By Charlie Maybee
This Alchemical Records article is read by the author to provide a multimedia experience for our audience while increasing the accessibility of our content to persons with hearing loss, low vision, dyslexia, physical or motor disabilities, or are on the autism spectrum.
The D.C. group RDGLDGRN is finally returning to live performances with a show at Baltimore Soundstage on Friday, September 24 after a hard year of shows being sidelined due to the ongoing pandemic. With their eclectic mix of hip-hop, rock, and go-go music, this will be a show that brings the roots of D.C.’s music to the forefront and should not be missed.
Commenting on their unique sound and influences, the band notes, “Our roots come from all over the world and before we even met in Reston, Virginia, we lived in all different parts of this country.”
Each member of the band was raised in a different version of the immigrant’s tale to find a better life on American soil. Pierre Desrosiers (aka King Green, vocals) is the son of Haitian immigrants from the 1970s. Andrei Busuioceanu Jr. (aka Gold, bass) arrived in America when he was 5 from Romania. Marcus Parham (aka Red, guitars) is an African-American raised as global citizen attending high school in Ghana with extensive time living overseas.
“We try to keep as many of our influences on display as often as possible. You can see the range from songs like ‘I Love Lamp,’ ‘Million Fans,’ ‘All I Got is Now,’ ‘Karnival,’ ‘Reckless,’ and ‘Tradition,’ to songs like ‘Wrote This Song,’ ‘Spider Man,’ and ‘Good Life.’ We go all over the place. It perfectly mirrors our personal life experiences, so we always love when people can relate to it,” RDGLDGRN added.
While the band and their sound have become world travelers, it’s fitting that their return to live shows would begin so close to home. Initially recognized by Virginia hometown heroes, Dave Grohl and Pharrell – both of whom contributed to the production of their eponymous debut album – RDGLDGRN has gone on to craft their own legacy of musical excellence, which is still unfolding.
Looking back at one of their most recent singles titled “Good Life” released last summer in collaboration with featured singer Vanela, there’s a lot to love about their contemporary blend of hip-hop and rock.
When asked what to expect from the show, the band replied simply, “This is going to be our first show since COVID-19, and we can’t wait to get back on stage and go nuts.”
It will, without a doubt, be a cathartic release for both the band and those in attendance, as live performances have slowly begun to make their way back into the spectrum of daily life.
Be sure to check out RDGLDGRN’s discography on all major streaming platforms before seeing them live on Friday at Baltimore Soundstage. Purchase tickets for the event here.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
Recent Articles Aria Velz is a director, TikToker, and Lesbian Media Enthusiast based in the D.C. area. On November 2nd, she sat down with me
More to Watch D.C. locals Dot Dash compile 16 of the band’s best tracks, and re-releases them with Country Mile Records. Terry Banks (lead vocalist
Queer duo Witch Weather discuss new album and the influence of the DMV on their sound.
Philadelphia-based queer punks Witch Weather have a message for anyone who feels hopeless and worthless: you are not alone. With an irresistible sound that draws from 80’s goth and lo-fi grunge, the indie duo wears their heart on their sleeve, giving voice to complex emotions that many would opt to suppress in the recesses of their minds.
Join Alchemical Records as they connect with Witch Weather to discuss the band’s new self-titled album, their search for a sense of belonging as members of the queer community, the important element that keeps the duo’s creative bond strong, and the influence of the DMV on their sound.
Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
