On a very cold for October Saturday night, Jordan and I bravely left Brooklyn to venture to work island to see the Indiana band Wishy. The verdict? So worth it. We bopped, we sang, we danced, we rocked out. This show was the mood boost that only a good rock show can provide.
It was especially fun because I’ve been listening a lot to Wishy’s new album, Nature’s Pill. It’s been perfect for me lately – the bright, clean and fun guitar-heavy music I want to blast through headphones when leaving the office during these increasingly dark fall evenings. The catchy riffs and punchy drum fills I want jogging through Prospect Park. The crispy crunchy guitars that echo fallen leaves (lol). The fairly unserious but fun and singable lyrics that remind me of pop punk shows in high school. Etc. Etc.
I knew these songs would be fun live. They’re simply irresistible – the whole crowd was so obviously elated to bop to them. And Wishy knows what they are doing. They had three guitarists in the band, and they were tight. Also, not to be so shallow, but they looked exactly how I expected in the best way. Like, boppy, neo pop-punk has to come from a sort of nerdy looking group of misfits. That’s how you know it’s legit (see prior post explaining same re Modern Baseball, gods of the emo revival). And I love Brooklyn and LA but the best bands of this ilk grow out of smaller, more homegrown markets (e.g., midwestern suburbs, NJ, Philly, the Sac, San Bernardino).
Highlights: Lovesick (go on, get in your car and drive / killin’ time / cut the shit / baby, you’re on fire) (why do lyrics about getting in your car and driving always go so hard?), the guitars on Shift, Sensational (take me back to the early aughts my god), the Covergirl riff, Mona Lisa.
JP guest comment (!): Woah, very excited to guest comment. Wishy was exactly what we both needed on this fall evening! I will add to the highlights the rugby style shirt rocked by Kevin Krauter. And lovesick is SO good to head bang lightly to (Cut the pink out of your hair, For your grandma’s funeral, don’t stare, Go on, get in your car and drive). Too good.
