When you meet Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, it’s clear that the energy in the room just dialed up a notch -And this is not just about the Americana award-winning and Grammy-nominated duo’s unique yet classic sound, it’s their collective personality. Joey and Kenneth are the Milk Carton Kids out of California.
When you meet Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, it’s clear that the energy in the room just dialed up a notch -And this is not just about the Americana award-winning and Grammy-nominated duo’s unique yet classic sound, it’s their collective personality. Joey and Kenneth are the Milk Carton Kids out of California.
You may have seen them on the big screen as part of Inside Llewyn Davis, along with colleagues and mentors Joan Baez, Jack White, Marcus Mumford, and The Punch Brothers. Or perhaps you’ve seen them on tour with the Lumineers or Old Crow Medicine Show.
Joey and Kenneth complement each other in harmony, instrumentation and personality. They finish each other’s sentences and can banter like brothers who knew each other long before forming this duo that may remind you of a 21st century Simon and Garfunkel.
We sat with the MCK along with CEO of the Boch Center Joe Spaulding for a chat at the Cabot theater north of Boston and were privileged to sit back during a sound check that filled the theater with crisp guitar picking and vibrant vocal harmonies.