Jeff Bridges, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmie Vaughan, Gary Clark Jr. Talk about an all-star band! But when you’re paying tribute to the late great Buddy Holly, then there’s no shortage of big names willing to rock the stage. The golden lineup hit the stage at the 40th anniversary of Austin City Limits to deliver a sizzling blues rock cut of “Not Fade Away”. Crow kicked off the jam on harmonica but then mesmerised the room with her soulful vocals at 1:40. She wasn’t the only one who delivered a plot twist though.
Raitt kept a low key presence in the opening then seared the room with a funky slide solo at 2:40. Now that’s a moment that’s gotta put a smile in your dial! Everyone got in on the fun, with Joe Ely delivering the opening verse on the mic, before Bridges took the second verse with a whole lotta honeyed thunder. Other highlights included David Grissom’s hotrod solo at 2:10, and Lloyd Maines bringing some sizzling licks on his pedal steel at 4:00.
Choosing “Not Fade Away” was an inspired nod to Texas music history. Written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, the 1957 track originally appeared as the B-side to “Oh, Boy!,” driven by a distinctive, galloping rhythm borrowed from Bo Diddley. The tune crossed oceans and eras, famously becoming a breakthrough UK hit for the Rolling Stones in 1964. For a live music institution commemorating its 1974 beginnings with Willie Nelson, the title worked as a playful statement about its own longevity, along with the legacy of the great Buddy Holly.
Both co-hosts brought genuine musical pedigree to the stage. Although best known as an actor, Bridges had built an established recording career, releasing an album with producer T Bone Burnett following his Oscar win for the country drama Crazy Heart. Bridges had also previously performed on Austin City Limits in 2011. Crow possessed an even deeper bond with the series, having appeared in full-hour episodes broadcast in 1997 and 2004. Their comfort on stage gave the performance an easy warmth, letting the surrounding blues and country royalty stretch out without competing for attention. That collaborative spirit is also captured in this Austin City Limits Hall of Fame finale, where an ensemble gathers to perform B.B. King’s classic “Every Day I Have the Blues”.
Online audiences have pushed the cut of “Not Fade Away” past 6.7 million views, often marveling at the sheer density of talent sharing the stage. Viewers added comments such as “I love it how Bonnie sits in the background and then blows them all away with her slide. GO GIRL!” and “Everyone on stage was great, such outstanding musicians, but good golly I loved hearing Lloyd Maines tearing it up on the pedal steel.”
The warm smiles and camaraderie shared on stage that night was no accident. When you play Buddy Holly then everybody has a good time. You can’t help but smile right along with them, particularly when the soloists really starts cooking.