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about

Gila
The Gila is a vast wilderness. The first and one of the last of its kind. Wolves still run wild there. It is believed that Geronimo was born in a hot spring there. I had a few shows in Piños Altos NM near the Gila one night. It had been raining for three days straight which is very unusual for NM. My third night in a row playing at the Buckhorn Tavern I met a young cowboy named Duncan. He was pretty drunk and the girls were toying with him. He made a bad decision to drive back to his ranch late that evening and drowned in the Gila River. I was the last person to talk with him or see him alive.

lyrics

The angry gods of the Gila did not smile upon his drunken dash
Across the muddy creek roaring past
they took his truck up two hundred yards up the canyon
he reached for his coat and the creek had him by the throat
Dashing him senseless in the rocks and debris
Losing his grip in the sycamore trees
in the dark muddy heart of the angry gods of the Gila
They cut him off at the bar I was playing my guitar
his grabbed his hat, turned to leave and he asked me for a light
he said, " I leaving these bar bitches I'm heading home to feed my horses
besides my cat my shit in the house tonight."
Scratching him senseless in the rocks and debris
Losing his breath in the sycamore trees
in the deep my tumble of the angry grumble of the Gila
He was young always right he went looking for a fight and he found one on that dark rainy night
Eighteen times he forded the same swollen creek
his truck was stalling the sky was falling down in sheets
and he was sober for a moment in the branches and the leaves
losing his boots in the roots of the trees
in the deep muddy heart of the angry gods of the Gila(2x)
They found his Great Pyrenees on the banks waiting for him
to rise up and feed him in the light
Well he made it he made it that cowboy he made it half way home to his castle
On that dark rainy night
Dashing him senseless in the rocks and debris
Losing his breath in the sycamore trees
In the deep muddy voice of the angry gods of the Gila
In the deep muddy tumble of the angry grumble of the Gila

credits

from Wheel of Life, released January 1, 2010
WHEEL OF LIFE
Copyright 2010 Cactusman Records/ASCAP

All songs written by Boris McCutcheon except:

"Lee Harvey was a Friend of Mine"
Written by Philip Edward Bennison (Homer Henderson) and Jay Cotton (1985)
Bennisongs/ BMI

"No Place to Fall"
Written by Townes Van Zandt (1978)
Katie Bell Music c/o Bughouse % Bug Music Inc., /ASCAP

"Mark Twain"
Written by Mark Ray Lewis (2006)
Outside Agitator/ASCAP

Boris McCutcheon: vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica
Brett Davis: electric guitars, tenor banjo, lap steel guitar, baritone electric, harmony, vocals
Susan Hyde Holmes: electric bass, upright bass, harmony vocals
Kevin Zoernig: wurlitzer, piano, casio, clavinet, xylophone, accordion, organ, harmony vocals
Paul Groetzinger: drums, tambourine (California, What Ails You?, Peeler, Gila, Bad Road, Good People, Boxspring Plow)
Jason Aspeslet: drums, eggbeater, wall (Mullein People, Clan of the Sunflower, Mark Twain, No Place to Fall)
Jeff Berlin: drums (Lee Harvey Was A Friend of Mine)

Guest Musicians:
Kristen Zoernig (Kevin's sister): double bass
Lawrence Zoernig (Kevin's brother): cello
Adrienne Inglis (Kevin's sister-in-law): pan flutes
Chris Schultz: handclap enabler, harmony vocals
Stephanie Hatfield: harmony vocals

Produced by Kevin Zoernig and Boris McCutcheon
Sessions at the World College in Montezuma, NM recorded by Michael Grimes
Sessions at WaveLab Studio in Tucson, AZ recorded by Chris Schultz and Craig Schumacher
Additional guitar tracks recorded by Mark Lewis at his home in Albuquerque, NM
Additional backup vocals recorded by Bill Palmer at Frogville Studio in Santa Fe, NM

All songs mixed by Chris Schultz and Craig Schumacher at WaveLab Studio except "Lee Harvey Was a Friend of Mine", recorded live by Jos Goverde at In the Woods, Lage Vuursche, Netherlands.
Mastered by J.J. Golden at Golden Mastering, CA

Artwork by Brett Davis
Layout and Art Doctor, John Treadwell
Photos by James Hart, Jennifer Guerin, Jessica Garcia, aturnintimephotography.com

Thanks and love to Laura, Jack and Neve. Melissa Totten, Jennifer G. and Leland, Ron
Maltais, Jessica, John Treadwell, Pat Toomay, Michael Grimes, Mark Lewis, Leopold,
Dara Lee, James Holmes, Tyson Reed, Pappy, Joy and Geoff. The Mullein People.
Sandra and Luciano. Alberto and his animated wisdom.

This album is dedicated to the memory of David Bindler –drummer, friend, and
musical mentor. I love you too, Dave.
TOP

© 2017 Boris McCutcheon/Cactusman Records.
All Rights Reserved.

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Boris McCutcheon Dixon, New Mexico

Mother Ditch (2001) When We Were Big (2003) Turbulent Amusement (live) (2004) Cactusman vs the Blue Demon (2006) Lost Sessions and B-Sides (2006) Bad Road, Good People (2008) Wheel of Life (2010)Utrecht (live) (2011)Boris McCutcheon Sings the Songs of Townes Van Zandt (2012)Might Crash! (2013)I’m Here Let Me In (2017)• 2004 Boston Music Awards best male singer songwriter• 2004 ... more

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