West Dallas's Relatives, Now Hits in France and Australia and NYC. One Day, Here Too.

Back in March I introduced you to the Relatives, heretofore overlooked Dallas greats better known in Austin than in their hometown. And now they're beloved in France and Australia; New York too. And still, still, Rev. Gean West and brother Tommy and the greatest gospel-funk-rock-n-soul revue in town have yet...

By Robert Wilonsky

August 4, 2011

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Back in March I introduced you to the Relatives, heretofore overlooked Dallas greats better known in Austin than in their hometown. And now they're beloved in France and Australia; New York too. And still, still, Rev. Gean West and brother Tommy and the greatest gospel-funk-rock-n-soul revue in town have yet to play a local show following last year's release of the shoulda-been-hits compilation Don't Let Me Fall, available on Noel Waggener's Heavy Light Records out of Austin. That's a damned shame.

But Waggener sends words today: The band's headed into the studio August 20, with Spoon drummer Jim Eno; the night before the band's at the Continental Club in Austin ... so, yeah, road trip. But the real reason Noel sent the shout-out today: The Relatives just returned to Dallas following several significant stops: the Cognac Blues Passions Festival in France in early July; followed by Splendour in the Grass, Australia's biggest outdoor festival; followed by a show on the Lincoln Center stage with the mighty Mavis Staples on July 31.

Pete's got video from the latter on DC9. Me, I'm going with this, courtesy Waggener: The Relatives with "the 30-member French-speaking Cognac Community Choir, ages 6-67 (which also included a priest)." Hot ... dang.

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