kenneth pattengale

The Milk Carton Kids are a Grammy-nominated duo who have released 6+ records. We talk about defining what success looks like on your own terms, setting boundaries to open doors, record making, and plenty of tangents and laughs.

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Links:

• The Milk Carton Kids
• Largo
• Vera Sola

Click here to watch this conversation on YouTube.

Social Media:

• The Other 22 Hours Instagram
• Michaela Anne Instagram
• Aaron Shafer-Haiss Instagram

All music written, performed, and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Become a subscribing member on our Patreon to gain more inside access including exclusive content, workshops, the chance to have your questions answered by our upcoming guests, and more.

This episode is loaded with audio clips from:

Singer, songwriter, producer-Joe Henry, Musician Rhiannon Giddens, Milk Carton Kids (Kenneth Pattengale & Joey Ryan) perform “White Girl” and offer their perspective of recording the song with singer/songwriter Steve Earle giving his opinion. 

Josh Dunson who is a social justice activist/artist lets u hear his take on Peter LaFarge. Native American singer, composer, and citizen of the Oneida Indian Nation-Wolf Clan: Joanne Shenandoah talks along with Johnny Cash’s daughter-Rosanne. Storyteller Bob Reiser speaks regarding understanding the human mind. Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist ends the show with his thoughts on violence to women and girls. 

Topics in this episode include-

The meaning behind the song- White Girl, the lyrics from Peter Lafarge

Native women pay vs the white men

Interracial relationships

Sex/Rape on Native Land

Missing Native Children

Links:

White Girl Lyrics: https://lyrics.az/peter-lafarge/-/white-girl.html

Bob Reiser You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ammti3FLrM

A Heartbeat & A Guitar Book: https://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-Guitar-Johnny-Making-Bitter/dp/156858637X

We’re Stii Here Documentary: https://www.kinolorber.com/film/We're%20Still%20Here:%20%20Johnny%20Cash%20Bitter%20Tears

Johnny Cash-Bitter Tears LP: https://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Tears-Ballad-American-Indian/dp/B000002AU0

Look Again to the Wind LP: https://www.amazon.com/Look-Again-Wind-Johnny-Revisited/dp/B00KLOCQIE

Sing Out Article on Bitter Tears: https://singout.org/various-look-wind-johnny-cashs-bitter-tears-revisited/

Bitter Tears Article by Antonino D’Ambrosio: https://www.salon.com/2009/11/09/johnny_cash_2/#

Before the Lights Podcast: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/

Before the Lights Bitter Tears Webpage: https://www.beforethelightspod.com/bittertears

Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan have been writing and working together as the Milk Carton Kids since 2011. In that time they have released five records, been included in various small and big screen enterprises and, as of 2018, are the acting hosts of the Americana Music Awards. 

This colorful history can most likely be particularly attributed to two aspects of their work together: there mellifluous discography (detailed instrumentation and harmonic vocals), and their rapid-fire chemistry. Pattengale and Ryan never fail to riff or build upon what the other has said, and the results vary between sharp insight and comedic banter worthy of Second City. 

So join us on Americana Podcast as host, Robert Earl Keen, speaks with Pattengale and Ryan on their professional conjunction, songwriting evolution, and the expansion of Americana music moving forward. 

Americana Podcast is proudly a part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network. Make sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for info on new episodes and peeks behind the scenes.

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When you meet Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, it’s clear that the energy in the room just dialed up a notch -And this is not just about the Americana award-winning and Grammy-nominated duo’s unique yet classic sound, it’s their collective personality. Joey and Kenneth are the Milk Carton Kids out of California.

You may have seen them on the big screen as part of Inside Llewyn Davis, along with colleagues and mentors Joan Baez, Jack White, Marcus Mumford, and The Punch Brothers. Or perhaps you’ve seen them on tour with the Lumineers or Old Crow Medicine Show.

Joey and Kenneth complement each other in harmony, instrumentation and personality. They finish each other’s sentences and can banter like brothers who knew each other long before forming this duo that may remind you of a 21st century Simon and Garfunkel.

We sat with the MCK along with CEO of the Boch Center Joe Spaulding for a chat at the Cabot theater north of Boston and were privileged to sit back during a sound check that filled the theater with crisp guitar picking and vibrant vocal harmonies.