About Tubey Frank
Since a child, Kirwin was in the home studio, recording Christmas tapes with his family, and grew up in the house of a musician. By age 8, he was writing counter melody arrangements in his head, with no taught knowledge of music theory. By age 12, songs were being written on an old Hondo electric guitar.
Finishing out teen years as bassist of many punk/rock/psychedelia/pop outfits in central Pennsylvania, Kirwin 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 and told he may never play an instrument again, Kirwin surprisingly healed in record time with help and determination, and once back on the road, was convinced that continuing to 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…as it does with us all.”
31 released songs into the “Tubey Frank” project many folks have contributed. The first live inversion and contributors to three EPs(Lost in the Woods, Euphoraphobia, Twomoreaphobia,) included brother Andrew Kirwin on guitar, and multi-instrumentalist/producer Adam “Stehreo” Stehr on drums. Other members joined the rotating cast of live musicians - bassist/producer Erik Kramer and drummer Keaton Thandi of Uprooted, singer Melina Harris, trumpeter Paul Giess, drummer Adam Shumski and singer Katie Hackett of The Lunar Year, rhythm brothers Josh and Ben Parry(Catbite) keyboardist Matt McLeod, bassist Mark Nestman, guitarist Will Currier, woodwind player Gabe Preston, saxophonist Tina Armstead, percussionist Alex Vogelsong, and more recently, alternative band Le Ghast! has backed the act.
A major project that involved Tubey Frank over the year 2020 was The Mouth House Sessions - a project that Kirwin and Kramer produced at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. While given an opportunity to use the space during the pandemic lockdown, Kirwin put together two concert films for various artists, as part of his yearly fundraising event.
The project’s last release, Apple Pie Bible, made in conjunction with Spring Garden Records, includes many songs from the live set with The Parry Brothers, as well as a batch of new songs, which co-producer Dave Klymann described as “somehow, everything Tubey Frank does, and nothing Tubey Frank does, at the same time”.
The upcoming untitled release by TF is a scattered collection of infectious and unhinged pop songs, teetering the line of doom and bliss.
Keep it real - audiences who enjoy emotive, lyrical, songs are welcome to catch TF and listen anywhere music is streamed.
Album Credits:
Lost in the Woods (2017) :
Joshua Kirwin + Adam Stehr - Writers, many instruments, production
Andy Kirwin - guitar, bass
with:
Christopher Davis-Shannon - upright bass
Billy Cave - electric guitar
Shine Delphi - acoustic guitar
Keanu - BGV
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Jason Piperberg - cover art
Caroline Oddo - graphic design
EXCLUSIVELY FOUND ON BANDCAMP
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Euphoraphobia (2019):
Joshua Kirwin - Lead/writer, multi. instruments
Adam Stehr - production
Andy Kirwin - guitar
with:
Jason Mescia - saxophone
Keanu - vocals
-
Caroline Oddo - cover art
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Twomoreaphobia (2020):
Joshua Kirwin - Lead/writer, multi. instruments
Adam Stehr - production, drum kit, guitar
Andy Kirwin - guitar
-
Caroline Oddo - cover art
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Quarantine Sketches (2020):
Joshua Kirwin - Lead/writer/producer, all non-featured instruments
with:
Paul Giess - Trumpet - “Cutie Pie”
Melina Harris - vocals “Sad Boy Song”
Caroline Oddo - piano “Sad Boy Song”
Keaton Thandi - hand percussion, ”Meanwhile…the Beds are on Fire”
Frankie DeRosa - cello, bass clarinet, viola, violin, clarinet, ”Meanwhile…the Beds are on Fire”
Robbie Simmons - orchestral arrangement, ”Meanwhile…the Beds are on Fire”
Brian Walker - vocals - “Because You’re Blind”
Alexandra Leonhart -guest engineer - “Drown/Drought”
Joe Michelini - guest mix - “The House”
Adam Stehr - Mastering, guest engineer - “Million Miles Away”
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Elizabeth Bergeland - cover art
EXCLUSIVELY FOUND ON BANDCAMP
——
It Starts With a Sock (November 2022)
Produced by Erik Kramer, Adam Stehr & Josh Kirwin
Joshua Kirwin - Lead/writer, Guitars
Erik Kramer - Bass, Vocals
Adam Shumski - Drums, Percussion
Paul Giess - Trumpet
Melina Harris - vocals
Yasmine Roc - Vocals
Katie Hackett - vocals
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Engineered by Erik Kramer
Additional tracking by Joshua Kirwin, Adam Shumski & Paul Giess
Mixed & Mastered by Adam Stehr
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Art by Adam Stehr
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The Quiet Fire (December 2022)
Produced by Erik Kramer & Joshua Kirwin
Joshua Kirwin - Lead/writer, Guitars
Erik Kramer - Bass, Vocals
Adam Shumski - Drums, Percussion
Paul Giess - Trumpet
Melina Harris - vocals
Yasmine Roc - vocals
Katie Hackett - vocals
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Engineered by Erik Kramer
Additional tracking by Joshua Kirwin, Adam Shumski & Paul Giess
Mixed by Andy Cass
Mastered by Paul Giess
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Apple Pie Bible (2023)
Produced by David Klyman, Ben Parry, Joshua Kirwin and Paul Giessinger
Joshua Kirwin - Lead/writer, all unlisted instruments
Ben Parry - Bass on tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9
Josh Parry - Drum Kit on tracks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9
Will Currier - Pedal Steel Guitar
Caroline Oddo - “Some Beat Revival” Piano
Avery Devine - Electric Violin
Tina Armstead - “Waiting for the Chair” Saxophone
Cody Nelson - “Just One More Thing” Piano
Dave Klyman - Electric Baritone Guitar, Gong
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Engineered by Dave Klyman
Additional tracking by Joshua Kirwin
Mixed by Dave Klyman
Mastered by Paul Giessinger
Contact Tubey Frank
