For Whom the (Cow) Bell Tolls

The Strand - Galveston , TX

The ‘three amigos’ head back to Footsies on the Strand in Galveston . Tired of stuffing themselves in to the floorboard of Lee’s truck for the out-of-town events, Matthew and George borrow a mini-van. As the two head to the beltway, George is doing his best to tease Matthew about his use of the word Reckon’. “What are you, one of the Cartwrights or something?” Matthew puts his Phillip Yancey book down just in time to see something in the road. The exchange goes something like this: “What’s that in the road?” “Where?” “Right there… it looks like a…oooh.” Insert sound efx of a purple mini-van going over the top of a slow moving turtle. “…it is…rather, it was a turtle.” George is really disturbed about running over the little creature since he had two smaller turtles as a boy (named Donny and J.J.) “Do you think he’s okay?” “Nope – I reckon not.” They hope this is not an omen for how the rest of the day is going to be.

Meanwhile across town, Lee is listening to STAND UP, the second album by Jethro Tull. It’s his only solace since he’s found himself trapped in a Saturday afternoon traffic jam. His truck is crawling along at a turtle’s pace (pun intended) covering about 10 miles per hour. He calls George and Matthew to warn them of the delay. Matthew thanks him and takes a jab back at George : “Let us know if you run into anything else, like a turtle or something.” George remembers his pets from long ago.

An hour or so later, Lee arrives at the bandstand outside of Footsies shoe store. JaRue offers the tent awning and Lee goes into set-up mode. Matthew and George arrive a bit later and unload as well. After the equipment is unloaded the van is moved to park. But George can not find a place to park. He discovers that the great ‘up close’ parking spot that he was so proud of last visit is actually reserved for the horse-drawn carriage services. He had unknowingly parked there illegally. It’s remarkable that he managed to avoid getting fined. He circles the Strand several times looking for a spot. Each time he passes Footsies he waves to Lee and Matthew at the bandstand.

It’s been 10 minutes or so since the last ‘ George sighting’ so Lee decides to check on him by calling George ’s cell phone. George has finally found a place to park and is walking back to Lee and Matthew at the bandstand. But Matthew has abandoned Lee for a restaurant around the corner selling gyros. Matthew gets a call from an old friend in New York . By this time George is considering taking a ride on the next horse drawn carriage that passes by; but apparently even they don’t come this far out.

George makes it back to the band’s just in time to start. The trio burn through a couple of Sinatra and Nat King Cole tunes when they are approached by a couple eager to know more about the group. They introduce themselves as Kelly and husband Bob. She mentions that she’s interested in having the trio perform at the Mall of the Mainland in a couple of weeks. She names a price and Matthew quickly accepts on behalf of the band. The group quickly slides into something of a Marx Brothers routine, but Kelly doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, she joins in a bit to ridicule Bob’s haircut. She and George exchange information. As they leave, the boys strike up BEYOND THE SEA as a tribute to the Mall of the Mainland opportunity that is…well, you know…beyond the sea (or Gulf).

Now it’s not uncommon for the people passing by to request a song from the band. But it is uncommon for the request to be a Kiss song. Ah, but the requestor (who was half-joking) is surprised when Matthew begins singing the opening lines to Beth. It’s an unexpected move, but it pays off and the man is pleased.

Matthew has begun to think about whether or not he may have jumped the gun in accepting Kelly’s amount to play the chamber event. He asks Lee and George “Did I accept too low of an amount for the Mainland thing? I mean, I know that normally we charge $__ and I was quick to settle for $__. Was that wrong?” He has said this to the guys, but he has spoken directly into the microphone for the entire block to hear. Lee and George quickly attempt explain to Matthew how a microphone works, and that “EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU!”

Scene: Matthew is a defense attorney on a murder case. The defendant leans over to whisper to Matthew who is seated beside him at the table. “I did it.” “What?” “…I did it.” Matthew responds in a louder voice: “You killed them?” Louder for the courtroom to hear: “Are you saying that you killed him?” The Judge: “Mr. Stephens, please approach the bench.” “You Honor? Ooohhh…” To the defendant: “Uh, sorry.”

But Matthew quickly redeems himself with a peppy rendition of the Beatles’ song OLD BROWN SHOE – it’s the best version he’s ever sung of it and Lee and George are quick to forgive. At this point the band’s Galveston stalker/groupie arrives. No one really knows her name, but she remembers them. Lee finds it interesting how the trio is beginning to be recognized in these parts. Playing here each month is beginning to create a base, and dare say, a following?

As night begins to fall, the guys slowly begin to realize that the outside lights are not coming on as they did last month. This is an important factor because Matthew and George need to read the music. They share a oversized notebook containing 100+ songs. Using the music instead of memorizing the cords allows for more songs to be added to the repertoire and more quickly. Matthew and George joke about getting coal miner helmets with lights for the next visit. Lee is unaffected since he can’t see much of anything anyway. Ah, but wait, George finds a small book light that he mounts to the music stand. It doesn’t offer much light, but it is enough to see about ½ the page. As a result, the trio is forced to play long musical interludes during the middle of the songs as Matthew slides the light over to the other page of music. No one seems to notice. Or maybe it’s too dark to tell if they notice or not.

A husband of one of the shoe stores patrons requests that the guys play a Billy Joel song. So the boys play SHE’S GOT A WAY. He asks for another, and then another. George and the guys play NEW YORK STATE OF MIND, PIANO MAN, etc. They play their hearts out and this cheapskate doesn’t even give tip. George secretly vows to watch out for this guy in the future, but soon realizes all that he can see is a silhouette in the darkness - and could be anyone, so he relinquishes his grudge, determined to save his grudge energies on a more realistic goal.

George starts playing the Buck Owens song ACT NATURALLY. Foot Note: Lee secretly doesn’t like this tune. Mainly because Matthew and George do a kinda hoedown version which doesn’t leave Lee very much to do percussion-wise. That is until tonight! Earlier in the week Lee purchased a new cow bell and wood block. Foot Note to the Foot Note: All drummers are prone to try and build the perfect drum set – It doesn’t matter if they’re young or old, they’re always buying new gear. The truth is that the perfect drum kit doesn’t exist (much like the Holy Grail) but they are constantly buying trinkets, replacing toms, etc. –whatever keeps them happy.

Anyway, Lee starts playing the cowbell and wood block, and REALLLLLLLY overplays it. The sound is so comical that George gets to laughing – It sounds like sound effects track you’d expect to hear in a Hanna-Barbara cartoon. When Lee realizes that he has struck comedy gold, he lays it on more. Now George is laughing so hard he can’t even sing on some of the verses; and what he does manage to get out wouldn’t qualify as true singing. It’s as if Lee has found a string connected to the back of George ’s neck that makes him laugh when it’s pulled . And he keeps pulling it, and pulling it, and pulling…Matthew wonders why George just doesn’t end the song, but for some reason George is determined to finish. Tunky-clip clik Tunky-Tunk-Tee chikiliggle … George can’t stand it! His eyes are filled with tears from laughing so hard, he is not so much as playing the piano as it is holding him up off of the ground at this point. Tee chikiliggle clip-clob clik – It sounds so ridiculous!

It’s finally over. George ’s sides are aching now. Lee is feeling very satisfied, for he is often the one struggling to maintain his composure against the wiles of George and Matthew. There is nothing better than out-pranking a prankster. And Lee has earned his merit badge tonight!
The band is introduced during an extended version of BROWN-EYED GIRL in which passer-bys across the street are dancing. So George introduces them too, and in doing so shifts the focus to them. The two women dance about a bit to the delight of the crowd.

The final song of the evening is the Louis Armstrong classic, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD. “Thank you Galveston , and many thanks to our hosts at Footsies”

The tiny light over the song notebook is clicked off, and the guys start packing it in. George begins the long trek to the van. Still in the afterglow of the performance, he chuckles a bit as remembers Lee’s cow bell and wood block solos. As he’s humming the chorus of WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, he turns and looks back at Lee and Matthew…and thinks “…You know, sometimes it really is wonderful (turtles and all)”.

The Curtain Falls

Jitter's Coffee House - Atascocita, Texas

(The trio returns to the Jitters Coffee House in north Houston, and are joined by veteran singer/songwriter Joseph Guilbeau.)

Lee is the first to arrive to the venue and even though he hasn’t struck a drum or cymbal, the barristers are already complaining about the noise levels being too high. Here’s the back-story: Jitters has a drive–thru intercom, which allows patrons that are unable to leave the confines of their vehicles to get their caffeinated drinks to go. The source of contention is that the shop workers claim that when the Trio is “Puttin’ Some Bigelow On It” they cannot hear the orders from the radio that’s 15 feet or so away.

Being men of science, Lee and George in the past have counted the customers that use the drive-thru during a 3 ½ hour period. After comparing notes, the two arrived at the grand total of a maximum of …3 - 4 cars in all the months that the group has performed here. And while George has attempted to sing more softly when he would see cars approaching the intercom, he is something of a spaz and probably was too loud. This fact coupled with the musical preferences of the workers being diametrically opposed to songs that are warm, happy, and about love has proven to be a volatile mixture. The trio has noticed a peculiar undercurrent ‘brewing’ (pun intended) for the last few months among the workers at the shop. They seem a little ‘put off’ when the guys show up.

When George arrives, Lee mentions their comments. The two discuss the possibility that this may be the last time they play here for a while. “Let’s see what Matthew thinks about it all. After all he’s the one that knows the owner.”

Matthew arrives soon after, but no time for small talk – It’s TIME TO LOUNGE! The three launch in to the old Danny Wilson tune MARY’S PRAYER playing pretty much just to Lee’s son Austin at first. After a few rousing tunes including the band’s new favorite, THE COFFEE SONG the guys are off to the races. And just in time too, Melinda and Ed arrive and settle in to hear the opening bars of ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE. These two are known to be local music aficionados with a special bent for the works of Bruce Springsteen. Remembering this, George breaks out into a tune from the Boss that the trio has NEVER played together before, the song COVER ME. It feels a little like turning the ignition of an old truck that hasn’t been driven in a while. But once the ‘engine turns over’, the song gains equilibrium and finishes well.

As consolation, George offers them both a chance at the trio’s hardest trivia question to date: What is the song on the B-side of Springsteen’s COVER ME single and who wrote it? Answer: JERSEY GIRL by Tom Waits. It’s not too surprising that they guess this since the two are both huge Springsteen/Waits fans. Matthew and George laugh as the trivia prize is presented to Melinda. It’s the VHS copy of Gigli that the band has been trying to dump for the last two months. Interesting side note: Ed is from New Jersey, and Affleck and Lopez stared in another movie called JERSEY GIRL (no connection to the song). Upon receiving the prize, Melinda does her best to counter-attack with a trivia question about a Turtles/Warren Zevon B-side question. Ah, but the trio is NOT easily fooled, and Ed and Melinda have to take the video home.

In response to a rumor that tonight maybe the last GP3 engagement at Jitter’s for a while, Matthew loads up on the complimentary coffees, fancy teas, etc. granted to the band. He guzzles down another super latte type drink as George introduces the night’s special guest performer, 84-year-old Joseph Guilbeau.

Joseph is a Louisiana native that has performed on his guitar for over six decades. His occupation with the railroad exposed him to numerous travel songs that weave their way into his set. He strums his heart out playing some of his award winning tunes like WALTZ ACROSS TEXAS, WALK THE LINE, and a few originals. And just like the old locomotives that he rode on for 35+ years, the songs faithfully speed up as he gets more excited by the crowd’s reaction. This makes it difficult for the trio to keep a steady beat behind him. But Joseph has a healing smile that he generously gives away to everyone who catches his eye. At the conclusion of each number, Joseph gives a wink and displays the back of his guitar that has the words THANK YOU posted on it. The trio hopes that they’re still playing with the same zeal that Joseph has found when they are 84 years old.

Loretta arrives with Lee’s neighbor Mary (Oh, if only Mary had been here for MARY’S PRAYER – Oh well…Timing’s everything). These two are followed by Becky Sue who has brought Esther and Zach from Montana (Matthew’s niece and nephew).

When Tim and Cindy show up, the guys go into BROWN-EYED GIRL. (Tim always requests a Van Morrison song). Lee’s daughter, Kella arrives as the song turns into a strange sing-a-long that ends up featuring solos from Robert, then Melinda (Sha-la-la-la la -la la-la-te-da la-te da).

As the song ends, the guys are approached by a troubadour-in-waiting wanting to play during Joseph’s second set. Eager to showcase his talents to the GP3 crowd, the twenty-something guitarist attempts to debate George in front of everyone. He explains how he has come from across town to play.

But as the man speaks, George’s eyes wander over the boy’s shoulder towards Joseph’s direction. He’s adjusting his perfectly white cowboy hat with the precision of a boxer in the corner ring readying himself for a prizefight. Then Joseph’s fingers slowly curl around the neck of the worn guitar like a bird on a faithful perch. How many wonderful melodies have these hands set free over the years? George smiles - There will be other opportunities for the zealous up-and-coming guitarist. Tonight is Joseph’s.

As George shakes his head, he remembers the scene in 300 when Leonidas denies Ephialtes the hunchback the wish to fight. It’s the right choice. No more time for talk. As George leads of with the opening cords of HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY, a familiar peace blankets the room. The young man steps away and is not heard from the rest of the evening. (The group later finds out the mystery boy is actually the new boyfriend of one of the dissatisfied barristers.)

Joseph plays another set and the evening begins to wind to a close. George announces that for the evenings final song the group will play the last song that crooner Bobby Darin ever performed, the sentimental THE CURTAIN FALLS.

Lee catches a malicious stare from the counter girl as the overhead sound system blares the song CLOSING TIME over and over in an attempt to drive everyone out of the building. Everyone else helps carry the band’s equipment out to the vehicles (mostly to Lee’s truck then back over to George’s car). George Poe Trio is blessed to have such good friends. As goodbyes are said, Joseph relays some after show advice for the boys. Matthew and George have played this venue for a year and half or so –this was a good performance to go out on.

The threesome discuss logistics for the gig next weekend and drive away into the darkness. Matthew heads home to visit with his niece and nephew. In the truck, Lee listens intently to the soft-spoken wisdom of Joseph. And as is his custom, George spends all of his tip money on a #6 value meal at the Whataburger up the road.