cover story
central maryland’s premier variety rock & roll band
Cover Story is the ultimate party band, playing your favorite songs from classics to current hits. Made up of seasoned musicians from a variety of backgrounds and musical interests, Cover Story delivers a diverse mix of musical genres – from classic rock, Motown and 80’s pop to today’s modern country, pop and rock tunes – that will keep you singing, dancing and partying all day or night. Based in Ellicott City, Maryland, the Cover Story Band performs at private and public venues throughout Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania & Virginia.
Meet the Band
Laura Darby (Lead Vocals) spent years living and working abroad before landing back in Maryland, where she sings lead on about ninety percent of the set, narrates audiobooks, records commercial jingles, and raises twin boys. She grew up in a family that sang the doxology at dinner, and her grandfather paid her ten dollars for every harmony she could learn. “It’s the guys. They’re always so talented that it’s hard not to just get swept up listening to their interpretations of these songs, but I can’t get TOO swept away, because then I’ll forget to start singing again.”
Mitch Marcus (Guitar & Vocals) grew up in Columbia and still lives there. He has been playing live since 2016, in bands as far apart as SKULL and The Tilted Gentlemen, which is roughly the range Cover Story asks for on any given night, and when he is not playing he is with his family, at a tabletop game, or watching an old movie. “Shredding is easy, simple is hard. The hardest thing is playing a single note with the conviction to let that one note stand on equal footing with a thousand.”
Brian Taylor (Drums) has been rockin’ the drum kit since his early teens, playing in local bands covering music of all genres, from classic and southern rock to 80s power pop, modern country and more. His rock solid timing and steady backbeat give his bandmates ample room to showcase their many talents and keep the tunes tight. Baltimore area locals from the 1980’s might also remember Brian as “Cash Taylor” from his days as a Top-40 radio DJ with B104.
Chris Yin (Bass Guitar & Vocals) has lived on 4 of the 5 continents since he was a kid. After a few years of learning the piano, he picked up a guitar at 15. A few decades later Chris landed in the DC area, picking up the bass along the way. “Music is one of two things that connect people together, no matter where they come from. Food is the other and I love to cook.” Chris has played in many bands – from hard rock and funk to R&B – and was even part of a nu-metal 4 piece band in France. If it’s entertaining and fun, Chris will play it.
Videos & Photos
Book the Band
Sample Songlist
| Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| Addicted to Love | Robert Palmer |
| All Right Now | Free |
| Black Cat | Janet Jackson |
| Black Horse & The Cherry Tree | KT Tunstall |
| Black Velvet | Alannah Myles |
| Brass in Pocket | The Pretenders |
| Born to Be Wild | Steppenwolf |
| Cake by the Ocean | DNCE |
| Can’t Buy Me Love | The Beatles |
| Crazy Little Thing Called Love | Queen |
| Ex’s & O’s | Elle King |
| Feel it Still | Portugal, The Man |
| Flowers | Miley Cyrus |
| Fooled Around & Fell In Love | Elvin Bishop / Winery Dogs |
| Footloose | Kenny Loggins / Blake Shelton |
| Gimmie 3 Steps | Lynyrd Skynyrd |
| Girls Just Wanna Have Fun | Cyndi Lauper |
| Give Me One Reason | Tracy Chapman |
| Heartbreaker | Pat Benetar |
| Hit Me With Your Best Shot | Pat Benetar |
| I Hate Myself for Loving You | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts |
| I Kissed a Girl | Katy Perry |
| I Love Rock & Roll | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts |
| I’ll Be There For You (Friends) | The Rembrandts |
| It’s Only Love | Bryan Adams / Tina Turner |
| Just a Girl | No Doubt |
| Kerosene | Miranda Lambert |
| Knock on Wood | Eric Clapton |
| Learn to Fly | Foo Fighters |
| Livin’ On a Prayer | Bon Jovi |
| Locked Out of Heaven | Bruno Mars |
| Love Shack | B-52’s |
| Man I Feel Like a Woman | Shania Twain |
| Mony Mony | Billy Idol |
| Murder on the Dancefloor | Sophie Ellis-Bextor |
| My Own Worst Enemy | Lit |
| Play that Funky Music | Wild Cherry |
| Pour Some Sugar on Me | Def Leppard |
| Respect | Aretha Franklin |
| Rock and Roll All Nite | KISS |
| Rockin’ in the Free World | Neil Young |
| Rolling in the Deep | Adele |
| Run to You | Bryan Adams |
| Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting | Elton John |
| Shake it Off | Taylor Swift |
| Shut Up and Dance | Walk the Moon |
| Simply Irresistible | Robert Palmer |
| Since U Been Gone | Kelly Clarkson |
| Some Kind of Wonderful | Grand Funk Railroad |
| Something to Talk About | Bonnie Raitt |
| Son of a Preacher Man | Dusty Springfield / Katie Segal |
| Summer of ’69 | Bryan Adams |
| Sweet Child Of Mine | Guns N’ Roses |
| Sweet Emotion | Aerosmith |
| Take Me Down | The Pretty Reckless |
| The Middle | Jimmy Eat World |
| The Story of Us | Taylor Swift |
| Twist & Shout | The Beatles |
| Valerie | Amy Winehouse |
| Walking on Sunshine | Katrina & The Waves |
| We’re an American Band | Grand Funk Railroad |
| You Belong with Me | Taylor Swift |
| What’s Up? | 4 Non Blondes |
| You Oughta Know | Alanis Morissette |