Listen: 60 Seconds With The Folk-Singing, Joke-Telling Milk Carton Kids

Joey Ryan, left, and Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids perform at the 13th Annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Show on Sept. 17. Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Americana Music

Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan of the Milk Carton Kids have been compared to Simon and Garfunkle with their lush harmonies and fingerstyle guitar creations, but it was their witty banter that won over the audience at the Ryman Auditorium this week at the Americana Music Association’s awards ceremony.

Following an unsuccessful nomination last year for Best Emerging Artist, the folk duo from California took home the Group of the Year award. I caught up with them before the show to find out what kind of perks come along with their rising status in the Americana world.

And for more of their repartee, listen to them riff onstage for 90 seconds, give or take a minute, during the awards show.