Aimee Pimentel 
Summer concerts are returning to Reston Town Center, and a local favorite is taking the stage. Reston’s own RDGLDGRN will return to their hometown for a special performance on June 27th. Made up of longtime Reston residents Pierre Desrosiers, Andrei Busuioceanu, and Marcus Parham, RDGLDGRN has performed for audiences around the world. The Fairfax Girl met with the band at, where else but the Reston Museum, to learn more about their music, their journey, and their connection to Reston. Read on for more information about RDGLDGRN and their upcoming hometown performance at Reston Town Center.
Behind the Music
RDGLDGRN, pronounced “Red Gold Green”, is a Reston-born trio that started as friends and slowly evolved into a band. The group consists of Pierre Desrosiers, known as Green; Andrei Busuioceanu, known as Gold; and Marcus Parham, known as Red, all of whom grew up in Reston. The members explained, “The three of us don’t have the same background.” Despite their differences, the three bonded through their shared love of music, which ultimately shaped them into the band now known as RDGLDGRN. In the summer of 2005, the three eventually connected and officially started working together. They spent countless hours recording music at a studio near the Reston Zoo.
Image courtesy of RDGLDGRN
Music has always been a huge part of who they are. When they first started, they focused on recording their music, as performing live hadn’t come to mind. However, they were constantly exploring different sounds and elements. Surrounded by “a mixed group of people,” the trio combined influences from rap, rock, reggae, and funk to create a sound that was uniquely their own.
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Today, the band is known as RDGLDGRN, but that wasn’t always the case. Before adopting their current name, the group performed as The Five One, while the members were known by their color nicknames: Red, Blue, Green, and Gold. “These were just our nicknames that turned into this identity. So that was just who we were,” the band shared with The Fairfax Girl. After Blue left, Red, Gold, and Green remained. The trio decided to use their nicknames for their new band. After removing the vowels, RDGLDGRN was born.
From Reston to the World
As the band’s popularity grew, RDGLDGRN began touring nationally and internationally, while building their loyal fan base. The trio went on to perform for audiences across Europe and Asia. In 2012, the band recorded at Sound City Studios, where fellow Northern Virginia native Dave Grohl played drums on their debut record. The following year, they appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and later opened for the Foo Fighters. Reflecting on those experiences, the trio shared that they have had “particular experiences as a band that just change everything for you,” moments that helped shape their journey and propel their career forward.
RDGLDGRN with Dave Grohl in 2012. Image courtesy of RDGLDGRN.
The band toured across America and the world from then onward. “We’ve been to 48 states,” they said. In 2020, the band announced its first U.S. headlining tour. We all know what happened next.
Eventually, the band got back on the road and back in the studio. The trio has remained closely connected to Northern Virginia, even as the years have passed. Returning to Reston Town Center marks a full-circle moment for the band. As young musicians, they had attended concerts at the same venue and always had the “intention and desire” to one day perform back in their hometown. “We always say we’re from Reston,” they said. “Everywhere we go.”
Why this Concert Matters
Reston’s diversity has influenced so much of who the band is today. All three members expressed how the community played a huge part in their success. Throughout the conversation, the trio spoke proudly about being Restonians. The band explained that growing up in Reston gave them the opportunity to “have space and create space to be yourself,” allowing them to experiment and try new things. Reflecting on the impact the community had on them, the trio said, “It couldn’t happen somewhere else.”
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When asked what kept them connected to Reston all these years, all three members responded with one word: “Family.” Growing up in Reston, Desrosiers, Busuioceanu, and Parham all watched famous artists perform at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. From Rihanna to Chuck Brown, these performances inspired the trio to dream of playing there someday. After years of performing across the country and around the world, the band will finally return home to perform at Reston Town Center, a venue they have admired since they were younger.
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With the concert taking place so close to home, many local friends, former classmates, and family members who never had the opportunity to see RDGLDGRN perform will finally get the chance. RDGLDGRN described the concert as a rare hometown opportunity and shared that they have always wanted to play at Reston Town Center, saying, “We want to play here.” The band is excited to return to Reston and take the stage in front of its hometown community.
In honor of the band’s homecoming show, the Reston Museum has added a special banner about the band’s Reston roots. The Fairfax Girl‘s interview with the band took place at the Reston Museum, and we were there for the band’s first time seeing it. “Wow, it’s really here,” they said. They pointed out other famous Restonians displayed, as if they were old friends. In many cases, they were – ‘he was on my swim team’ or ‘we rode the same bus’ were frequent refrains. RDGLDGRN will be at the Museum on June 20th from 10AM – 12PM for a meet and greet.
The concert will take place on June 27th at 7:30PM at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Guests can arrive early to enjoy Sip & Stroll beverages beginning at 6M before the two-hour performance.
Keep up with RDGLDGRN on their website and social media.
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