Jamie Carracher

Rooftop drinks with the neighbors.

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:42:39 -0400

Rooftop drinks with the neighbors.

Experiment with barley, kale, pesto, tomato and sausage.

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:11:31 -0400

Experiment with barley, kale, pesto, tomato and sausage.

I bought this salsa because it has an awesome label.

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:54:11 -0400

I bought this salsa because it has an awesome label.

Sky Blue Sky

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:36:31 -0400

My favorite band right now is Wilco. I love pretty much everything they touch. I love how their songs are beautiful but not perfect. Last night I decided to take a whack at covering one of my favorite songs “Sky Blue Sky,” including singing. As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m not a good singer. I’m taking lessons, though. I’m coming to understand my voice the more I do it. For example, I feel comfortable singing over C and D chords but G chords give me fits. I suck in the key of A. I think part of the problem is I don’t know how to hit high notes the right way. What I need to learn in singing lessons is better control.

Here is the original version of the song, which is amazing.

Sunday in the Country

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:14:57 -0400

I bought a new microphone for recording on my computer yesterday. It’s nothing fancy but it’s a big step up from what I was using to record song sketches before (my iPhone, which is actually better than you think).

Today I pulled out my harmonica for this tune I made up as an experiment. It’s a basic chord progression in G, based off “Blue Ridge Cabin Home,” a famous bluegrass song. There are three tracks going on — rhythm guitar, harmonica and some percussive electric guitar.

I’m not all that experienced with a harmonica but I enjoyed playing it and think it adds an interesting wrinkle to things. Now that I can multi-track decently, I think I’ll use it more.

The most soulful pickin' and singin' you'll ever see

Thu, 09 May 2013 22:26:12 -0400

Learning to Sing

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:02:33 -0400

I went to my first singing lesson on Monday, and, strangely, my voice does not yet sound angelic. I’ll need to ask my teacher about it next week.

Monday was my first experience learning how to sing. The last time I had to sing in public was middle school, when we were forced into choir. In high school, when singers my age joined the school show choir, I made noise on my guitar and tried to see how long I could go in between haircuts. It was around this time I decided I was a guitar player—not a singer.

On Monday, I met my teacher at a studio not far from my apartment. She was a joyful, short woman from Taiwan named Amy. I did not hear her sing for long stretches but on occasion she would belt out a note to me in illustration, the power of her voice rivaling a 100-watt Marshall amplifier. I knew I was in good hands.

To start, she walked me through a few drills to judge my range, always offering positive reinforcement. Like a tee-ball coach congratulating a kid who bunts, she’d shout out “Good… Good!” when my voice got anywhere close to where it was supposed to. Or “Not bad!” when I was completely off.

It didn’t take long for Amy to diagnose my situation.

“You have a good instrument. A good voice. You just don’t have any idea how to use it.

“And what is this nyaa-nyaa?” She said, mimicking my nasally singing voice when reaching for higher notes. She sounded like an annoying children’s cartoon. It was part of my Cleveland accent, I tried to explain. That nasally accent is part of me. I was raised to say words like “drive the c-yar.” ”Well, I don’t want to hear it. If I hear it again, I’ll scream.” Then she laughed. “I don’t know I’m so mean to you!”

Forty-five minutes after I walked in the door, I was done. I learned how to breathe using my stomach and to stand at attention, relaxed but not too relaxed. Amy gave me a cookie in congratulations and to say goodbye. It was her last day and I’d be transitioned to a new teacher next time.

That first lesson is something I’ve been thinking about. I’m not sure I have it in me to be good at singing. Which is part of why I’m excited to keep trying. Who needs challenges that are easy?

Seen (at Gadsby’s Tavern)

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:47:52 -0400

Seen (at Gadsby’s Tavern)

Pimm’s cup. Yum. Reminding me of @brooklynkari and...

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:18:00 -0400

Pimm’s cup. Yum. Reminding me of @brooklynkari and @newsballs ’ wedding. (at Le Diplomate)

Finally ate at Le Diplomate!

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:16:16 -0400

Finally ate at Le Diplomate!

Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite put on an awesome show...

Thu, 02 May 2013 23:01:54 -0400

Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite put on an awesome show (thanks to @jvettorino!) (at 9:30 Club)

Awesome day at the D.C. Bluegrass Festival. (at Kingman Island)

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:16:31 -0400

Awesome day at the D.C. Bluegrass Festival. (at Kingman Island)

Beautiful night for a game. Go Nats! (at Nationals Park)

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:45:57 -0400

Beautiful night for a game. Go Nats! (at Nationals Park)

Finally got a sandwich at Stachowski’s in Georgetown. (at...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:57:02 -0400

Finally got a sandwich at Stachowski’s in Georgetown. (at Stachowski Meats & Deli)

Hark, tis Rosslyn. (at Georgetown Waterfront Park)

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:52:39 -0400

Hark, tis Rosslyn. (at Georgetown Waterfront Park)

I can’t tell. Are people supposed to wear these clothes?...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:21:58 -0400

I can’t tell. Are people supposed to wear these clothes? (at Macy’s)

Today is Record Store Day! Buy some music!

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:28:06 -0400

Today is Record Store Day! Buy some music!

Maybe a silly gesture but I don’t care. I haven’t...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:14:48 -0400

Maybe a silly gesture but I don’t care. I haven’t worn this hat in a long time. I bought it when I lived in Boston in 2002. It was the first big city I ever lived in after growing up in Ohio.

These are tulips, yeah? Beautiful, whatever they are!

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:17:39 -0400

These are tulips, yeah? Beautiful, whatever they are!

New kicks on a sunny day. I needed something with a bit more...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:47:21 -0400

New kicks on a sunny day. I needed something with a bit more pop. (at Georgetown Waterfront Park)