On January 20, 2004, the EYE RECKON FREEDOM RIDE left Bandera, Texas, on a trail ride to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  On July 8, 2004, five months and nineteen days later, it rode into the Calgary Stampede Headquarters, the attention of international media and the arms of all of Canada.

     It was the adventure of a lifetime, a logistic nightmare, a galloping soap opera - dubbed by one insider "Days Of Our Ride" - and so wet, cold and muddy, it lays claim to relieving the seven-year drought plaguing the western continent.

     From the "Cowboy Capital of The World" to the "Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth", from a horse and rider going down in a sink hole to 1600 pound mules with a penchant for escapes, from near anonymity to the heights of celebrity - and crash landings back to reality - the EYE RECKON FREEDOM RIDE defined every challenge it met.

Ride along with them and take a deep seat.
They are

RIDERS ON THE STORM

     James E. "Hoot" Gibson is a true Texas-American original.  Born in Brady, The Heart of Texas, Hoot grew up listening to the country greats - Hank Williams, Ernest Tubbs, Vern Gosdin, Merle Haggard...too many to name.  The style, the energy, and passion of Hoot's music and poetry is grounded in the very foundations of country music.

    From the lyrically moving "I Specialize In Mules" to the longing pathos of "Never", the hard driving energy of standards, "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Mind Your Own Business" and "My Bucket's Got A Hole In It", the haunting plea of the biographical performance piece "Old Man Paul" and the range riding call of the cowboy in "Ghost Riders", each cut is pure, unadulterated Hoot Gibson.

      We were privileged to record at The Larry Nolen Studio in Pipe Creek, Texas.  Under Larry's direction and with the benefit of his more than fifty years in the music business, Larry coaxed, coached and inspired each of the seven cuts.  It is his guitar and bass line heard on several cuts and he helped bring "Never", an original Hoot Gibson composition, so much closer to its full potential.  We are indebted to Larry for his professionalism, his invaluable expertise and advice and most of all, for his friendship.

Gather 'round the campfire and sing along.
It's real, it's raw, it's

JUST HOOT...EYE RECKON.

COME TO THE CAMPFIRE –
HEAR THE HOOFBEATS, FEEL THE JOY –
AND THE PAIN.

FROM “TOP OF THE RIDGE”
– THE SONG OF THE COWBOY’S HORSE,

TO “I SPECIALIZE IN MULES” –
THE STORY OF A SOFT-HEARTED HORSESHOER,

TO “OLD MAN PAUL”,
A MORAL FOR ALL OF US . . .

OF HORSES, MULES & MEN
IS PURE COWBOY POETRY AT ITS BEST.