There’s a Lot of Coffee in Brazil , Gigli

Jitter's Coffee House - Atascocita, Texas

The trio is back at their old stomping ground of Jitter’s Coffee house in Atascocita. This place has become something of a home port for the guys to try out new material, relax amongst the locals, and invite their friends out to listen in a safe and proven environment. Speaking of new material, Matthew brings in the chords for an old Frank Sinatra tune about… you guessed it…COFFEE. It’s a whimsical number about how there’s so much coffee in Brazil that they put it in everything. (Ironically, Matthew doesn’t drink any coffee tonight.) The guys hammer a way at the song for a few minutes modulating the key until they find the ‘sweet spot’ of Matthew’s vocal for it – and everything clicks in to place. The night is off and running now.

After a dash of some tunes from Hendrix, Al Green, and Procol Harum, Robert and Eileen arrive. Robert quickly sets up shop to record some video of the group for YouTube. Being a bit of a control freak, George is a little apprehensive at first about the recording, but quickly throws all caution to the wind as his wife, Sabrina, and the kids arrive. Soon after, George’s mother-in-law, Linda (and significant other, Paul) arrive to sit front and center.

At this point the evening’s song challenge is announced: The band invites the audience to guess what the following songs have in common. As each piece is played, more clues are revealed.

Sabrina’s sister, Lisa, and brother-in-law, Jay arrives with some friends halfway through the set. Paul says that he thinks he has the challenge solved until he sees that tonight’s prize is an unopened VHS copy of the movie Gigli. Guesses from the audience instantly shift to the ridiculous in an attempt to avert the prize. But the George Poe Trio is not easily fooled. They have Paul in their sights and are determined that justice will be served (even though he tries to trick them by changing his answer to ‘Songs Written About Mechanics’).

Becky Sue comes in carrying individually wrapped bags of homemade cookies for the guys. (This act instantly guarantees her the coveted MVP award from the band). The band plays a few more tunes then announces Paul as the winner of the evening’s event. Paul reluctantly takes his prize to everyone’s amusement. Matthew’s next door neighbor, Helen stops in for a listen and is pleased to hear him deliver a silky vocal on AS TIME GOES BY. Joel and Faith dance and play in the patio area outside pretending to ride horses with the chains used to secure the deck chairs.

Before Linda leaves, George asks Matthew to sing the song CRAZY for her. Linda is a big Willie fan (Willie Nelson not Big Willie – AKA Will Smith). As Linda and Paul leave, he manages to slip the Gigli tape back to the band. George threatens that he’ll wrap it and give it back to Paul as a Christmas gift.

The monthly rummy tournament resumes - Matthew accuses Eileen of cheating. The trio cuts loose and plays a harder set of tunes which concludes with a bombastic version of OLD BROWN SHOE. Helen has reached her limit, and requests ‘something softer’. The guys respond by putting on the latex gloves Matthew has brought, and play Tom Waits’ PICTURE IN A FRAME. This is the softest thing the band has played – ever. They remove the gloves and play their closing song. But instead of introducing band members, Matthew introduces the audience. “Everyone is a part of the show at a George Poe Trio event.”

As the three pack up, there are requests for pictures, George and Robert exchange email information, Matthew is speaking with Helen. The night ends as Robert shows off his ‘Stupid Human Trick’ of clicking melodies on his teeth. He sounds like some kind of a musical aborigine clicking and popping. He starts taking requests for songs to click. Everyone believes that him getting to do this on Letterman is not far-fetched. George asks him to ‘perform’ his musical clicking at the next GP3 event. Everyone says their goodbyes and depart. Matthew heads out… to get a cup coffee.