Ani and Utah discuss bumper sticker politics

Ani Difranco (circa 1997) talks to Utah Phillips about Politics

Folksinger Ani Difranco is known for her amazing music and her DIY ethics as she created her own record label, Righteous Babe Records at the age of 19, in 1990. She continues to make amazing music.

In 1996 Ani put out an album with folk singer, story teller, anarchist Utah Phillps entitled The Past Didn't Go Anywhere. Here Ani took a collection of Utah's live performances and added background vocals and music. The finished project was quite a unique way of continuing the art of storytelling. Those of you who know me, know that I love a good storyteller. So, I ate that one up with knife and fork. In 1999 they came up with a follow up entitled Fellow Workers. Here Ani and Utah play together as Utah tells stories.

Utah passed away in May of 2008 but his words live on. His stories...oh his stories.

For those of us who are big Ani fans, this footage comes as quite a treat. It's always great to get to see old school clips of the self proclaimed, "lil' folksinger."

The topic of bumpersticker politics is a topic that we faced back in 1997 when Ani interviewed Utah and it is something we face today. As Utah points out it is something that has been going on for ages. Something I've noticed however, is that some who make start out learning about politics through trend may have the potential to really grasp socio-political issues and find their own causes worth fighting for. Here's hoping.