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Concert reviews Music

The Milk Carton Kids

THE MILK CARTON KIDS at The Drake Hotel, Saturday, April 27. Rating: NNN


They played old guitars into specialty microphones, dressed like they were going to a funeral and teased each other mercilessly between Simon and Garfunkel-esque tunes – this is the stage schtick of California duo The Milk Carton Kids (Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale).

It was glass-clinking-audibly quiet during songs, and that awkward, improvised stage banter was a foil for the duo’s somberly captivating music. When the MCK sing in harmony it’s almost too pretty, and thankfully the set included moments where one or the other would sing or play alone.

Pattengale’s the stronger guitarist of the two and watching his fluid playing was a highlight of the evening. Unfortunately the songwriting was less memorable, though Memphis, with its slow tempo, evocative lyrics and musical references, was a good closer. The guys are great at their job, but something about their performance made me wonder if there isn’t a bit of truth in their biting humour if after two years of rapid success they are beginning to hate each other or some of their downbeat material.

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