The harmony-laden California duo return to The Ark in Ann Arbor and St. Cecilia Music Center in GR this week to spread indie-folk charm. Tuesday’s show kicks off St. Cecilia’s fall Acoustic Cafe Folk Series.
Michigan-Bound: The Milk Carton Kids play Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids this week. (Photo/Jeffrey Wilkinson)
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Call it an evening of songs and stories.
The California acoustic indie-folk duo The Milk Carton Kids — Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale) — will return this week to Michigan for just that on Monday at The Ark in Ann Arbor and Tuesday at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids.
Monday’s concert at The Ark in Ann Arbor is sold out. Tickets for Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. show at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids are $25-$55 and available online here.
It’s only apropos that Michigan should once again be part of the duo’s must-play stops: Their 2011 song, “Michigan,” has racked up more listens on Spotify than any other track in their 14-year, seven-album catalog and the song ranks as their most-played tune on concert tours, according to Setlist.fm.
Boasting lush harmonies and story-driven songs, the four-time Grammy Award-nominated Milk Carton Kids released a new single, “Ribbon,” earlier this year. (Listen to it below.)
In a phone conversation with Local Spins ahead of the duo’s tour, guitarist and vocalist Ryan mentioned an appreciation for West Michigan fans, noting an early show at Calvin University that sparked a fierce following in the area. The pair have returned frequently and captivated audiences with their showmanship and banter, playing St. Cecilia Music Center’s Royce Auditorium in 2019 and 2021.
“We’ve been here a lot. Grand Rapids is over-represented on our tour schedule,” Pattengale joked in 2019 before the duo performed the crowd favorite, “Michigan.” “And people always think that we’re from here, even though the one song we have about Michigan is about wanting to leave it.”
They also performed in January at Ann Arbor’s Hill Auditorium as part of the Ann Arbor Folk Fest.
Ryan talked about the joys of touring during his chat with Local Spins, including the exploration of cities, seeking out a solid cup of coffee and soaking in the local atmosphere.
While on the subject of atmosphere, the haunting quality in the way Ryan and Pattengale’s voices dance and blend around each other on stage creates an enchanting milieu for audiences, enhanced by the intricate and delicately balanced acoustic guitar work that frames each song and the jovial banter in between.
It all creates what Americana-UK.com called “heartbreakingly beautiful” moments on stage.
VIDEO: The Milk Carton Kids, “Ribbon”
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