Um- it is really hard to explain, but the woman singing is a matchmaker who has been trying to matchmake for the girl in the pink dress. The girl in the pink dress is a spoiled young woman, whose parents are nouveau riche (think the entitled young people in college that we all talk about). The father ends up actually being manipulated into matching the daughter with his clerk, who has schemed to take over the business and bankrupt the father. The father ends up in prison for fraud and bankruptcy, which the clerk and daughter end up opening a Walmart type store.

Anyway, they sing that song just after the engagement has been announced.

Is it locally written, or is it a published play?

It is called A Family Affair, by Alexsandr Oestravky, who wrote it in 1849 in Russian. Clearly it has been somehow translated and modernized, which is what this theatre tends to do. I am not sure if the director translated and adapted himself (which we also tend to do, because with a play that old there are no royalties except to the translator). There is not a lot on google, as I looked for a summary before I typed one....

Ahhh, okay. An adaptation makes a lot of sense. Very cute!

The internets are failing me. I guess I'll have to go see Iron & Wine by myself tomorrow. I'll just find a seat and have a laid-back concert experience. I'm still kind of broken from being in the pit, so it's probably for the best.

Five concerts in seven days: kind of tiring, yo.

I'd happily take you up on the offer but for the pesky geography thing. I just don't think I could make it there in time.

Five concerts in a week is a LOT, but sounds like a great way to OD on music.

Man, I love Iron&Wine. He's coming to play Manchester in a couple weeks to a sold out show. So, so amazing live.

Sia is the one vocalist Zero 7 has hung on to through all three of their albums, and she has three solo records--the most recent being the one tommyrot mentioned above. I prefer the work she's done with Zero 7, particularly on "When It Falls, " a cd I have listened to so much I have actually worn down the disc.

I really like The Sounds, a lot, but I really really really love Maja Ivarsson.

I think I can only take so much of her. She doesn't have the widest range, and her voice can be a little grating sometimes, when it's more like yelling than singing.

But it's cool to find other people who even know the Sounds! A friend of mine introduced me to them years ago, and they've come up on my Pandora without my help, but I haven't really heard anyone else ever talk about them.

I think I met someone on the way to the airport once. That was it.

Man, I love Iron&Wine. He's coming to play Manchester in a couple weeks to a sold out show. So, so amazing live.

He said in interviews that The Shepard's Dog was inspired by Swordfishtrombones.

t /Tomlikescarrots

It’s getting to be that time of the month—that is, deciding on my next monthly work playlist. And if you couldn’t figure out what would come after April Showers, shame on you.

I’m trying to stick to songs with flowers in the titles, rather than just in the lyrics. I think I’m set for roses. Bonus points for coming up with a new flower. I’ve searched iTunes on Dahlias, Daisies, Pansies, Petunias, and Tulips but nothing jumped out at me. Other flower suggestions welcome. Much gratitude if you post a copy of said song at buffistarawk.

Here’s what I have so far:
“San Francisco” (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie
“Mon amie la rose” by Françoise Hardy
“Poisoned Rose” by Elvis Costello
“Daffodil Lament” by The Cranberries
“The Lily of the West” by The Chieftains with Mark Knopfler
“Violets Are Red” by Small Potatoes
“Lavender Blue” by Sunny Sweeney
“Love is a Rose” by Neil Young
“Black Flowers” by Chris Isaak
“Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls
“Kiss from a Rose” by Seal
“Ruth, Roses, and Revolvers” by The Real Tuesday Weld
“Le Poinçonneur des Lilas” by Serge Gainsbourg
“Blood & Roses” by The Smithereens
“In Bloom” by Nirvana
“Blue Orchid” by The White Stripes
“The Boy with a Thorn in His Side” by The Smiths
“Thorn in My Side” by The Eurythmics
“Forget Me Nots” by Patrice Rushen
“Desert Rose” by Sting featuring Cheb Mami
“Build Me Up Buttercup” by The Foundations
“Fleur bleue” by Charles Trenet
“Flowers on the Wall” by The Statler Brothers
“Sugar Magnolia” by The Grateful Dead
“Scarlet Begonias” by Jimmy Buffet
“Orange Blossom Special” by Johnny Cash
“Dandelion” by Audioslave
“Poppy-Red” by Richard Thompson
“Lilac Wine” by Jeff Buckley
“The Rose” by Bette Midler
“Azalea” by Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington
“Violets for Your Furs” by Billie Holiday
“Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music

The following weren’t available at the library (there seems to be a distinct problem with missing CDs in the SF library system!):
“Black-Eyed Susan” by Morrissey
“Dandelion” by The Rolling Stones
“Dandelion Wine” by Ron Sexsmith
“Forget the Flowers” by Wilco
“Magnolia” by The Hush Sound
“Marigold” by Nirvana
“A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation” by Marty Robbins
“You Don’t bring Me Flowers” by Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond

If anyone wants to supply a copy, I’d appreciate it!
And, of course, anyone wanting me to send a copy of anything in the mix above, I’m happy to.