To me, Steel Panther are a serious rock band pretending to be goofy because that gives them an individual sales pitch and also insulates them against criticism of "In 2017, you guys can't possibly be serious about what you are doing!?". It is then an effective and sourpuss-deflecting repartee to say "Of course not, just look at us, we can't be serious!", yet at the same time wink at your real, devoted audience indicating that you're dead serious. I understand that Steel Panther has a large female audience which regards their gigs as a hen party-guilty pleasure without morning-after-remorse.
But I know where you're coming from, there is something about Midland so carefully crafted and OTT, you wonder whether they actually do take the mickey. That was my immediate thought too, but apparently none of their audience seems to think so. Outside of their glamour cowboy outfits and the way they move on stage and play their instruments, they sure look like a rock band, carefully groomed 70ies moustaches or not. Is caricature and irony an alien concept to C&W fans?