Milk Carton Kids ID-ed: Brother harmonies and original 21st century folk music

2:30 p.m. June 20, Telluride Town Park – Following the Colorado jam excitement of Elephant Revival and their high energy and Of Monsters and Men singing, the folk revival sound of the Milk Carton Kids settled on the Telluride audience like a familiar hug. Think Everly Brothers, Louvin Brothers, the Avett Brothers and the great 60s folk duos. Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale write charming original tunes – personal and full of characters – wrapped in precise harmonies and well-picked acoustic guitars. Milk Carton Kids made an auspicious debut.

Looking out from the press tent, I can see the famous “Killer Flank Steak” sign beckoning above a sea of sunscreened bodies. I’ve attended this event since the third annual festival and written about it for 30  years. And the question that always comes up is: “Who do you miss to have dinner?” Today it looks like the 4:30 p.m. set by the Steep Canyon Rangers will be sacrificed for dinner in part because they will be playing later with Steve Martin.

Up next: Greensky Bluegrass.