A versatile sideman, Topher plays mandolin, guitar, bass family instruments, plus some hand percussion. He plays many styles of music: folk, rock, blues, bluegrass, swing, jazz, Celtic, middle-eastern, and more.
The mandolin family members that Toph plays are: mandolin, mandola, 5-string resonator mandolin, and Irish tenor banjo. The guitar family members that Toph plays are guitar, resonator guitar, electric guitar. He flatpicks and fingerpicks. Toph plays upright bass, electric bass, and Ashbory bass.
Topher is presently in these bands:
- The OpporTunists -- Toph plays Ashbory bass, mandolin, mandola, 5-string resonator mandolin, percussion, guitar, and Irish tenor banjo in this
eclectic contradance trio.
- Uke Be A Lady -- Toph sings and plays bass in this uke-and-fiddle-driven swing/blues trio. A CD is in the early planning stages.
- Janet Lenore Band / It's All About Me -- Toph sings and plays guitar, mandolin family, and percussion in this folk-rock/country/originals band.
A CD is in the early planning stages.
- Coyote Blue
-- Toph sings and plays mandolin, mandola, 5-string resonator mandolin, and resonator guitar in this swing/country
quartet.
- Briarwood -- Toph sings and plays string bass and mandolin in this eclectic bluegrassy band. Briarwood's debut CD was released in 2005.
- Twisted Pair
-- Toph sings and plays guitar in this fun duo which features swingy novelty numbers.
Topher has recently accompanied these artists
- Jayme Kelly Curtis
-- Toph frequently sings and plays guitar, mandolin, and mandola with this popular singer-songwriter.
- Rushad Eggleston -- Toph played guitar behind Rushad's 'cello pyrotechnics at RMFC 2007.
- Paul Anastasio -- Toph added mandolin to Paul's Western Swing set at RMFC 2007.
- Steve Scott -- Toph added percussion to 'cellist Steve's original tunes at RMFC 2007 and 2008.
- Bill Coulter -- Toph added dumbek to Bill's groove at RMFC 2007.
- Shona Le Mottee -- Toph played dumbek with Shona (also featuring Jeff Matheson on piano) at RMFC 2007.
- Nancy Cassidy -- Toph accompanies Nancy with guitar and mandolin in her folk/blues shows of original tunes,
as well as her kids' shows.
- Mary Ann Willis -- Toph backed Mary Ann up on guitar at RMFC 2007
- Sherry Austin -- Toph backed Sherry up on guitar and mandolins in Davenport, CA
- Mary Ann Coty -- Toph backed Mary Ann up on guitar and mandolins in Redding, CA
- Dave Field -- Toph helped out on mandolin at the 2006 Brookdale Bluegrass festival.
- Benita Kenn
-- Toph has accompanied this soulful singer/songwriter on mandolin and guitar
- Cowboy Bill Hague
-- Toph has accompanied Bill on electric guitar and mandolin
Topher also likes to jam:
- Irish tunes (mandolin, mandola, guitar)
- Classic Rock (electric guitar, bass & vocals)
- Blues (guitar, bass & vocals)
- Swing (guitar, mandolin, mandola, bass)
- Bluegrass (bass, mandolin, guitar)
Topher used to play in these bands:
- Ballistic Cats -- Toph played electric bass and sang a little bit in this rocking surf/blues/rockabilly group.
- Hub Cap Blues -- Toph sang and played guitar, mandolin, mandola, and bass in this blues-based acoustic trio.
- Dead Stop -- Toph played electric bass with this San Jose cover rock band
- Far Frummet -- Toph wrote tunes, sang and played electric guitar and bass with this band
- Famous Last Words (of Boston) -- This band evolved from Far Frummet, and released a 45
in the early 1980's. Toph wrote tunes, sang, and played electric guitar, bass, and percussion.
- The House Band (of Merrimack Valley) -- Toph sang and played mandolin and guitar in this
bluegrass/jazz band