The Milk Carton Kids is an American indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, Califor… Read Full Bio ↴The Milk Carton Kids is an American indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, California, United States, consisting of singers and guitarists Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, who formed the group in early 2011.

A performance by The Milk Carton Kids is a quiet and intricate affair. The duo have enjoyed intently listening audiences across the country and abroad in their respective solo careers, but an even greater sense of urgency and demand of attention is palpable now that they've come together as The Milk Carton Kids. Their songs are written together, but you won't know there is more than one author. Their history together spans only one short year, but you won't know that either. They stand close together when they play, facing each other and using microphones instead of plugging their guitars in. And if they looked more alike, they'd fool you that they were brothers.

Their songs disguise the youth of the members of the band. Befittingly, so do the old guitars they play and old clothing they wear. But to be sure, The Milk Carton Kids have something new to present: harmonies & minimalist instrumentation which are a clear reference to times passed, but with an eye intently on the future; a perspective on coming-of-age in the eye of a present-day storm; and the chronicling of an American struggle for simplicity, at least musically. To present it they use two guitars and two voices, they labor over the arrangements, they record themselves live, and they release their music on their own label, and for free.

As solo artists they have 10 releases between them. As a band their career is off to an auspicious start. Starting from a highly regarded position among their peers, they've opened for the art-piano-pop critical darling Vienna Teng, Grammy nominated friend and fan Sara Bareilles, and now will take to the entire U.S. and Canada this summer supporting one of the consummate songwriters of their generation, Joe Purdy. Despite the decision to stick to acoustic guitars in their own show, both Ryan and Pattengale are multi-instrumentalists and will also comprise Purdy's backing band, joining him on bass, pedal steel guitar, piano, and harmonies.

Their first collaborative release, RETROSPECT, is a live album due out March 15th, 2011, that represents the culmination of the past year of live performance. A collection of songs from each of their solo careers, written separately but reinterpreted and performed as the duo now called The Milk Carton Kids, RETROSPECT will be released under the name "Kenneth Pattengale & Joey Ryan".

The first official release of The Milk Carton Kids, entitled PROLOGUE, comprised of original songs written by the duo for this project. It was released in 2011 on their own Milk Carton Records.

My Name is Ana
The Milk Carton Kids Lyrics

My name is Ana
You might have read about me
I live in the attic with my family

I leave the lights off
So nobody can see
I sleep with my shoes on, 'case they come for me

I can see the neon lights
And the masked men

And the riot lines
I can read the warning signs

My name is Ana
You might have read about me
If you really want to know I'll tell you everything

I came from nothing
And I didn't want to leave
Now I live in the attic with my family

I can see the neon lights
And the masked men
And the riot lines
I can read the warning signs

My name is Ana
You might have seen me on TV
Keep the door shut when they come for me

My name is Ana
Don't forget about me
I live in the attic with my family

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Written by: Kenneth Pattengale, Joey Ryan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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