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Brick Wall Comedy

Pig Woman

Mary Mack

Stand Up! Records · Album · 2015

Midwestern eccentricities delivered with a deceptively sweet Wisconsin accent.

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Mary Mack’s third comedy album, Pig Woman, hinges on her distinct Midwestern delivery, a high-pitched, sing-song lilt often described as “Wisconsin honk-e-bonics.” As a former music and band teacher, Mack uses her vocal quirks and a deceptively sweet demeanor to deliver sharp, slightly eccentric observations on rural living, family oddities, and the mundane absurdities of domestic life. She works with a unique, folksy energy, blending dry sarcasm with a cheerful, unassuming presence.

Released in 2015 by Stand Up! Records, the 44-minute audio album marks her first collaboration with the label. The set was recorded live in front of a Twin Cities audience, serving as a homecoming for the comedian who began her career in the Minneapolis-St. Paul comedy scene. In the performance, Mack leans heavily into local flavor, spinning stories about state fair lessons, DIY raccoon rescues, and a rest-stop marriage proposal from her husband, fellow comedian Tim Harmston.

The album was well-received by comedy critics. Reviewers highlighted her mischievous tone and down-to-earth perspective, noting how her clean but slyly critical material offers a sharp angle on traditional Midwestern life.

Memorable tracks include “Mouth Breathers,” which playfully targets her husband’s sleeping habits, and “Midwest Polka Society,” which calls back to her past leading a polka band. Throughout the recording, Mack displays an easy command of the room, frequently turning crowd interactions into unexpected, collaborative bits.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Mouth Breathers

    Riffs on her husband's anatomical flaw.

  2. Alcoholism and alcoholistic medicine

    Observes 'I tried becoming an alcoholic but I kept getting full.'

  3. Midwest Polka Society

    Humorous exploration tied to Midwestern polka culture.

  4. How Did He Ask Ya / Rest-stop proposal

    Contrasts personal and crowd versions of the romance surrounding a rest-stop marriage proposal.

  5. Pig Woman

    Album title inspiration stemming from an encounter with an audience member.

How it plays

Tone
Mischievous, joyful, fearless, and playfully intimate.
On stage
Down-to-earth Midwestern folk humorist with a signature Wisconsin accent ('honk-e-bonics'), goofy and endearing demeanor, masking a sly wit and quick instincts.
Pace
Nimble, confident, and joyful; gleefully navigates dynamic room reactions and interactions.
About
Backwoods and small-town living, Marriage and relationship dynamics, Midwestern culture and identity, Audience interactions and personal anecdotes

What the critics said

Widely praised by comedy critics as an 'absolute hoot,' 'absolutely fearless,' and 'especially mischievous and fun,' highlighting her uninhibited crowd interactions and singular Midwestern comedic voice.

In the room: Exceptionally warm and participatory; Mack creates an unusually cozy rapport with spectators, actively integrating their comments into the show.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: standuprecords.com, thecomedybureau.com, marymackcomedy.com, en.wikipedia.org, theseriouscomedysite.com, thecomicscomic.com, wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Roots in upper Midwestern and northwoods culture; married to fellow comedian Tim Harmston. The CD artwork, created with Minnesota-grown seeds by Liz Schreiber based on photos by Christina Gandolfo, won an Award of Merit at the Minnesota State Fair.

Details

Released
Where
Stand Up! Records (album)
Honors
Album cover won an Award of Merit in the Horticulture Building's exhibit ('Special Occasion' category) at the Minnesota State Fair
Topics
After
All Ages (2019)

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