Band

Typically, a singer is excited to discuss the ins and outs of her band's debut album, especially a well-received, highly anticipated one like Secret Mountains' "Rainer. " But today, singer Kelly Laughlin announced she left the Baltimore sextet earlier this year, right before "Rainer" was released in late February. The 21-year-old Laughlin, who graduates from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a degree in printmaking next month, says there were many factors that led to her decision (including the possibility of enrolling in graduate school and the fact that two band members live in New York)

On Sunday, Towson's Recher Theatre will host its final concert, a charitable show titled "The Last Hurrah!" Fittingly, the venue will host more than 15 local bands for the all-day event. Bands scheduled to play include The Hint, American Diary, Thin Dark Line, Dropout Year, All Mighty Senators , Warren Boes/Andy Belt, Burning Rosewood, Shane from Valencia, Evan Michael, The Everlove/Adelphi, Hectic Red, Technicolor Minivan, Oh the Story, Brighter Shades, Rob Fahey & Pieces, Monday Night Social Club Band, Serena Miller & Riot, The Regal Begals and Ashes Remain.

Maryland's favorite kiddie rock band, Milkshake, is back. “Got a Minute?” is the Grammy-nominated band's fifth album, and it's chock-full of sing-along melodies that rock more than the average kids' tune. Founding members Lisa Mathews and Mikel Gehl worked with a crew of talented musicians -- including their own kids, Eric (Gehl's 11-year-old son) and Jesse (Mathews' 12-year-old daughter), recording more than 30 feel-good songs. With positive messages and a range of styles, from the pop-inspired “Girls Wanna Dance” to the countrified “Workin' Kid,” Milkshake will keep you and your kids rocking in the minivan.

Charles C. Freitag, the longtime director of the music program at Calvert Hall College High School where he was also a founder of its marching, concert and dance bands, died Monday of heart failure at Stella Maris Hospice. The Mays Chapel resident was 92. "Charlie was responsible for building the music program to an outstanding level during his time. He expanded the musical options and started the yearly spring concerts," said Calvert Hall Principal Louis E. Heidrick, who was a friend of Mr. Freitag's for more than 40 years.

My compliments to the organizers of the recent Baltimore St. Patrick's Day Parade ("Thousands line Baltimore Streets for St. Patrick," March 11). It was a great parade, but it was missing one key ingredient: the Ravens marching band - Baltimore's Marching Ravens - was nowhere to be seen! The band and its well-known predecessor, the Colts' Marching Band, has been a staple in this St. Patrick's Day parade for many years. Yet on a beautiful, sunny day, in the year when the Ravens actually won the Super Bowl and the band would have been resoundingly cheered, they were missing.

Alternative rock group Chevelle, Nashville country duo Florida-Georgia Line and Philadelphia-based cover band Kristen and the Noise will perform on the Jagermeister Stage at this year's Preakness InfieldFest on May 18, the Maryland Jockey Club announced today. The addition of two rock bands and a country act makes sense after the Club announced last month Top 40 staple Pitbull and rising hip-hop star(s) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis would headline InfieldFest. Kristen and the Noise, who will kick-off the Jagermeister Stage, are scheduled to play Claddagh Pub's Meet in the Street in Canton on Saturday.

Country sibling trio The Band Perry will perform at Merriweather Post Pavilion on May 18, according to a press release. It's a make-up show for the group's Maryland State Fair concert last September, which was cut short due to a thunderstorm. Easton Corbin and Jackie Lee will also perform. Fans may exchange their concert stubs from the State Fair for a reserved Merriweather Post Pavilion seat between now and Saturday at the Columbia venue's box office. Fans without the original stub should bring their receipt or credit card statement to prove purchase.

Looking for St. Paddy's day plans? Gov. Martin O'Malley's Irish rock band, O'Malleys March, has already sold out the early show for Saturday night in Baltimore, and by Thursday they'd sold three-fourths of the 200-person floor space in the Creative Alliance for the late show, the venue said. Earlier in the day, his political action committee O'Say Can You See sent out an invitation to the St. Patrick's Day show, which costs $25 a head.  Proceeds benefit the Creative Alliance, which advertised the show as " some Celtic fury.

Patterson Hood doesn't hesitate to acknowledge that his band, Southern rock veterans Drive-By Truckers, almost called it quits last year. He doesn't elaborate on details but concedes that "personal [stuff]" was eroding the band from the inside. "I spent a lot of last year soul-searching whether it was time to pack it up and call it a day. I truly did," Hood said. "I spent two years with that in the back of my mind, a nagging thing. I didn't like where the band was at. " Hood laughs at the idea now. With the recent departures of bassist Shonna Tucker and guitarist John Neff, Hood says, Drive-By Truckers is rejuvenated.

Not all great ideas are fueled by bourbon, but the creation of Baltimore's NOVO Instrumental Festival was. Five years ago, Mobtown Studios' producer and co-owner Mat Leffler-Schulman shared a few drinks at the Windup Space with bar owner Russell de Ocampo. Leffler-Schulman, a recent transplant from Washington, noticed many of the instrumental bands he enjoyed recording also played the Windup Space regularly. "Russell said, 'Hey, we have all these wonderful bands, so let's highlight them,' " said Leffler-Schulman, a 36-year-old Tuscany-Canterbury resident.