The Crystal Casino Band separate themselves from the rest by providing a unique take on DIY culture, combining the style of The Strokes with the easy-going energy of surf-rock but with the bravado of The Killers. Their music, while both relatable and insanely catchy, is simultaneously raw and uncut– adding a layer of authenticity and grounding the band firmly in their D.C. roots.

Formed in 2015, the band then known as The Colonies first met and began playing together in the basement of their freshman dorm at George Washington University. Lacking proper recording space and resources from the university, founding members Pete Stevens (guitar and vocals) and Joey Mamlin (drums) did what they could to record, often tracking only one instrument at a time with a rudimentary knowledge of Pro Tools. Eventually they caught the eye of Searcher Records, GWU’s brand-new student-run record label, and began performing shows with bassist Jordan Mullaney and guitarist Dylan Trupiano to punch out the live element and add texture to their sound. The Colonies would record two more records (One of a Kind and Bound to be Something Good) and perform 25 more shows in the D.C. area before Mullaney and Trupiano parted ways with the band in 2019. Jarrod Hendricks joined soon thereafter to fill the rhythm guitar vacancy, adding his own flair and becoming the de-facto authority on the band’s brand aesthetic.

In June of 2020, inspired by protests following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others at the hands of police, the band changed their name to The Crystal Casino Band. A statement by the band reads, “We have come to the decision to change our band name. The protests over the last few weeks have caused us to reexamine some things, namely the implications The Colonies has within the context of the history of race in this country, as well as the marred history of imperialism in general. To be honest, we never liked The Colonies. We picked the name as college freshmen in 2015 as it was meant to be a placeholder, a tongue-in-cheek reference to ‘The Colonials,’ a nod to the sports teams at GWU. However, it’s time to move on. We can– and will– do better, BE better.”

The Crystal Casino Band are now Stevens, Mamlin, Hendricks, and Mullaney, who returned in the fall of 2020 to play bass again full-time. They have shared a stage with powerhouse performers including St. Lucia, SHAED and Judah and The Lion, quickly becoming one of D.C.’s go-to local bands. Known for their high energy shows and easy-listening music, TCCB continuously write, record, and perform new music, each release better than the last. And they have no intention of slowing down.