21 April 27–MAy 3, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Catch That Tiger Denton honors Josh “Tigerhead Guy” Musgrove, a gifted pianist who puts on a giant tiger mask to deliver smiles on the square. BY DANNY GALLAGHER P retty much every place on Den- ton’s Courthouse Square has music emanating from it at all hours of the day, whether it’s the ’80s mixtape from Free Play Ar- cade or bands playing at Dan’s Silverleaf or The Dive. The sound of carefully compiled notes doesn’t stop once you hit the door. The Denton streets are full of musicians playing on the side- walk, but one of them is there just because he enjoys making people happy with a keyboard and a giant, furry tiger mask. “It makes people happy,” Musgrove says. “That’s all.” Josh “Tigerhead Guy” Musgrove has become as familiar a fixture on the Square as Recycled Books and the courthouse. Pretty much every week, you can catch Musgrove wearing his giant tiger head while playing his favorite classical piano ballads or freestyling with new sounds. Musgrove celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, April 8, and the city of Denton surprised him with a special proclamation delivered by Mayor Gerard Hudspeth de- claring the date “Josh ‘Tigerhead Guy’ Musgrove Day,” according to city records. “Josh ‘Tigerhead Guy’ Musgrove, a dedi- cated musician and beloved member of our community, has performed live music for countless hours nearly every day for the past seven years; and through his exceptional musical talent and unwavering commit- ment, Josh embodies the heart of our city, fostering an eclectic, artsy and welcoming atmosphere,” the proclamation reads. Musgrove says he started his unique mu- sical hobby because he enjoyed cosplaying as animals. He taught himself to play piano and says it just made sense to combine the two for a live concert. He’s been going back on Fridays and Saturdays ever since. Jeremy Sons, who appeared on the Square as Denton’s Spider-Man, a hobby he says he picked up during the COVID lockdown, first spotted Musgrove on his bicycle while leav- ing a grocery store. He says he later learned of his musical abilities and decided to join him on occasion as the web-slinger. “I’m like, this guy gets it,” Sons says. “I re- member saying that exact thing. I don’t know what this guy’s story is but he’s out here with a keyboard and a tiger head. He’s gotta be cool.” The relationship Denton has with Tiger- head Guy goes both ways. Musgrove is out there playing music in a giant tiger head cos- tume just to make people smile, and the people whose lives he’s touched have returned the fa- vor when he needs help in the form of mone- tary donations or rides to and from the Square. Members of the Denton Downtowners Face- book page ask others if they know where to find Musgrove so they can return the tip money he accidentally left in the car. They’ll even help raise money to buy him new musical equipment when it’s been damaged or stolen. Musgrove never asks for help. The city just responds and offers to help, Sons says. “The community said, ‘You’re ours now and we’re gonna treat you just like you’re family,’” Sons says. “There’s no trying to take advantage of him. A lot of times in life in general, someone tries to take money off of him or take advantage of him, but there’s so many people looking out for him that that couldn’t happen even if they wanted to.” Musgrove has made it his purpose in life just to bring people a smile with his talent and humor, and Sons says the city is more than happy to try and do the same for him. “He’s really a great musician,” Sons says. “Just to see him on the side of the road or on the sidewalk with the crazy head on playing the keyboard, it just makes you smile. Courtesy of Jeremy Sons Josh “Tigerhead Guy” Musgrove, left, and Denton’s Spider-Man, Jeremy Sons, celebrate Musgrove’s official proclaimation last Thursday on Denton’s Courthouse Square. | B-SIDES | t Music since 1978! New Location! 609 N Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201 ENTER TO WIN TICKETS
