“How about a song about possums?!”

This question, proclaimed by one of MAW’s many spunky members, was met with applause and cheers. That’s not something you get at every concert. But then again, this isn’t your average show. It’s an event that celebrates food preservation, corn jail, and boatloads of death.

MAW, Lawrence’s leading goth bluegrass (gothgrass?) outfit, celebrated all of these themes at their CD release show at Frank’s on Friday evening. What felt like a never-ending stream of people kept flowing through the door, while trains whizzed by, blowing their horns, just a few feet from the door. It’s appropriate that this show happened on Friday the 13th, due to all the death. In fact, there were so many death references that the band indulged the audience in Murder Ballad Bingo. You could pick up those Bingo cards next to a box of band shirts with a coffin derby car printed on the front. The embroidered skulls on their Western-style shirts and skirts were also a nice touch.

When they weren’t busy serenading the audience with murder-filled harmonies, the band dabbled in heavy sexual innuendo. “Picklin’ Man,” a song off their new album, took the cake with this one. Even that one made Sugar Britches, the most obviously sexual-innuendo-filed folk act in town, blush while they gazed on in the front row.

You can listen to the song below, and listen to more of their naughty numbers on We Bought The Farm, which is out now.

Words and photos by Fally Afani