Quarters of Change Celebrate Portraits Album With Two Sold Out Shows In D.C. 

Venue: The Atlantis
Washington, DC

Night One of Two Sold-Out Nights

What’s up, everyone? Derek here, a.k.a. The Photographic Ginger and I’m back again with another incredible night of music in our nation’s capital. 

Quarters of Change

On tour celebrating their latest album “Portraits”, New York City’s hottest most up-and-coming rock band Quarters of Change, recently made their way to D.C. for not one, but TWO sold-out nights at The Atlantis. Since releasing their debut album ‘Into the Rift’ in 2022, they quickly found a growing fan base through social media as songs such as “Kiwi” became a hit and put them in front of their now passionately loyal fans. 

As I arrived at the venue it was clear the love the crowd had for the band as just minutes after the doors were opened the venue was filled with people decked out in Quarters of Change merch and ready to experience their live set. Everyone I had spoken to was telling me how amazing the band was live, as many people experienced their set in D.C. just last year at Union Stage and the live set is what truly locks you in as a fan. 

To kick off their set, they opened with the first song off their latest album as the guitar riffs and beat of the drums within “What I Wanted” transcended us into a true state of euphoria. While the lights were low, the feeling of community pulsated throughout the venue with every beat as everyone showed their connection to the sound. 

Following that amazing start to an evening, they then transitioned into “Tightrope” as the crowd jumped around, followed by “Blue Copper” which brought with it a touch of classic rock vibes.

As the evening continued we were graced with more and more of the latest album as songs like “Hollywood Baby” slowed the tempo slightly but also highlighted the individual skills of each of the band members with vocals, guitar, bass, and drums all shining bright in their own spotlight. 

Perhaps the two biggest hits and fan favorites, certainly favorites of mine, fell in the middle of the set with “Kiwi” taking us on the journey it has the power to do so elegantly. Then was “Heaven Bound” which is certain to be a chart climber in the coming months as it has a sound and hook that makes its bed in your head and just repeats itself throughout the day. 

As the evening came to a close the crowd chanted “We want more”, prompting a two-song encore that featured the popular “T Love” and a quick poll of the audience to determine the second and final encore song which came in the form of “Rift”.

Marking a wonderful way to close a set that celebrated their latest album with a nod to their first. 

If you want to learn a little more about just who Quarters of Change are and get a behind-the-scenes look at their latest album check out their “Portraits of a New York City Rock Band” Documentary on YouTube and be sure to look out for dates in which they’ll be in your city. 

The Crystal Casino Band 

Getting the energy up and the crowd moving on this evening were local favorites The Crystal Casino Band, formally known as the Colonies.

They’ve been rocking the D.C. scene since they formed in 2015 while all attended George Washington University.

Taking us back to the earlier days, their set began with “Bound to Be Something Good” which blends alternative rock with lead guitars and a catchy chorus.

As their set continued we transitioned into their latest album  ‘Maryland House’ with “Boys & Girl”. 

It was also an evening in which we got treated to two brand new songs with “Middle” and “Far Away”  which are now available on Bandcamp and your favorite streaming services.

They truly are a band that had the whole room rocking out, bouncing around and singing along.

Theo Kandel

Occasionally, you get to a show early and are blown away by the opening act. This was exactly my experience with Theo Kandel as he stood alone on the stage with nothing but his guitar and a microphone. It’s a vulnerable setting but with the songwriting and vocal stylings of Kandel, it just works in the most magical way.

You immediately notice the shift in the room as everyone focuses their attention on what they’re hearing as they know it’s demanding their attention. One of those songs is “Me & All My Friends Have Got the Blues” as it presents a narrative of moments of sorrow and sadness throughout life, such as the passing of an older dog. 

His sound immediately evokes a calmness while his ability to tell the story of everyday moments and thoughts so relatable is the magic sauce that will surely make him someone we’re hearing from for years. Make sure to check out all of his music, especially his latest single “Lunch”. 

If you happened to capture any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see.

See the full gallery of the night here!