SLCene Suggests: Milk Carton Kids at The State Room

MILK CARTON KIDS, THE STATE ROOM, Thursday, June 5, 8 p.m., Sold out

When the Milk Carton Kids came through The State Room last year, I wasn’t very familiar with the duo or their excellent album The Ash & Clay. I had simply heard enough good word of mouth to drag myself out to a show for a band I hadn’t heard. Turned out to be a great decision, because watching Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan trade between-song barbs, gorgeous harmonies and serious guitar skills was one of the highlights of my year. Simon & Garfunkel immediately comes to mind when you listen to the Kids’ album, but in concert they have a lot more hilarious cynicism on display than I can ever imagine coming from the mouths of Artie and Paul. The Los Angeles duo had garnered ever-louder praise in the past few years, and seeing them in the cozy confines of The State Room should be a real treat. If you can get some tickets to this sold-out show–do it. Tom Brosseau opens the show.