Local band Top Shelf unites to support animal advocacy

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A band made up of members from across the country, brought together in Hart County, is bonding over more than just music.

Before they take the stage at La Gala for Rockin’ the Blues for Rescues on Saturday night, benefitting the Bowling Green Warren County Humane Society, here’s the story of Top Shelf:

“We met through animal advocacy. We’re all dog rescue people, and we met in May of 2020. Talon Caughman is from Oklahoma, Bruce, our drummer, is from the Dawson Springs area originally, and Penny and I are from Michigan, but we met here in Hart County because of our love for dogs and animal advocacy, and Top Shelf was born,” lead singer and keyboardist Steve Thompson says.

The four members were brought together via one thing: animals. Caughman met Bruce at a bar, Steve and Penny came from up north, and together, they decided to give back to the community.

“We’re subsidized by corporations and benefactors. In fact, we’re a full-time touring and recording act because of these people, so they make it possible for us to do this full time,  and in return, they share our vision and our empathy for animals and for kids (we also do a lot with kids and dogs). So we’re able to donate 100% of the net ticket proceeds back to these organizations,” Thompson says.

They’ll be performing at La Gala starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, but as it turns out, this is just the beginning for an idea the band had to give back.

“It’s not about fame and fortune for us, it’s about engaging new audiences, sharing our love for our music and for animals,  and at the same time, next year in 2026, we’ll be touring the entire United States doing this. This is really the beta test for this upcoming national tour,” Thompson says.

For their guitarist, he’s been around dogs his whole life, and he’s happy to find a group that’s not just about performing.

“I’m just glad to be a part of a band that’s not just about, ‘hey, we’re going out and playing our music and hopefully people like it,’ and we get to actually give back to the community. We get to benefit animals and to engage in this. Steve likes to call it philanthropic rock, philanthropy mixed with music, and it’s just the whole package for me. That’s really the main reason why I love this band so much, because we get to do my thing. I get to play my little cool guitar licks, but we also get to actually make a difference out there,” Caughman says.

Again, you can catch the band Saturday as part of Rockin’ the Blues for Rescues, benefitting the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society.