Milk Carton Kids are a soulful, thoughtful indie-folk duo that rose from the cool breeze of Eagle Rock, California. They have mastered a laid back, west coast brand of Americana music that has defined their three critically acclaimed albums as wholly and unabashedly original.
The group’s key strength is in its simplicity –two singers who also happen to be the two guitarists in Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan.
Both artists began their careers as solo artists with little no success outside gaining some marginal name recognition in their small hometown. The two men met after Joey Ryan attended one of Pattengale’s acoustic performances and soon the two realized they were indelibly linked on an intangible and creative level. Soon the two were writing and performing with one another on a regular basis.
And such, Milk Carton Kids were born.
They gained recognition after performing at South by Southwest in 2011 – this led to them quickly releasing their debut “Retrospective.” Which was an old live performance from an era in the group’s history that existed even before the band had a name. They immediately went into the studio and managed to put out their debut studio album “Prologue,” that same year.
In 2013, the group released their follow-up “Ashes & Clay” – hailed by critics and industry insiders alike, the group was touted by people like T-Bone Burnett, Garrison Keilor, and Billy Bragg. That same year they received a Grammy nomination for “Best Folk Album.”
Earlier this year they released their highly anticipated third album “Monterey” - which has been much of the material on which the group has been focusing on their most current tour.
Milk Carton Kids will be performing at Bomhard Theater September 17th at 8 PM. Tickets are still available for $35 and The Contenders will be opening the show.
Photo provided by Milk Carton Kids management.
