Quarters @ 9:30 Club

WMUC Promotions

Apr 24, 2026 • 4 min read

Photographer: Jonathan Herrera | Artist: Quarters

Author: Karoline Broerman

On April 16th, 2026, the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. was lit up by New York-based band, Quarters. The band, featuring Ben Roter, Jasper Harris, and Attila Anrather, was recently renamed from Quarters of Change just a few months ago. This name change came before their North American tour announcement and the release of their album, I HOPE THIS ISN'T THE END OF THE WORLD. Along with the name change, the band had also announced their transition into a 3-piece lineup and their motivation to dive into a more rock-driven sound with their music. After hearing these announcements, I was excited to see what the band had planned for their upcoming tour, and by the end of the night, I was impressed by what they had put together.

It was clear from the start that not everybody in the venue was there just for Quarters. The night started off strong with openers Trophy Wife and Malice K. Trophy Wife is an indie-rock band based in Brooklyn, New York, and from the very first song they performed, I was really impressed by their sound and intense energy. With Christian Pace on bass, Michael Martelli on drums, and Mena Lemos on guitar, the band received an uproar of applause and cheers from the audience after each song. With her whiny yet sultry voice, the lead singer, McKenzie Iazzetta, hit panging notes that turned into emotional cries as she fell to the floor during the final song of the night. The band’s grunginess, stage presence, and powerful vocals made their set one that I’d love to see again if given the opportunity.

Next up was Malice K, another New York-based project pioneered by Alex Konshuch. His performance kept the energy in the room alive and had the crowd focused on the stage throughout his set. Konschuch’s overall energy was grungy, emotional, and down-to-earth. His stage presence was reminiscent of many punk-rock artists, with jerky movements and an eccentric style that kept me engaged throughout the performance.

Following Malice K, the lights finally dimmed, and the audience watched intently as Quarters took the stage and launched into their first song, “EZ.” This song was a slow, intimate start to the show that featured an impressive guitar solo from Jasper Harris. The lyrics, “so nice to meet you,” felt like a personal hello from the band as the first song of the night. The energy of the show quickly picked up after the first song, with Ben and the rest of the band moving across the floor and leaning toward the audience from the edge of the stage.

One of the next songs on the setlist, “Rift,” was a favorite of mine because I feel like it shows what Quarters is capable of when it comes to heavier music. While Ben’s voice is very smooth, when paired with the heavy guitar, it gives the song a certain edge that’s unique to Quarters’ sound. The setlist was a perfect mix of both new and old songs, each one blending in with one another and mixing rock-driven melodies with tender vocals. As the opening chords of “Kiwi” began to play, I knew it would be my absolute favorite song of the night. Despite having a bit of a personal connection to this song, I think it’s one of Quarters’ most impactful pieces. The fan favorite is nostalgic and emotional with a harmonically rich sound, making it memorable and catchy.

Quarters surprised me toward the end of the night by playing a lesser-known song off their Into The Rift album, “Jaded.” This song is emotional, heavy, loud, and dramatic. I love its slow beginning and striking chorus. Roter’s stage presence and energy during this song made it even more memorable as he bounced around the stage between singing.

Finally, Quarters stepped off stage to leave the crowd chanting for “T Love,” one of their most popular songs off Into The Rift. This song was a perfect ending to the night, as a fan favorite and the band’s most played song behind “Kiwi,” it gave the crowd a taste of the familiar and a fond memory to look back on.

I was introduced to Quarters back in high school by a close friend of mine, and 4 years later, I feel incredibly lucky that I was given the opportunity to review one of their shows. Thank you so much to Quarters for an unforgettable night!

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