Article and Photos by: Rachael Smith

MESA, AZ — I’ve seen the Grammy-nominated folk duo, The Milk Carton Kids, three times prior to going to their show on December 7th at the Mesa Arts Center. Opening for them was jazz guitarist, Julian Lage. Before he came out, Joey Ryan from The Milk Carton Kids, walked on stage and gave an admiral introduction.  I had never heard of Julian before that night, but Joey hyped him up so much that I was very excited to witness what would take place on stage during the next half hour or so. Needless to say, I was impressed. For example, one song started off like a familiar classical piece, but then it seamlessly infused blues and a bit latin to create a memorable, intricate song. The way he played every piece was captivating. I would highly recommend the song he ended his set with, Peru. It’s a lively song that really let his personality shine through.

If you’ve never seen The Milk Carton Kids perform, one thing you should do is not take them too seriously. Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan are pretty much stand-up comedians in between the songs during their set and they mostly have a very dry sense of humor that you can’t help but love. This comedic duo can make ninety minutes pass by in a matter of no time, which can be unfortunate when all you want is for them to keep filling the room with their mesmerizing harmonies.

They started off their set with a few familiar pieces that I had heard at previous shows, but what I enjoyed most was hearing them play new songs from their album Monetary, which they released earlier this year. My absolute favorite performance of the night was played and sung by Kenneth and I believe it’s the only solo piece The Milk Carton Kids have ever recorded and performed. Sing, Sparrow, Sing has a pretty different sound and timing than the rest of their music, but I believe that’s why I enjoyed it so much. Julian Lage actually came out and accompanied Kenneth on the guitar during the song. The performance was definitely one of my favorites out of all the times I’ve seen The Milk Carton Kids play and just like the previous times before, I walked out of the venue fully satisfied with the concert I had just attended. They recently released dates for their 2016 tour so be sure to check them out and see if they’re coming to a city near you!