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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > May > 10 > Entry
Raitt pays emotional tribute to Bruton
A day after her former guitar player and friend of 38 years, Stephen Bruton, passed away, Bonnie Raitt ended her pre-encore set at Bass Concert Hall by thanking the audience for being there. “I’ve been crying all day and I never thought I’d get through this show.’ she said.
She finally broke down in tears after encoring with one of Bruton’s songs, ‘Too Many Memories (For One Heart To Hold).’ The redhead sang it beautifully with tears streaming down her cheeks near the end. A dry eye? Not in this house.
It was an emotional night and a special one, with the crowd of about 2,300 leaping to their feet after “Angel From Montgomery” (dedicated to Bruton’s wife Mary and mother Kathleen) and stomping along with Raitt and guest Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds) on “I Believe I’m In Love With You.” Then, on ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me,’ Raitt aired it out with such pure and powerful purpose that the crowd was overwhelmed by the moment.
After an impressive set from Paul Thorn, who could be called Mississippi’s John Hiatt if he didn’t put so much Pentecostal fire into his sound, Raitt came out and talked to the crowd a bit about Bruton, who lost his battle with cancer. “Stephen Bruton is in our hearts tonight and forever,” she said, She also dedicated the first song “Talk To Me” to Poodie Locke and his family. “I can’t tell you how much it means for us to be in Austin,” she said, easing her way into the music.
It’s been a rough week for the Austin music scene, but Raitt was the right performer to start the healing. She mentioned Bruton after almost every song, noting how she couldn’t look at him onstage when he was in her band because they’d always crack each other up midsong. Her voice quivered when she realized that she’d never again see Bruton waiting in the wings to be called out to jam.
But there were also laughs, as when Johnny Nicholas of Fredericksburg came out to add harmonica to “Love Me Like a Man” and noted that Bruton loved to get dressed up. “He also liked to get undressed,” Raitt shot back. “I never witnessed that. Maybe that’s why we were friends for so long.”
The way it usually works when a musical icon dies is that a tribute concert is planned for a few weeks down the road. With Sunday’s Raitt concert already booked, it turned into an impromptu memorial show. But the musicianship of Raitt and her band (kudos to new keyboardist Ricky Peterson) kept it from being overly sentimental, even as the star seemed genuinely touched by the outpouring of love.
There’s long been a special relationship between Austin and Bonnie Raitt, but the bond has never been stronger than on Sunday night.
Comments
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By Ken in South Austin
May 10, 2009 11:53 PM | Link to this
It was a wonderful show and a fine tribute. Thanks, Bonnie and band. Thanks, Stephen.
(To clarify the quote, Corky: “He also liked to get undressed. I never witnessed that. Maybe that’s why we were friends for so long.”)
By Joanie
May 11, 2009 12:29 AM | Link to this
reading this makes me feel like I was there…
By Antjuicy
May 11, 2009 12:33 AM | Link to this
THanks Bonnie ..and condolences to you and your family on the most recent loss of your brother…tonight must have been so hard for you.
We love you
By Tina
May 11, 2009 8:10 AM | Link to this
Awesome. Just awesome. Thanks Bonnie, band & guests.
By Sad Kitty
May 11, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
The Austin music scene has suffered terrible losses this week. Thank you to Ms Bonnie Raitt for beginning the healing. It meant so much to be in that hall last night. Thank you Bonnie for covering Too Many Memories. There wasn’t a song more appropriate for the occasion. Thank you being there for us and it was the right thing to do to be there for you. Austin will always cherish the memories of Bonnie and Stephen playing together. And thank you for the dedication to Poodie and family, too. Off to Waco….
By Tim
May 11, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
It was a great night. She was in top form. When she sang ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ the entire hall was filled with her beautiful voice. The audience was entranced.
By Clem Brown
May 11, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
Funny, I’ve always heard that Poodie and Bonnie were actually married at one time, at least until they both sobered up.
By Jan Carlsson
May 14, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this
It’s with deep sadness I got the news about TSB death. Since the first time I saw him smiling threw a hole Bonnie Raitt show in Gothenburg Sweden in the early 90’, I’ve been following Stephens music. I been lucky to catch him two times solo in Sweden and once in Austin. He’s music and lyrics has made me cry, smile and laugh threw the years. I never got to know him, but he felt like a friend. My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Stephen.
By Neil Slaven
May 27, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
I met Stephen when he came to England to promote What It Is. I interviewed him for Blueprint and saw his fantastic gig at the Mean Fiddler. Bonnie turned up, too. Somehow I felt we’d become friends. I met him again when he toured a year later and I was right, he was a friend. I’m so sorry for his wife and family and regret Stephen can’t continue to entrance us with his music and songwriting. I never made it to Austin and now I wish like crazy that I had. I WILL miss you, Stephen