Ep458: Keeping it Reel with Blag Dahlia of Dwarves

Blag Dahlia of Dwarves discusses band history, collectible records, the challenges of running a label and the balance of art and business, as well as new and reissued Dwarves vinyl.

Topic Include:

• Dwarves should be a record collector’s goldmine
• Blag’s early memories of getting record collections
• Listening to rap, electronic, industrial – not much punk
• Dwarves records have an inherent collectability
• Making the various collectible Dwarves records
• Ralph Champagne album was a tough sell for Dwarves fans
• Why hasn’t there been a proper Dwarves concept album?
• Blag is an author – lending those skills to a narrative in music
• Who is closer to the real person: Blag Dhalia or Ralph Champagne?
• The Greedy record imprint for Dwarves material
• The Burger Records scandal missed the Dwarves
• Blag is very hands-on with creating records
• He doesn’t enjoy running the label – but good help is hard to find
• Being underwhelmed by publicists
• Blag would rather write and record and leave the rest to others
• Dwarves artwork – creating special covers, logos, etc
• Limited parody covers by John at PunkNews.org
• Record collectors love the parody covers
• Time is right for a Dwarves renaissance
• Hard to find a good booking agent
• Did any prior labels push back on the vision of Dwarves?
• Bad feelings about Sub-Pop
• Did Dwarves ever get approached by major labels in the early 90s
• Major labels missed aligning with a songwriter like Blag
• Marilyn Manson has a big budget and industry marketing
• A Dwarves rebirth would require a movie / documentary
• Blag controls majority of Dwarves materials
• Has there been serious discussion of a Dwarves movie?
• The most collectible Dwarves record
• Collectible Dwarves Sub-Pop variants
• Dwarves still do 7” records – not many bands still do
• Interview wrap up

Get Dwarves records and merch

Tix for upcoming Australian tour

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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