Originating in 2015 as a group of friends at The George Washington University, The Crystal Casino Band, originally named The Colonies, began their sonic journey with heavy influences by the likes of The Strokes and The Black Keys. Over the course of their college years, and a few lineup changes, the band’s sound transformed to combine their initial influences with the vibes of early 2010s-era indie that littered Tumblr dashboards and increasingly introspective and socially-conscious lyrics. With this turn to introspection and social awareness, the independent quartet grew uncomfortable with their original name’s imperialist connotations and changed it to their current one in 2020. Atwood Magazine has hailed: “The Crystal Casino Band make effervescent, beat and guitar-driven indie rock akin to contemporaries like Young the Giant, Hippo Campus, The Happy Fits, Wallows, and so on,” adding their 2021 album “hits hard and fast, leaving listeners inspired, invigorated, and stunned all at once.” Additionally, Earmilk has said, “The quartet draw from highly political topics with a style that’s reminiscent of The Strokes, yet infused with an easy-going, DIY artistry that makes the sound completely their own.”