* En anglais uniquement
Named after a joint-rolling technique, the British band
Toploader evokes the hazy, feel-good vibe of the '70s with their keyboard-driven white soul anthems. Keyboardist and vocalist
Joseph Washbourne, guitarist Dan Hipgrave, bassist
Matt Knight, and drummer
Rob Green were friends who, while hanging out night after night in their local pub, decided to form a band. In 1997, after the addition of second guitarist
Julian Deane to the lineup,
Toploader was born; the following year, the band was signed to Sony's U.K. division. In 1999, with a style reminiscent of
the Faces,
the Rolling Stones,
Stevie Wonder, and
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road-era
Elton John,
Toploader found themselves supporting former
Jam frontman
Paul Weller on his European tour. In May of that same year, the driving single "Achilles Heel" was released to favorable responses, and
Toploader secured spots performing at both the Glastonbury and Reading festivals. Late 1999 saw the release of the second single, "Let the People Know," a joyous, dance-heavy tune which garnered the band comparisons to
Jamiroquai. In February 2000, the band would release their most successful single yet, the
George Drakoulias-produced "Dancing in the Moonlight," which would remain on the British charts well into 2001. In May 2000,
Toploader's first full-length album, Onka's Big Monka, debuted at number five on the British charts and shortly thereafter, the band appeared on the popular television show Top of the Pops alongside
Oasis and the
Charlatans UK. Their fourth single, "Just Hold On," was released in August 2000. ~ Brandon Gentry