Distracted

BY: ALLIE RUSSELL

Opening for The Wrecks last night at Boston’s Royale, Quarters of Change made it clear they’re here to stay. The New York City group delivered a high-energy set that captured the room from the second they stepped on stage and never let go. 

Kicking things off with “Tightrope”, the band immediately set the tone: heavy, loud, and simply just a good time. Their live sound is grittier, bigger, and more expansive than their recordings, like they turned everything up. The energy was palpable, and the crowd matched it, especially on “Do or Die”, a clear crowd favorite. 

By the fourth track, a song titled “Ms. Dramatic”, frontman Ben Roter’s vocals had fully settled into their zone – sharp, raw, and driven. It was one of the set’s most memorable moments, a song that truly hit from every angle, powered by instrumentalists Ben Acker and Jasper Harris. 

Things slowed only slightly with “Kiwi”, a brooding, heavier track that finished with an impressive guitar solo. Drummer Attila Anrather gave it weight, pushing the tempo without rushing, letting the tension simmer. “Heaven Bound” followed and felt almost cinematic. By the end, the crowd was so energized that it felt as if they were the headliners for the night. 

By the time the band hit “T Love”, they were operating as a single unit. Every piece was locked in, like they could play this song with their eyes closed. A soaring guitar solo at the end sealed it. Then came the closer, “Rift”, an all-out, strobe-drenched finale that channeled everything they had built until that moment. It was the perfect send-off, setting the stage for The Wrecks and leaving a crowd that could have listened to them all night. 

With a setlist as sonically versatile as it was, Quarters of Change proved that they’re more than capable of commanding the stage on their own. If they weren’t on your radar already, they should be now, so that you can say you knew them before they were huge.