agle ▁Rock , ▁California . ▁The ▁Mil k ▁Cart on ▁K ids ▁came ▁together ▁after ▁both ▁artists ▁had ▁largely ▁un success ful ▁solo ▁care ers ▁and ▁had ▁reached ▁a ▁professional ▁cross ro ads . ▁▁ ▁They ▁released ▁Ret ros pect , ▁a ▁live ▁album ▁recorded ▁in ▁Vent ura , ▁California ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁Ret ros pect ▁pred ates ▁the ▁band ▁name , ▁and ▁was ▁released ▁under ▁Kenneth ▁Pat ten g ale ▁& ▁Jo ey ▁Ryan . ▁After ▁performing ▁at ▁S X SW ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁The ▁Mil k ▁Cart on ▁K ids ▁joined ▁Joe ▁Pur dy ' s ▁North ▁American ▁tour ▁as ▁his ▁opening ▁act ▁and ▁backing ▁band . ▁ ▁Pro log ue ▁( 2 0 1 1 ) ▁The ▁du o ▁released ▁Pro log ue ▁on ▁July ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁This ▁was ▁their ▁first ▁studio ▁album ▁and ▁the ▁first ▁release ▁under ▁the ▁band ' s ▁name . ▁The ▁San ▁Francisco ▁Chron icle ▁referred ▁to ▁Pro log ue ▁as ▁" bit ters weet ▁and ▁beautiful ." ▁ ▁" There ▁By ▁Your ▁Side " ▁was ▁named ▁National ▁Public ▁Radio ' s ▁Song ▁of ▁the ▁Day . ▁Pro log ue ▁made ▁Day t rot ter , ▁American ▁Song writer , ▁and ▁About . com ▁year - end ▁lists . ▁ ▁Following ▁Pro log ue ’ s ▁release , ▁the ▁group ▁head lined ▁a ▁North ▁American ▁tour . ▁ ▁The ▁Ash ▁& ▁Clay ▁( 2 0 1 3 )