Tubey Frank has been described as “bedroom pop” “expansive folk” and “psychedelic garage rock”. The project’s writer and primary performer Josh Kirwin has been compared to Brit Daniel, Damon Alburn, Bob Dylan, Nick Hakim, and Elliott Smith. In his years of letting music influence his life, he has particularly drawn from musical heroes Syd Barrett, Cibo Matto, Nick Drake, St. Vincent, The Soulquarians, Tom Waits, DJ Shadow, and Harry Nilsson.
Since a child, Kirwin was in the home studio, recording Christmas tapes with his family on a 4-track tape recorder, and grew up in the house of a musician, no stranger to bar gigs and festival backstages. By age 8, he was writing counter melody arrangements in his head, with no knowledge of music theory. By age 12, songs were being written on an old Hondo electric guitar. Finishing out his teen years as bassist of many punk/rock/psychedelia/pop outfits in the Lancaster, PA area, Kirwin had explored and embodied the power and joy of electric music.
Rounding into twenties, Kirwin hustled as a touring musician, while also experimenting in theatre and schooling, until a near-death-experience. Sustaining many upper-body injuries, told he may never play an instrument again, Kirwin healed in record time with lots of help and determination. Once back on the road touring colleges, work in music was the light at the end of the tunnel that kept him alive. “The art of music has given me much to live for.”
