Both together and separately, acoustic musicians Fox and the Dragon – comprising singer-songwriters Danielle Staples-Magario (sometimes known as Dani Red) and Dave Magario – have been fixtures of the Worcester music scene, performing at venues such as Ralph's Rock Diner, Spiritual Haze, Acoustic Java, TT the Bears in Boston and more, including stints touring and hosting open mics.
Telegram & Gazette Entertainment Editor Victor D. Infante, who has written about the pair numerous times, has described Dave as a stellar singer-songwriter with delicate guitarwork and warm, nuanced vocals, and Danielle as “an exceedingly talented musician, with a gorgeous, emotive voice.” Writing about one of the pair's first recordings, a cover of Glen Hansard's “When Your Mind's Made Up,” he said, “their combined talent makes for some really lovely harmonies. We'd attribute the musical chemistry to the fact that they're engaged to be married, but we know from experience that doesn't always help. No, love is grand and all, but these two ride on talent.”
Dave and Danielle met while Dave was on stage at the Java Hut in 2005. He was playing a solo set when she heard him sing for the first time. She had been suffering writer's block for three months until that point. A mutual friend, Dan Bouley, introduced the two after he saw Danielle gushing over Dave. She still has the Java Hut calendar with the scribbles of poetry that washed over her from hearing him.
Danielle finally convinced Dave to write a song with her in 2013. That led to magic and inevitably, Fox and the Dragon. The pair were married in August 2015. Danielle has always been more of the singer-songwriter type, with a focus on vocal melodies and lyrics with strictly rhythm guitar. Dave was always more experimental with his songwriting, telling stories lyrically and playing with alternate tunings on the guitar with strong leads and finger picking. Together, they bring out the raw emotion of their abilities in songwriting: Words combined with reliable rhythm, creative finger-picking, and elements of piano allowing for a haunting combination of sounds.
After a long, post-wedding hiatus, the pair have exploded back onto the music scene, beginning with a performance April 30 at the WorcShop granD opening party, and the release of the duo's first EP, “”Forged in Desire.” They plan on continuing to write for a full length production as well as build a repertoire of cover songs that will be played at shows and events.
Bio: Victor Infante, Telegram & Gazette
Photographer: Jessica Gonyea