One of the best parts about editing Origivation is the subject matter. It's music - and music is good. For another job, I recently had to blog about the Pennsylvania state budget. As it turns out, Pennsylvania libraries are getting, if you will, fucked. The recession hit the Keystone hard and lots of social services have had to get cut to make way for a balanced budget - required by state law.
Anyway, in Governor Rendell's $28 billion state budget, library services are dropping 9 percent this year, down to $54 million of state funds, which comes after years of cuts and Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter threatening to actually close the city's libraries last year. After all these cuts and fights, though, the state still manage to weasel up $20 million to build two (cue the irony) libraries dedicated to two of Pennsylvania's most cynical, abusive and greed-worshipping politicians in history: Arlen Specter and the late John Murtha. Projects are beginning in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Ten million in taxpayer dollars is going toward a building at the University of Pittsburgh to house papers and documents celebrating the career of Murtha, who made a name for himself in both his eventual opposition to the Iraq War (he came out against it in 2005 after voting for it in 2002) and his place alongside some of congress' worst scum on "Most Corrupt Politicians" lists the country over.
Specter's getting his own celebration building at Philadelphia University. Some of his career highlights including creating the magic bullet theory to put an end to an investigation into JFK's death and voting for every criminal Bush Administration initiative (the Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, etc.) for which he was once referred to by constitutional lawyer and columnist Glenn Greenwald as, "one of the worst, most soul-less, most belief-free individuals in politics."
And the Pennsylvania government wants to reward these burglars with multi-million dollar libraries - in a recession. I had to get that out of my head before I moved on to happier things.
As you'll figure out when you finish reading this sentence, Origivation has dedicated its entire August issue to the Philadelphia Folk Fest. (Yes, the founders of this former metal mag are rolling in their...graves? I hope not. Let's go with beds/cardboard boxes/sleeping bags.)
Now in its 49th year, the Philly Folk Fest (which is actually out in Schwenksville, but where're you gonna camp in the city?) takes place this year on August 20th. We figure, it's music, it's local, it's camping - what's not to love?
Some artists from the fest we've taken on in these pages include the legendary Taj Mahal, Lee Harvey Osmand, Cheers Elephant, Good Old War, the Sweetback Sisters and lots more. There's a festival rundown column dedicated to giving you a brief rundown on virtually every artist that'll be playing over the 3-day period.
In addition to that, Izzy Cihak writes about his beach playlist, Denis O'Hanlon takes a listen to the new Wolf Parade and our Bitter End piece this month is Brenda Hillegas' musical vacation down to Tennessee.
Oh, and just so everyone's aware: This issue wouldn't be possible without the help of staff writer Raymond Simon, who took on some editing responsibilities after a series of mishaps with regard to...um, nevermind.
The important thing is we got it done, you're reading it and you'll possibly feel more inclined to check out the folk fest on the 20th (and, due to this page, get pissed at Pennsylvania government; I mean, we both know I am.) We'll see you there. Drop by our tent and say hi.
Randy LoBasso
Editor-in-chief
