Just a note of clarification before you read this: Within a few months after I posted this article, the Milk Carton Kids released a new album titled All The Things I Did & All The Things That I Didn’t Do. It was a departure from their previous pure duo format, with a full contingent of backing musicians. The guys went out on the road to support it and although perhaps not as acclaimed as their past work, it is a fabulous album that shows both enormous growth and potential.
Last week I remembered to check the humidity level in the room where I store some of my guitars in the winter months, and when I opened the case of my Martin 000-15M the smell of mahogany filled the room and triggered a memory. My one and only visit to the Newport Folk Festival was back in 2013, and among the highlights was an amazing afternoon set by Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale. They looked a lot like Chad and Jeremy, sounded harmonically close to Paul and Artie, and used humor not unlike a dry-witted version of the Smothers Brothers. Joey plays the Gibson J-45 and Kenneth picks his runs with a 1954 Martin 0-15, also made of mahogany like my own but with a white handkerchief tied around the neck, hence my momentary olfactory recollection.
In May it’ll mark three years since the “kids” released their fourth album, Monterey, and it feels like they’re long overdue. From their first release back in early 2011 through 2016, they have been hardcore road warriors playing concerts and festival dates around the globe. And so it was a bit surprising when I checked their website the other day and read this:
For the first time in seven years, The Milk Carton Kids have no upcoming performances.
After playing hundreds of gigs they actually slowed it down quite a bit in 2017 with only 14 dates that came to an end on Nov. 7 at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati. A week later they were featured on a special episode of Austin City Limits along with Graham Nash as part of the Americana Honors and Award night. And then poof … gone.
After checking Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for both the band and individual members, all is quiet with the exception of a couple retweets here and there. Being the internet sleuth that I am, a couple of breadcrumbs popped up on the trail. Woodstock musician Ed Romanoff is releasing his new album The Orphan King on Feb. 23, and Kenneth is a guest player. And this month in an interview with the LA Review of Books, producer Joe Henry mentioned that he’s currently working with the duo.
For the first time in seven years, The Milk Carton Kids have no upcoming performances.
Three years isn’t that long of a stretch between albums, and taking it easy on the road last year compared to their previous nonstop travel makes pretty good sense, both physically and spiritually. Of course, on the other hand, would it kill them to do a least a small tour? Maybe a few dates here and there? After all, it’s just two guys, two guitars, a couple of suits, some extra picks and handkerchiefs, and their iPhones. Low key and easy, unlike some bands. For example, when the Rolling Stones go out on tour they travel with 20 18-wheelers, six tour buses, gourmet chefs, physical therapists, personal trainers, doctors, nurses, accountants, social media assistants, makeup artists, hair stylists, wig makers, costume people, filmmakers, archivists, an acupuncturist, nine wives, 15 grandkids, three girlfriends younger than their grandkids, one cryogenic tube, a blood transfusion van, and portable microbrewery.
Alright guys … I wish you were here too, but you’re still young with lots of creative juice, and I expect you’ll be around for far longer than I will. So take a break, get your houses in order, do some side projects, hang out at the Largo, eat pie at DuPars, maybe go to Disneyland, get a little ink on your arms, and catch some Dodger games. But just know that I miss you guys and can’t wait for y’all to get back to work. Just to give you a little push, if you’re reading this: While four albums in four years might seem like a lot, Japanese “noise” artist Masami Akita, aka Merzbow, has averaged one album per month for over 35 years. Now that’s a lot of noise.
For the first time in seven years, The Milk Carton Kids have no upcoming performances.
This article was originally published as an Easy Ed’s Broadside column over at No Depression: The Journal of Roots Music’s website
Photo Credit: Chicago 2017 / Photo by @megandoodlebaker