About Us

Kate Karter plays several instruments, but with Off Topic, you can find her strumming the guitar, or being the girl on the keys. She was born and raised a Hoosier, but spent most of her music career as a Floridian. While down in Florida, Karter shared the stage regularly with Mr. Bobby Randall who was a founder of the Sawyer Brown Band, played with The Confederate Railroad, and hosted You Can Be a Star. She opened for numerous great artists; a couple of them being Grammy award nominee Linda Davis, and Craig Campbell. She was also actively in a band called “Arlyn Willett and The Once Blind Band” and did several shows with them. Kate Karter’s debut worldwide released single “Come Home” was recorded at Mainframe studios, by Nathan Smith, who is a Grammy award winner by his work with Dolly Parton. She has since released another single entitled “Party In The Sticks.” Since moving back to the cornfields, Karter has played with several local bands and helped revamp a historical theater. She is now excited and proud to call herself part of “The Off Topic Family.” 

Tom is a life long resident of South Bend, Indiana and has been part of the local music scene for over 35 years.

Tom studied under the late Eddie Knight for four years in the late 1980s. His musical experience also included working at the Woodwind and Brasswind, a now closed large local music retail/catalog store in South Bend from 1992 to 2006.

He has played drums for various original and cover bands over the years in the local area including groups such as Copper House, Randy and the Finks, 15 Stories, Happy Catastrophe (AKA Bob), and Who Pumped Ethyl to name a few.

Tom is also a current and founding member of the local original rock band Magic Hat who will be marking 10 years together in 2025.

With Off Topic, Tom brings the rock solid foundation to our sound with his many years of experience behind the drum kit which can be seen at each and every one of our shows. From pop, dance, funk, to classic and current rock, Tom lays down just the right feel and tempo to get you into the music. 

Jeff Noel was born in Southwest Michigan, but was raised primarily in western Colorado. He has been in bands since the age of 14 and has played many genres of music. In 2005, Jeff returned to Southwest Michigan and has been in several bands in the area. He has played 50s and 60s rock, modern country, and plenty of hard rock and pop music. In Off Topic, Jeff’s mission is to get everyone moving on the dance floor.

Chris and Jeff came together to form what would be come OFF TOPIC. Both seasoned musicians in their own retrospect, Chris comes from bands such as Milligan's Island, Guilt Trip, GenX, Gravel Road and Probable Cause.  He plays both Drums and Bass, but most will know him as one of the big local sound engineers, where he had worked with bands like PS Dump Your Boyfriend, Stillshot, Smash Kings, Blammo, Vinylized, Trapt, Nonpoint, Call me no one and more!   His passion has always been music and when you can't find him at a music venue, chances are he is at a High School Football Game, or at a local Race Track either in a car or working!