“I just want to drink beer, catch fish, and listen to Farmer’s Wife.” This quote, so familiar to my heart, now sits printed on the overly tight baby tee I bought before the band came on stage at Woodland’s Tavern.
Austin, Texas pumps out some of the most underrated bands I’ve ever heard, which certainly holds true for Farmers Wife. My exposure to this favorite demographic of mine came through witnessing Die Spitz at the Newport last year, accompanying Amyl and the Sniffers. My deep-dive into that band led me on a scorched trail to Farmers Wife. I still remember the first time I listened to their EP, There’s a Monster, back in 2023. Even their name, Farmers Wife, had my imagination spinning about what this bubble-grunge band has to share.
They excel at storytelling and creating a unique sound that matches their Western grunge aesthetic. This might be a wild take, but in my view, this band sounds like if Pearl Douglas (Pearl, 2022) decided to pursue music instead of acting and helped produce shoegaze/grunge/punk masterpieces. As someone who grew up in an isolated cornfield, there’s an uncanny push-pull to the farm that produces a particular type of emo. The sounds I hear from this band draw me back. The Southern anguish in their sound complements their rebellious control of their music.
Forget about the office siren—singer Molly Masson delivers what I’ve coined the cornfield siren. I hate to use the word “haunting,” but that’s the best word I can find for her (listen to songs like Boheme or Swarm, and I think you’ll catch my drift). The red checkered scarf on her leg juxtaposed with her punk wrist cuffs synchronizes perfectly with her stage presence. She delivered powerful vocals during songs like Bleeder (when the microphone actually worked), followed by giggling and poking fun at Greg Abbott with us Ohioans.
Opening “just right” with Goldiloxxx gave CBus a taste of what to expect from the set to come. The crowd was a little timid to approach the Texans at first, but Molly lured them in with the second song. By the time Swarm and Bleeder played, the room came alive, and the Ohioans were throwing up devil horns for the Southern stars.
The Southern hospitality shined through upon meeting most of the band at merch. Before they went on, I had the pleasure of meeting Jacob Masson. He sold me the earlier mentioned baby tee (RIP — I should have sized up). I also chatted with Molly before heading out to study for a neuroscience exam after they finished the set. It was so cool to share these moments with folks who have inspired my own music taste and ambitions of playing.
They are like an autumn breeze sneaking up on you, but in a dark green flannel way—much less pumpkin spice. Farmers Wife fits themes of fall, and there are parallels to the feelings evoked by artists like The Smashing Pumpkins, Ethel Cain, or Siouxsie and the Banshees (wild connection, I know, but hear me out). Check out their stuff!!
This was my first press pass, and I was so hyped to share it with Farmers Wife. I did my best with the camera I borrowed from Madam President Ophelia Kruse, and I had a blast doing so. It really stoked the fire in me for music that AROUSE always keeps burning. If you take anything from this article, apply for a press pass! Expose yourself to new music, learn from them, and listen to what they listen to. Finding the sounds that fit you can be so cathartic, and sharing moments with those icons is a feeling you wouldn’t trade.
Next time Farmers Wife blows through town, grab a camera, grab a flannel, and get ready for their hayride. And don’t forget—size up on that baby tee, trust me.
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