The Milk Carton Kids

I've been a fan of the Milk Carton Kids since discovering them on Austin City Limits a few years ago, but never thought I'd have a chance to see them live. I traveled over an hour to a nearby college town to see them on a work night, and it was so worth it. These guys are a true class act; fantastic musicianship, heavenly harmonies, and witty banter. This show is as intimate as it gets, shy of having them sitting in your own living room. There's no set, no light show, no pyro, and no opening act. Just two musical storytellers, two guitars, and one mic. The stripped-down nature of this show only showcases how talented these two really are, and makes me appreciate how remarkable it it that they've only been together for 6 years. Hopefully, they'll be together for many more!!

The Lincoln Theatre is amazing. Kudos to Columbus. It is the perfect venue for Joey and Ken who don't just talk to the audience, they engage it. They talked and bantered with each other and the audience between songs. Early on a young girl gave them two roses which obviously touched them. If you are familiar with their songs you're familiar with their tight guitar playing and close harmony but I was surprised that they sound better live. They played all the old favorites as well as a couple new songs and with no opening act, they played two sets. The show was fantastic and we can't wait until they return

Beautifully sounded, one of the best folk band out there.

We had a great time at the concert. Had never been to the venue before and love the whole idea. The Milk Carton Kids gave a great show. The sound was really good. The humor and the music were spot on.

These guys are unbelievably good... spectacular acoustic guitar accompanying beautiful voices perfectly balanced so you can hear every word of the lyrics. Great combination. Great guys. I have downloaded everything I could find and haven't stopped listening to them since.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of The Milk Carton Kids show at The Birchmere last Tuesday in Alexandria, VA. They are an extremely talented pair in every respect, musically and lyrically. In addition, when conversing with the audience, they are relaxed, witty, funny and totally engaging. If you go to one show this year, make it The Milk Carton Kids. In addition, the food and service at The Birchmere was surprisingly good. We will keep our eyes on their calendar for other acts to see.

They were really brilliant and funny and in perfect harmony. Fabulous guitar playing from Ken especially.

The charming duo impressed us with their passion and skill, and swept us up in an unforgettable flurry of musical delight.

What a performance!! Their nerdy/sassy dialogue had the crowd laughing between every song. The Simon and Garfunkelish harmonies are so pure and Kenneth's little improvised guitar riffs had me "wow-ing" mid song. I'll be seeing them again.

Go see them! Go see them! Meeting minimum requirement

This venue was lovely. Instead of chairs, there are pews which provide more space than usual. The bars were a little cramped, but all in all it wasn't bad. Brian Wright is a clever songwriter. He was very entertaining. The Milk Carton Kids were wonderful live. The sound was wonderful. Their humor was wonderful. Just wonderful! I highly recommend them, even if it's in a dark, deserted alley.

Who thought Folk music would make a comeback in the '00's? Well..these two guys are the greatest Folk music duo to come along since the Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel. Young, smart, oozing with talent, funny and musically born to work together. These kinds of made-to-be pairings don't come along often. The show was amazing from start to finish. Go see them.

We discovered MCK on the Llewyn Davis concert, like many folks, and instantly fell in love, so were very excited to get to see them live. The venue was very special, seats were great. Their intro act may be very nice, but he sings flat - really, at this level? The MCK's music was enthralling, no complaints at all. But I couldn't hear their banter well enough to understand it; would hope the conversional sound would be better in future. Otherwise, we loved it!

A wonderfully exciting acoustic show. The young men have a way with the audience....just Remington the theater to rid of static noise.....sitting in the fifth row was amazing but I imagine the seats in back had a hard time hearing the soft voice of the performers....I will attend their next concert.

Great venue and The Milk Carton Kids were incredible! They sound great live and their dry sense of humor kept the atmosphere light and fun!

Very good act. The music was good but the comedy was an added bonus. Excellent for a small venue. Great lead guitar and vocal harmonies. Well worth it.

I had never heard of the Milk Carton Kids until last Summer when I saw them as an opening act for Josh Ritter. It was great seeing them as an opening act but even better as the headliner. I don't know who does the mixing for these guys but that must be the easiest job on the planet. There is no difference at all in the sound quality of their live show versus the studio. Outstanding! My daughter was recently married in March and she chose Charlie for the father-daughter dance. So cool that they ended the show with that song. A lasting memory, for sure! This was my first visit to the Buckhead Theatre. Great venue for acoustic music. We also enjoyed the opening act - Brian Wright.

The Milk Carton Kids gave the truest show I've ever seen. Their sound was spot on and I was amazed that they did it without pickups on their guitars and singing through one mic. It's such a pleasure to go to a show and hear guitars that sound like guitars. They did all the favorites plus a couple of new tunes from their upcoming CD. The between song banter was hilarious and highly entertaining. All in all, it was a wonderful show and more than well worth the admission price.

Even more brilliant than their appearance on "Another Day Another Time". Seamless vocals, often exchanging harmony / melody roles. Joey's dry sense of humor adds a great deal to their overall stage presence. Kenneth's phenomenal guitar work rivals anything I have ever heard. If one plays guitar, his finger-speed is even more appreciated as nothing short of astounding.

By now, Joey and Kenneth have the reputation of having banter just as entertaining as any stand up comic. It balances out the melancholy in their lyrics, and the beauty of their melodies. Joey and Kenneth never disappoint. Their respect for each other as musicians is clear, and their voices come together beautifully.

The Lincoln Theater is a wonderful venue. Acoustics were excellent, not a bad seat in the house. I sat first row balcony, the rail was very low so visibility was great. I had not seen Milk Carton Kids before. Loved them. Great talent, songs, and humor. Liken it to Big Bang Theory meets meets mellow acoustic with some Tony Rice thrown in. Great Evening

Great folk music, amazing guitar playing, and hilarious stand-up comedy all in one

I was expecting ridiculously talented guitarists, which I got. I was not expecting a stand up routine, which I also got and LOVED. Joe and Kenneth play off each other and the audience with a hysterically dry, dead-pan style humor. I cannot wait for them to come back to Boston!

I came into this show knowing that I like the few songs I had heard of them and the venue, but was expecting a chill, average acoustic show. Instead, I was presented with some of the best live guitar work from both the main artist and the opener, Molly Tuttle. My favorite shows are the ones where I feel as though I could leave the show after the opener and still get my money's worth. This was the case. Molly Tuttle rocked the house with amazing banjo and guitar work and exceptional accompaniment. Then, not only did I hear a set from the Milk Carton Kids that increased my respect for their music, but I got a full comedy show out of it as well! These guys gave perhaps the best audience interaction and inbetween song stage presence I have ever seen. The two to six minute bits between songs were never a bore or unwanted, and consistently gave the entire venue a good laugh. I see both the Milk Carton Kids and Molly Tuttle going great places in the future, and would see both of them again without a doubt.

You would never know The Milk Carton Kids are only two years into their existence by their tight Simon and Garfunkel like harmonies and their excellent guitar playing. They're also very humorous in their banter between songs. I had a chance to meet them after the show and found them to be wonderful humble guys. Aoife O'Donovan was also great as the opening act. She also is an excellent acoustic guitar player to go along with her beautiful voice. Both Aoife and The Milk Carton Kids are outstanding songwriters as well. The Birchmere is an excellent venue. The food and drink were very good. I like the general admission seating. We were able to get seats fairly close to the stage but there doesn't appear to be a bad seat in the house. I'm looking forward to coming back.

Beautiful. Funny. Lovely. This show will make you laugh and cry. If you can go, go.

My wife and I saw the Milk Carton Kids perform at Birchmere Music Hall on April 23. It was the second time we have seen them perform and the first as the top billed act. In short they more than earned the billing. Their close harmonies, poignant lyrics and gentle but powerful songs reminded me of Simon and Garfunkel coupled with the droll, self deprecating humor of the Smothers Brothers. It worked. The very mixed generational crowd spoke to the fact that their appeal embraces a widely divergent audience. Definitely a lovely and memorable evening.

Both acts were well worth the time & money. I've seen the MCK's 4 times now, and Aoife was my favorite opener so far.

The Milk Carton Kids are the pioneers for the new era of folk music. Using tight harmonies and sophisticated, musical foundations, they add their own blend of lyrics and melodies bringing the listener along for a ride of nostalgia but at the same time updating the genre.. Their sense of humor and wit paces the show allowing the audience to relax and engulf themselves into the music. Their musicality is extraordinary. From their amazing guitar playing to their original compositions, the Milk Carton Kids are a talent not to be missed especially in the intimidate venues such as the Birchmere.

Great great concert with one of the country s best-kept secrets and a surprisingly fun opener

always good, this show was no disappointment. a few new songs + an incredible jazz opening act that I would also travel to see again.

A memorable show from beginning to end. The Milk Carton Kids give you a warm, folksy, jazzy feeling. Disarming humor with incredible talent. The opening act, Sammy Miller and the Congregation were entertaining, original -- very talented. One of the best concerts ever!

The Milk Carton Kids have been compared to Don & Phil Everly (from the 50s), Simon & Garfunkel (60s), and Dave Rawlings (current). All of those were popular for three generations in my family. The Kids' self-deprecating humor was even reminiscent of The Smothers Brothers. The Milk Carton Kids now rank among all those greats for me! Their acoustic voices and harmony beautifully filled up the beautiful Lyric Theatre. Thank goodness Joey and Kenneth never really made it to the cover of the school-lunch milk carton!

The acoustics at the Bijou theatre were on point. I would definitely go back to this venue. The MCK's put on a great show.

Quirky group with a tinge of smothers brothers and the harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel. They know how to entertain. They also have a knack for finding amazing opening acts. You will not be disappointed. Have seen them five times in six years.

Saw them at bijou in ktown,their performance was just like what you see on youtube.being a guitar player ill tell ya these guys didnt miss a note vocally or instrumentally.ive been a fan of them for many years and this was my first time seeing them.best performing artists ive ever witnessed.

The Milk Carton Kids are so funny and play beautiful music- an amazing combination! The opening band, Sonny Miller, was a nice surprise too- hard to explain, you will just have to look them up!

The venue is BEAUTIFUL, but acoustically, its not what it was when it was built. The single mic did not carry sound well throughout the hall.

These guys are super talented and funny and charming. If you get the chance to see them, go.

Incredible musicianship and lots of laughs! Thanks for a wonderful evening! Hope you come back to the KC area again soon.

I love the Milk Carton Kids music, but I never thought I'd like the dialogue between songs in concert as much as I liked the music. I cried from laughing too hard and I cried from the beauty of the music. Anyone who likes Simon & Garfunkel harmonies or real good folk music.

These two are perhaps the best out there today. The show was just amazing. I can't say enough good things about it. I would definitely recommend that if you have the chance to catch a show that you do not hesitate. You will not be sorry. Thumbs up all the way!

We saw The Milk Carton Kids at The State Theater in Portland, Maine. The show was absolutely incredible. The guys sang song after song of amazingly crafted ballads. Their harmonies were transcending. Their musicianship with their guitar playing left me wondering how two young gents could be writing and playiing with the skill of old masters.

Since hearing The Milk Carton Kids doing a radio interview on "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me", I have quite enjoyed listening to their music. In concert, the same funny, dry, witty humor that came through in the interview mixes very well with the music. Joe (the taller one) invited us in as he personally introduced the opening act, and kept the audience involved all the way through the show. It was a very pleasing blend of music, stand-up, and story. The music is wonderful to watch. Two vocals and two guitars, all through one mic, leaves me often wondering who is singing what. I enjoy that. Great time.

Crisp harmonies, incredible guitar artistry, all sprinkled with self-depricating humor. From their opening "Monterey" to the encore "Wish You Were Here", this was a fantastic show. Yes, Rolling Stone is right: Joey, the "tall one is leagues funnier than the squat one", but the "squat one", Kenneth, is one of the most impressive guitar players I've seen/heard. It's hard to believe he does it all with a pick on his beat up guitar. I don't know why these guys didn't pack the house...the empty seats represented people who truly missed out on a great show.

I saw them in Boulder in December and they were hilarious then and here again. Music definitely did not disappoint. The opening act was just fantastic.

I went to this concert only because my husband likes them. I knew nothing about them and I typically don't listen to this kind of music. That all changed when I heard them!! Picture the Smothers Brothers x Simon and Garfunkel only better! We were sitting front row center. I thought great no way am I going to be able to sit here this long and look straight up! 5 minutes into the show I was sold! 90 minutes later didn't even think about my neck! Loved, loved, loved it! Their voices blend so beautifully!! Joey is hysterical and Kennith can play the guitar like nothing I've ever seen before! I'm a believer! Please, please come back to Houston soon!

This was the 4th time I've seen them in concert and I'll continue to go every time they're in my area! Not only do you get incredible harmonies and guitar playing but a comedy show as well! They are the complete package. Also, I met Kenneth after a concert in 2013. He's the nicest guy and let me take a picture with him!

Acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies at there best.

I had seen them at the Americana Awards before and had bought copy of Monterrey, but they exceeded all expectations. Opening act was very good also. Excellent venue.

The venue on campus at UofH is acoustically excellent. It really played well to this event. Joey and Kenneth performed many of their songs across all three of their CD's. They advertise their guitars and it is clear why they play those vintage instruments. The sound is incredible. Loved the show.

The Milk Carton Kids did not disappoint. Their music is great. Guitar playing is amazing. And their humor was an unexpected bonus. I will definately try to hear them in concert again. Caitlyn Canty was a terrific warmup, and the new Halloran Theater was quite nice, a great new venue in Memphis.

The Milk Carton Kids' show, in Memphis was one of the most entertaining shows in years. They are the best musical duo since the Smothers Brothers, with a way better musical side. I hope to see them again. Thanks guys!

I originally discovered TMCK on an episode of Austin City Limits that was airing in our Memphis hotel room a couple of years ago. How serendipitous to finally see them live in Memphis, as well! The new Halloran Center is the perfect venue for their show due to its intimacy...not one bad seat in the house (although I would recommend a pair of opera glasses for those sitting on the last five rows.) BUT THE MUSIC? I have no better word to describe it than SUBLIME. Joey and Kenneth's blend of voice and guitar are so tight that they create a third entity whose aura envelopes the entire room with its warmth, humor, and electricity. Their between-set banter is almost as fun as the music itself--it is obvious that these two gentlemen genuinely enjoy one another as much as they do the music.

I saw these two a few nights ago, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Their unique voices, paired with powerful lyrics, is unlike anything I've ever heard and completely unmatched in music today. Their folksy Americana sound, and guitar playing, plus the added comedic dialogue, made for an unforgettable night. I wish they would come through Memphis every week!

One of my favorite performances. Super clean playing and singing. Definitely worth coming out. Julian Lage opened for them and he was amazing as well. Jason Mraz was in the audience, which was cool.

The Milk Carton Kids are the real deal! Incredible harmonies, great songs and guitar playing, and very funny! I hope they return soon!

Intimate atmosphere in a great theatre with two witty guys.

This was an excellent concert! The MCK's sounded amazing! They sounded fantastic live and were really funny! We thoroughly enjoyed the concert and would definitely see them again. My favorite part was the encore-what a treat to hear a cover of Pink Floyd!!!

The Milk Carton Kids sound heavenly. So funny too!

First time to see The Milk Carton Kids was not disappointing . Extremely talented musicians, with haunting harmonies and uncanny chord progressions. Add to that a real comedic nature that kept the show flowing, leaving you wanting more. Opening act was The Goodbye Girls, they really got the show off on the right foot, especially their version of the Grateful Dead's "Cold Rain and Snow". Then The Kids took over and didn't look back. Joey, aka: Garfunkel, could certainly have a career as a stand up comic, and Kenneth, aka: squatch, definitely holds his own in the dry humor department. Their musical talent as both musicians and as singer/songwriters is hard to find today. I would definitely recommend seeing The Milk Carton Kids for a fun and very entertaining night of good humor and great music.

They put on a great show; their humor and stage banter is great and keeps the show moving since they aren't a high energy rock band. Good pure music and Kenneth is amazing on the guitar.

A great show by the Milk Carton Kids, even better than the albums. They will have you in stitches in one moment, and welling up with tears in the next. Can't wait to see them again.

The music is always great. I love the Milk Carton Kids. Something really weird was going on between them at that show. I expected them to break into a fist fight at any moment. I saw them the last time they were here and the show was magical. Just perfect in every way. This time not so much. I am use to them bickering and it seems lighthearted enough BUT the tension put a damper on my good time. Hope next time they are in a better mood. Again the music is always great.

Great show by two very talented musicians who did not disappoint. Although I could listen to Joey talk and watch Kenneth rip up that guitar all night, their vocals are truly amazing. Great house band, opening act and concert from start to finish. Best evening out in a long time!

In a world of louder and brighter is better going to a Milk Carton Kids provides a refreshing alternative. Enter world with soft harmonies and driving acoustic guitars. Find a place in your mind to simply listen to the lyrics and musicality take you back to Simon and Garfunkel. Well sort of. The Milk Carton Kids are their own type of genre, neither retro, nor bluegrass, nor pure folk, nor this or that. They provide something no one else seems to be able to provide.

Beautiful harmony and impressive guitar playing. Music at its best. Two guys impressing the crowd with their incredible talent. They are funny, too! An all around enjoyable show.

Think of a new version of Simon and Garfunkel with funny jokes.

As usual the Milk Carton Kids killed it at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus. Their opener, The Contenders were also fantastic. MKC played an assortment both old and new. Joey (otherwise now known as Garfunkel) was his usual sarcastic self and Ken (the squat one) played his guitar like a mad man. Another night to remember.

Superb musicality and talent. Great banter. Please see these guys, if you have a chance.

So much talent. Beautiful harmonies. Meaningful lyrics. Great chemistry with each other and the audience. Engaging, funny guys as well. Nothing came up short. My second time seeing them. I can't wait until they come back to NY. NJ would be nice too.

They were excellent they are amazing artists they are also rather funny!

The Milk Carton Kids are amazing! We loved them! The collaboration with Sarah Jarosz was an extra treat and the harmonies were amazing. Extreme talent. BUT one problem: if you have a song that mentions Minnesota you really SHOULD sing it when you're in Minnesota! Milk Carton Kids: c'mon! How did you miss singing "No Hammer to Hold"? We missed it. Come back to Minnesota in the snow and sing us our song!

The interacted with the audience well and Sarah has the voice of an angel!

Great, great talents. I had trouble hearing, as though PA was set super low.

What a great concert! The Milk Carton Kids and Sarah Jarosz make music with an old soul.

The group combined was amazing. Separately, they were outstanding. I loved their selections. They were mic'd to pick up voices and acoustic instruments, but it was not obnoxious in the volume. Everything was clear and understood, without blaring speaker volumes you find at most concerts. I brought my parents with, and they did know know the group or any of their original songs, but they were very impressed with the musicianship and talent on stage. I would love to see them again in the future. Joe was witty, and a pleasure to listen to his banter on stage, while the others were switching up instruments and tuning. Sarah has a knife-like clear voice with lots of inflections. They performed for almost 2 hours straight and no intermission. I really love that.

This concert was amazing from start to finish. The performers were so in synch with each other that if I wasn't there to see them playing I would have thought it was a recording. The harmonies were unbelievable. Joey kept everyone entertained with his asides and comments. He's like the perfect martini: smooth and dry! Sarah's voice is so amazing, just her talent for playing all of those instruments. What a lovely show. Kenneth was playing so beautifully and quickly I wondered if the frets were going to burn up at some points. The 3 very talented strings were perfectly blended. I can't wait to listen to my new CD of their group "Brotet"

I went with limited experience of TMCK and even less with SJ so my expectations were low. However they put on a great show. Prior to going I read some other peoples' reviews about SJ drowning out the harmonies of TMCK. I didn't find that to be the case and thought she added a lot to the performance. The microphone they work with can be difficult because it picks up everything including SJ's strong voice in contrast to the soft harmonies of TMCK. I thought she controlled her volume for most of the songs and added alot to the harmonies. All things considered TMCK and SJ compliment each other and together they put on an outstanding show. I'd go again.

From the second you walked into the Fitzgerald Theater you knew it was going to be an amazing evening. The stage was so very intimate, cozy, warm and inviting. I already knew the Milk Carton Kids and love them but knew nothing about Sarah Jarosz. What an amazing woman. I loved her duets with Joey Ryan. Amazing harmony. Kenny's guitar playing always is an amazing treat. Thank you for making a stop in Minnesota on your tour!

Excellent! Loved them all together! Sarah really added to the Milk Carton Kids and the guys on the stings from the Brotet were awesome!

It was one of the best shows I've seen. They were so chilled out and confident. It was amazing that people so young were so uninterested in overwhelming the audience and instead just made beautiful sounds.

Such incredible talent on stage - Sarah's band and the Mike Carton Kids blended so well they should play together as a group all of the time. It seemed that they had all been playing together for many years - it was perfection. Make sure get a chance to see them before November 3rd - if you love bluegrass music, incredible harmonies as well as people that can really play their stringed instruments they are a must see - Would travel to see them they are that good.

MCK is one of my favorite duos but I did not feel that Sarah Jarosz (lovely as her work is) enhanced their performance. The instruments were often louder than the voices, and especially seemed to override Joe's, or possibly he was a bit too far from the mike. It seemed that MCK got a bit lost/diluted among all the other performers on stage. I'm also not a fan of the twangy school that Sarah represents but rather hold my breath for the exquisite harmonies that Joe and Kenneth achieve. Joe was hilarious as usual. Sarah's voice seemed to need more modulation as some individual notes that were intended to be louder were, unfortunately, rather too loud.

This was a great show! The musicians were all fabulous. The vocal harmonies were amazing! I would definitely go see them again, even if they perform separately!

Way too much Milk Carton, musically, visually, audience communication, stage presence, etc. Jarosz was lost in the crowd, as were her two outstanding accompanists, which is a significant loss. Way too little of the Jarosz versatility and variety, way to much of the Milk Carton sound, which gets pretty boring after 8-10 pieces that are way too similar. It seemed more like Jarosz and accompanists were the back-up for Milk Carton This is a curious partnering for Jarosz at this point in her career. Is she already getting tired of leading the way? Hope not. Wish Milk Carton and Jarosz had split the time and not shared the stage. She has way more to offer than Milk Carton.

Great little Tuesday night Folk show. these guys will never be celebrities, but anyone can appreciate their talent and healthy mix of acoustic guitar music and comedy.

The Milk Carton Kids seemed a little surprised by their ability to sell out the house at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, Ohio, on July 22. "But as long as you keep coming back, I will, too," promised Kenneth Pattengale, one half of the Milk Carton Kids. Joey Ryan, the other half, is the spokesperson for the two, keeping up witty banter in between songs. The two joined their "largely unsuccessful" solo acts, as they describe them themselves, in 2011 and have issued three albums together. Those albums show a growing maturity, as they tackle larger subjects. Two of my favorite songs from the Milk Carton Kids, "Michigan" from their album Prologue and "Memphis" from their latest album Ash & Clay, show this. Michigan is a love song about the wrong girl and finally telling her to leave. The song is rich with metaphor, symbolism and traditional folk music devices. But the subject matter is too small. Memphis rectifies that. It's view is of a city and, through the city, a nation. It tackles decay, heroes, rebirth and redeath (if there is such a word), hope and despair. It is a true folk song. The Milk Carton Kids played each of those songs during their concert; indeed, they don't have that many songs that they can afford to skip many of them. The audience was polite and hung on ever lyric and note, seemingly impatient to jump in as soon as possible with applause. I hope to see and hear more of the Milk Carton Kids.

This band is beautiful. I would definitely recommend any music lover to check out this band across all genres. They had great side talks as well.