Founded in the rainy winter of 2002 by singer Carter Lane and drummer Drew Nicoll, Top Shelf truly represented the college town antics of Chico Ca. where the band originated. From frat parties to Pepper concerts, for three years the band steadily toured the Chico street scene. In the summer of 2004 Top Shelf released a self titled EP and with its success rose to be one of Chico’s most popular punk/rock/reggae bands.

“With Nor Cal-influenced ideas about having a great laid-back time, Top Shelf pulled a mingling crowd from outside and the bar to the floor. The band proved themselves to be quite versatile, switching back and fourth between punk and reggae. Top Shelf has a unique style, reminiscent of Sublime and Pennywise. They left the stage with fans wanting more, literally, since they were the only band from which the audience loudly and insistently demanded and encore!” – The Synthesis 2004

Carter and Drew decided to build on their momentum and take the band to the next level by touring. Top Shelf relocated to their beautiful valley of a hometown in Ukiah, Ca. in search of new influences and the comfort of huge hometown support. Along with the move and a more mellow, refined style came a new bass player, Ukiah’s own Chad Goodin. Chad has played bass since the age of 12 in various punk bands and was an instant fit with Drew’s drums and Carter’s heartfelt vocals. The three wrote, rehearsed and toured California steadily with various lead guitarists while building their sound and fan base, but it wasn’t until 2007 that Sean Erickson came along.
Playing concerts since the age of 5 and touring with his band Freedom at age 12 gave Sean the experience Top Shelf was looking for. Himself a lover of funk music, Sean’s exceptional guitar skills and solid music theory aided Top Shelf into their tight sophisticated groove of rock reggae. The four naturally began collaborating and steadily touring, and watched as their fan following swelled from the Northern California Bay Area to sunny San Diego.
Last year the four called on Prairie Sun Studios along with recording engineer Gene Cornelius (Groundation, Rebelution) and acclaimed Mixing engineer, Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Primus, Bob Marley) to work with them in recording their first full-length album Time To Wake. The release was a personal and professional success (www.thepier.org/cd-reviews/Topshelf.html) and cemented the band as one of Nor-Cal’s most respected artists in the rock reggae scene.
Today Top Shelf’s style features a mature blend of modern rock fed by their Northern California roots to create a rock reggae sound unique to any other. Their lyrics are a positive and motivational alternative to the somber tone of much mainstream media, and offer gleaned knowledge from personal hardships the four have faced. Many fans are impressed by the catchy grooves and powerful energy the guys emit onstage.
Time To Wake album sales continue to grow, as do tour dates in which Top Shelf has supported some of the most prestigious artists today including: Pepper, Pato Banton, Julian Marley, Rebelution, One Block Radius and Mystic Roots. A spring tour in Hawaii and an always fun festival line-up in the summer illustrates the progressive steps the band continues to make throughout the world of rock reggae.
“Top Shelf is the premier rock reggae group of Northern California. With 6 years experience as a band and a freshly dropped full-length album, they are exploding all over the California music scene. From SF to SD you’ll find nothing but heart-felt music and positive vibrations from Top Shelf.” – Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2008