Lawrence loves a good MAW show, and it’s been a while since we’ve seen one. But this weekend, the musical matrons with a flair for old-timey tunes will be celebrating a CD Release party for their latest album, Bought the Farm.

Everything about MAW is undoubtedly agreeable, which makes sense when you consider their origins. These harmonizing honeys are also the wives of the Midday Ramblers, and decided the boys wouldn’t be having all the fun when they came together and formed the beloved Americana band. Since then, they’ve pleased audiences with their matter-of-fact folk numbers full of their cheeky, dark humor (they’ve been known to keep a death count of casualties in their songs).

This playful attitude of theirs continues on the new album, as evidenced by the new songs they posted online ahead of the show. We’re particularly fond of “Picklin’ Man.” With lyrics like “I like a little pickle and I like a little ticklin’, too,” it’s hard not to blush. MAW tends to have audiences wrapped around their banjo-pickin’ fingers, and we imagine that’ll still be the sentiment this weekend.

You can catch MAW at their CD Release show, where they’ve promised Murder ballad bingo, this Friday at Frank’s North Star Tavern (across the river in North Lawrence) from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

In the meantime, bonus track!

Words and photos by Fally Afani