Wishy, with Youbet, give First Unitarian Church a loud, riff-heavy fall night

Nature’s pill can be a wonderful drug, especially in the form of live music. Indianapolis-based power-poppers Wishy delivered an energetic set at the First Unitarian Church on Oct. 15, with support from Brooklyn rock trio Youbet. Fresh off the release of their Winspear-backed sophomore album Nature’s Pill this month, the band performed a set that spanned their relatively short career so far, and closed with a handful of tracks off the new album. 

For once, the Church basement was not a brutally humid mess, likely thanks to the crisp fall evening outside, as well as the somewhat underrated status of the headliners. Debuting in 2023 under the name Mana (quickly changed due to confusion with Maná), the band is fronted by Kevin Krauter and Nina Pitchkites, who both contribute vocals, guitar, and songwriting. They found early success with the sugary pop song “Spinning” in late 2023, and continued to develop their 2000s radio rock influenced sound with their debut album Triple Seven the following year. 

Youbet began promptly at 8 p.m., sounding loud and full as a three-piece group. Vocalist Nick Llobet sang with a tone similar to a basement show Lucinda Williams, with more edginess. Their songs tended to start out steadily, and eventually rupture into a harder moment with heavy guitar and drums. It came across as raw and a little abstract, yet enjoyable nonetheless. 

More and more bodies filed in as Wishy set up on the intimately short and unseparated Church stage. They began with “Planet Popstar,” the only track they would perform off their 2025 EP of the same name. On their Triple Seven tour, this also served as their opener, transporting the audience into their world. The callbacks continued with “Persuasion,” “Love on the Outside,” “Spinning,” and “Sick Sweet” before Wishy broke out the new album cuts. 

“I woke up sick as a dog,” Krauter unfortunately explained to the crowd, apologizing in case any “weird sounds” came through his mic. His shirt—which read “like I gave a shit”—encapsulated his attitude, as he proceeded to sing and shred his ass off. In between songs, the group gave a shoutout to guitarist and Florry affiliate Sam Fenner, who was filling in for core member Dimitri Morris, and had apparently learned all the songs in a week. With two or three guitars on each song, it was made clear that catchy riffs are a cornerstone of Wishy’s music. 

The rest of the night was devoted to Nature’s Pill, besides the surprising inclusion of “Happy Days,” an under appreciated track from their debut EP. Some highlights were Fenner’s phase-y guitar work on the nostalgic “Mona Lisa,” the moody, spoken-word verses of “Freak 99,” and Pitchkites guitar solo on the instantly-anthemic “All The Rage.” It’s kinda awesome that two of her solo tracks—”Spinning” and “Covergirl”—were possibly the lightest and heaviest moments of the set, respectively. After the danceable single “Sensational,” the band engaged in a comedically half-assed encore without even leaving the stage, and finished the night with the Triple Seven closer “Spit.” Between this song and “Planet Popstar,” Wishy may never need to make new bookends for their live shows, as both tracks are perfect at what they do. 

Wishy will be on tour in the U.S. through mid-December, with support from Dead Sullivan, The Umbrellas, or Touch Girl Apple Blossom depending on the show. Nature’s Pill is out now via Winspear, with physical copies available on tour and through the band’s website.