Community Corner

Who Are RDGLDGRN And Why Are They Playing At Sunset Hills Montessori?

Up-and-coming hip-hip act hails from Reston - and is giving back to help a local woman.

It's been a big year for the Reston-based band RDGLDGRN (pronounced Red-Gold-Green).

The trio played the South By Southwest Festival, toured on the Vans tour this summer and appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The band's first full album - on which Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl plays drums - will be released Sept. 3.

So why are they playing in the multipurpose space at Sunset Hills Montessori School on Saturday?

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Two of RDGLDGRN's members - Red (Marcus Parham) and Gold (Andrei Busuioceanu)  - used to work at the Reston school. SHMS admissions director Garrett Wilhelm says the men worked in the after-school program, where the kids "loved them."

"They were amazing with the kids," says Wilhelm.

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So when Wilhelm called to ask if they would play at a fundraiser for another school employee who just underwent her second liver transplant, they obliged.

Saturday's performance, which will also feature Reston-based band Blue Fiveone, is a benefit for Saraya Cheney, the school's 26-year-old office manager and former art teacher. Cheney suffers from a rare liver disorder. She had her first transplant a few months ago, had complications, and then had her second transplant three weeks ago. 

Wilhelm said he hopes to raise $10,000 to help Cheney pay for medical bills not covered by insurance.

Wilhelm says he is excited to see the Restonians in RDGLDGRN move on to the national stage. Red (guitarist) and Gold (bassist), both South Lakes High graduates, worked at the school until 2011. They were asking for a lot of time off to play music, said Wilhelm.  

"I told them they were going to have to choose school or music," said Wilhelm. "They chose music. About a year later, I see a Facebook message from them saying they are recording with Dave Grohl."

The recording with Grohl, also a Northern Virginia native, came about after RDGLDGRN was at Sound City studio in Van Nuys, Calif. At the same time, Grohl was making a movie about Sound City.

Grohl agreed to sit in on one song, but that ended up being the whole album.

Want to catch RDGLDGRN in concert in Reston Saturday? Tickets are $35 and proceeds will go to help Sunset Hills Montessori School office manager Saraya Cheney. Contact Garrett Wilhelm at gwilhelm311@gmail.com to get on the will call list.

Check out RDGLDGRN's video "A Million Fans" in the YouTube clip above. Bonus points if you recognize Reston locations.


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