned at the beginning of “The Trade”), Sawmill Joe has lived in Colorado for about five years now. With the release of this new album, he may have found a home for good. This debut sounds like a humble beginning for a man with obvious talents. Sawmill Joe’s story isn’t the only thing that sounds like it came straight out of the Mississippi Delta—the songs on his self-titled album sound like they could have been recorded by Alan Lomax himself. They’re simple, heartfelt, and at times angry or sorrowful. This is the stuff that comes from the roots of the roots; it’s not imitation and it’s not affectation. Vocally, Joe can go from gravelly growl to cracking high-pitch country twang in one song. When most the songs consist of a simple blues guitar line and vocals, the feeling and passion in Joe’s voice comes through clearly, and it’s one of the highlights of the music.
“American Dream” is a love song that takes aim at money and religion, with the chorus, “If love don’t count for somethin’ won’t you please tell me what does?” On a song like “Destitute Blues,” you can easily peg some of Joe’s influences, like Mississippi John Hurt or Blind Lemon Jefferson. But where some artists would go over the top and just record a cover song, Sawmill Joe remains original. Listening to Joe’s songs, it’s hard to believe music like this is still being made in the 21st century. These songs about struggle and love are a soundtrack to one man’s life, but they are relatable and memorable regardless of where you come from. Not all the songs here are desolate solo efforts. Denver musician Lief Sjostrom brings cello to a few tracks, including the unrequited love song “Be Your Man.” The cello isn’t overpowering, and it adds another dimension to some of the songs that’s refreshing and makes you wonder what kind of power Joe would have with a full band behind him.


~ Matt Pusatory, A.V. Club - A.V. Club Denver/Boulder


Discography

Sawmill Joe (Self-Titled Solo EP) - April 2012
Sawmill Joe - JeffCo (First full-band album) - May 2013

Photos

Bio

Sawmill Joe doesn't care enough about his image to come up with some fancy band name. His name is Joe and he works at a sawmill. There you have it.
Originally from Maryland, "Sawmill" Joe Cheves moved out to Colorado "for the hell of it". He spent some time roofing in northern Minnesota. He wrote some songs. It was a bit cold for his taste. He wanted to live somewhere where the snow melted every once in a while. Plus, the law had his number.
He moved to the Colorado high country because, as he puts it, "why the hell would I move to Colorado to live in a city?". He got a job at a sawmill. Well, after a few years and another run in with the law, Joe couldn't afford to live the high life anymore. Denver dragged him in. He wrote a few more songs. Some years passed and now he runs the sawmill. He spends his weekends in the dive bars. He lost a finger.
Along the way, Joe ran into some fine folks. He rubbed elbows with some of Denver's finest musicians, The Lumineers started playing his song. He decided to start a band. Joe wanted good people, people he could trust, in his band so he spent 6 months recruiting them. One by one.
Lief was the first. A skilled cellist and guitarist, Joe knew he was a good man. The promise of cello-spiked blues was too good to pass up.
Matt came second, a fellow mill worker and amputee. Joe had personally escorted his severed digit to the hospital in a Dodge flatbed years before. They played on the same bill the next day. Matt's a hard worker and a hell of a bass player.
Trent Jackson just sort of appeared. Quiet type. Installs windows or something. Plays the drums exactly when they need to be played. And he looks ragged enough to be mistaken for Sawmill Joe himself oftentimes.
These guys got together and began putting together some good tunes. Joe's songs mostly. 75% of them written in an old piece of CASE machinery at the mill over the past five years. They're not pop candy, the kids probably won't go for em. It would be a cruel world indeed if they did. Maybe in some other country. These are songs about hard-times, heartbreak, whiskey, work, and war.
Joe's not a bitter guy. He's just been around a bit and sings about the stuff that affects him. He likes drinking, but he loves his band. And his little dog Memphis, she's one hell of a pup. He loves her too.
He says he's gonna name his next album JeffCo. That's the county he lives in, and a moniker for the grandiose courthouse/jail complex that stands on the edge of town. "It's a blues album. We've all spent enough time there. That's where lots of our blues come from. Call it a tribute."

- John Spade