For 14 years the Dwarves have managed to accomplish one goal without fail ? cause shit! Their mayhem-fuelled live performances can last anywhere between five and 30 minutes before degenerating into a melange of broken equipment, booze and battered bodies. Their sporadic recording output constantly sets new standards in garage-punk while adding new elements such as surf, metal and pop. Then there are their non-music related controversies, such as the hoax death of guitarist Hewhocannotbenamed.
It’s hard to disagree with singer Blag Dahlia’s assessment that “the Dwarves are rock legends.” Their latest release, Come Clean, continues their tradition of fucking with the status quo. “This one is all over the map,” says Blag. “There’s a lot of weird, different kinds of songs. It’ll go from one really nasty punk song to a super kind of pop song, there’s some techno stuff, some weird noise stuff and all kinds of little treats.”
Blag was dead set against treading the same sonic ground, against fulfilling fan hopes for a remake of their 1990 punk rock classic, Blood Guts & Pussy. “I don’t believe in being nostalgic. The Dwarves are doing all the cool shit we used to do and a bunch of other cool shit,” Blag asserts eloquently. “If you go see it live, it’s still a punk rock show. I don’t think we’re going to lose any fans, but if we do, fuck ‘em!”
For every lost fan, there will always be a new one like presidential candidate G.W. Bush. Blag claims Bush wants their song “River City Rapist” for use as his official campaign theme. “Somebody from his campaign was calling our record label about it,” Blag clarifies. “Bush’s campaign headquarters had been centred in River City, Iowa, and I guess they thought it would make a good theme song. I haven’t spoken to G.W. himself, but I’m sure he’ll come to his senses and understand that our song is what is going to put him over the top.”
It’s hard to disagree with singer Blag Dahlia’s assessment that “the Dwarves are rock legends.” Their latest release, Come Clean, continues their tradition of fucking with the status quo. “This one is all over the map,” says Blag. “There’s a lot of weird, different kinds of songs. It’ll go from one really nasty punk song to a super kind of pop song, there’s some techno stuff, some weird noise stuff and all kinds of little treats.”
Blag was dead set against treading the same sonic ground, against fulfilling fan hopes for a remake of their 1990 punk rock classic, Blood Guts & Pussy. “I don’t believe in being nostalgic. The Dwarves are doing all the cool shit we used to do and a bunch of other cool shit,” Blag asserts eloquently. “If you go see it live, it’s still a punk rock show. I don’t think we’re going to lose any fans, but if we do, fuck ‘em!”
For every lost fan, there will always be a new one like presidential candidate G.W. Bush. Blag claims Bush wants their song “River City Rapist” for use as his official campaign theme. “Somebody from his campaign was calling our record label about it,” Blag clarifies. “Bush’s campaign headquarters had been centred in River City, Iowa, and I guess they thought it would make a good theme song. I haven’t spoken to G.W. himself, but I’m sure he’ll come to his senses and understand that our song is what is going to put him over the top.”
