STORY OF A STORYTELLER

Rarely is an entity comprised of a single element. Never is a lifetime a truly straight path. Although “singer-songwriter” has long been Danny Newcomb’s destination, he’s definitely had a hell of a musician’s journey getting here.

 In this moment, the release of “Mackerel Sky” is Danny’s musical departure. Stripped down and intricately crafted – the art of songwriting and uncluttered composition dominate the landscape of evocative musical storytelling. Refined power in a pure, unelectrified medium. Gentler in some ways, more powerful in others — in a word: different.

 Danny’s story starts with a cheap acoustic guitar — learning, honing skills, writing songs and building the backend of his live, electric guitar playing with great bands over the arc of his musical adventuring.

SHADOW
1981 – 1985; Mike McCready, Rick Friel, Chris Friel, Rob “Berko” Webber; Danny Newcomb

Picture if you will rowdy young teens aspiring to be KISS and TA-DA — you have Shadow! 80’s pure, messy rock&roll with some of the glam trappings of overly articulated guitars, hair and outfits – Shadow was the bratty younger brothers of a Seattle-area hard-rock core group of bands busting sh*t up towards making their marks in a backwater baby city not even on the music map yet. "What’s Shadow sound like? Well, they sound nothing like Pearl Jam. It’s 1980s glam metal — Think Twisted Sister & KISS and you’ll get the idea."

– Travis Hay/Guerrilla Candy

GOODNESS
1993 – 1999; Carrie Akre, Fiia McGann, Chris Friel, Garth Reeves, Danny Newcomb.

 In a time and place dominated by an exploding black hole music scene and a teutonic paradigm shift towards slow-boil angst — Goodness made their mark with insightful, high-energy, well-crafted alternative-to-the-alternative rock. Hard pop music breaking away from the embrace of the dark, dreary and heavy – successfully releasing albums and bringing live shows for their huge, and truly loyal, fanbase. “[Goodness] completely knocked me out with their well-crafted, highly rocking set… packing a wallop.”

– Dana/Imaginary Girls

 THE ROCKFORDS

1999, 2006 – Carrie Akre, Rick Friel, Chris Friel, Mike McCready, Danny Newcomb

Named for Danny and Mike’s favorite TV show, Danny brought his musical collaborators together to write, record and perform as time and space allowed. The Rockfords released an eponymous debut album in 2000; produced by John Goodmanson and featuring Nancy Wilson (of legendary hard rock band Heart) writing a song and contributing vocals. Fans enjoyed The Rockfords rock action again in 2003 with series of live shows and a live album. An EP follow-up, “Waiting…” was released in 2006. Often referred to as a side-project, The Rockfords demonstrated the hearts and talents of some of the PacNw’s most talented and genuine musicians.

 SUGARMAKERS

2015 – Currently on Hiatus; Studio Players: Rick Friel (Co-founder), Eric Eagle, Annie O’Neill, Danny Newcomb / Studio Contributors: Fiia McGann, Faith Stankevich, Jason Staczek, Ryan Burns, Robert Mitchell / Live Players: Tim Dejulio, Mike Musburger, Jeremy Lightfoot, Ryan Burns, Faith Stankevich

Coming back around to writing songs and now fronting a band, The Sugarmakers were born in 2015 with “Masterwish”, their debut release. Followed by 2017’s “All the Way and 2019’s “Steal the World” releases, the Sugarmakers packed a lot of action into their days, both recording and playing live consistently at many of the great PacNw venues and festivals. “There’s authentic goodwill knitted into the music Danny Newcomb releases. After more than three decades of writing and performing songs, releasing albums under different signatures and touring flashy cities and opening for big name acts such as Oasis and Pearl Jam, Newcomb embodies a lifelong rocker not chasing forgettable accolades. His new record, Steal the World, carries a fierce, but earned wherewithal and unsurprising arsenal of talent courtesy of Newcomb and his band, the Sugarmakers.”

– Ethan J. Barrons/Northwest Music Scene

Raising sheep and children on a legendarily weird island (Vashon, duh), close but not too close to a legendarily dynamic music community (Seattle, duh) — Danny’s in a literally and figuratively unique place for heading down this newest musical path. One that he’s not taking lightly. Between the everyday labors of lambs, children and rougher-edged rural living, his energy is singularly focused on introducing this facet of his musical self to folks to connect with.

“My message? That’s a weird question,” Danny says. “If there’s a message, it’s that if there’s something you need to do — you need to get going and do it.” Danny says, although anyone can tell — there’s more to it. When prodded, he’ll reluctantly and thoughtfully elaborate — “Before it’s too late.”