LAFAYETTE, LA (The Daily Advertiser) – The public tears and frowns were few at the Tribute to Jillian Johnson Sunday at Festival International de Louisiane. Instead, members of her all-female band, the Figs, along with the group Ginger Lee, smiled and rocked to the old-time country and roots rock that Johnson loved before a large, appreciative crowd at Scene Heritage in downtown Lafayette.

The one-hour tribute was the third for the Figs since Johnson and Maci Breaux died in a July 23 shooting at the Grand Theater in Lafayette. Band members Melissa Stevenson and Paige Pemberton said Sunday’s will be the last for the Figs.

“This just doesn’t feel right,” said Pimberton, drummer in the Figs. “It feels like there’s a hole in the band now.

“We wanted to do this for her and we’re glad that we did it. I think some people needed closure.”

The tribute started with “Hello City Limits,” a song that band members said Johnson liked to play. An amped-up version of blues legend Jimmy Reed’s “Baby What You Want Me to Do” soon followed.

The eight-member ensemble even held it together for “In the Pines,” the last song the band learned with Johnson last July.

Paxton Brown, Johnson’s stepdaughter, received an ovation when she played ukulele in the final three songs.

After the show, the tears finally flowed as band members had a group hug backstage.

“It was very emotional,” Stevenson said about the tribute. “I feel like it was a nice tribute and she would have loved it.

“We played songs that really meant a lot to her, that she wrote and that she loved. But we held it together until the end.”

Pimberton said many songs brought back memories.

“Some of the songs were harder to sing because you could picture her face,” said Pimberton. You’re used to her turning around, singing with you.

“When she’s not there, it’s really, really hard. We practiced for the last 10 years together.

“When someone’s not there, it’s really, really hard.”

Ryan DeJean, who played tambourine and guitar Sunday, hopes people remember Johnson for her music, art and gracious nature.

“She had one of the hugest hearts I’ve ever known,” said DeJean. “She was one of the most humble people too.

“She was just another human being doing her part, doing her thing.”