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The weather report doesn't look very good Thursday morning for a swing down to Baltimore, out to Pittsburgh, and back home to Boston. The prospect of 21 hours behind the wheel in the rain is daunting but I head out at 8 ish AM anyway. The trip to Baltimore is uneventful, marked only by seeing an even dozen drivers pulled over by the cops…4 in the first few miles of Connecticut alone…and highlighted by hearing Jefferson Airplane and Marty Balin's deep cut "I Saw You" on the radio along the way.

Aya and The Leaves deliver me across the the bridge into Delaware and before I know it, I'm in the Harbor area of Baltimore and headed down Cross St to the venue. The big bus with the trailer sporting the familiar Vermont license plate is the obvious answer to my "Where's the club" question. But I must circle the block a few times before realizing the bus is across the street from The 8x10 club.

Wandering a few blocks away, I come to a hillside park, fronted with beautiful brick row homes, that looks out across the harbor. I'm guessing Federal Hill is a premier Baltimore address, and looking back down the street I can see the Ravens football stadium many blocks away. Parked in a shady spot, contemplating a little relaxation, I call Mojo who is at the club where I join him out front, quickly joined by Matt and Benny. Benny is totally psyched and keeps repeating he hopes they do Falling or Flying. We duck inside to check out the club.

I think 8x10 is the stage size...this club is small and is actually two row homes combined. There is a balcony, U shaped, that is only about 20 feet back from the front of the stage, and right over the sides. Any place in this club is close, but bar stools on the rail around the balcony are likely very desired real estate....

Mojo and I end up a block away for Thai at a sidewalk table. Service is slow, but we have time and head back to the club around 7:15 for the 8 PM doors. Where we run into Brian, Onefromthesoul, inline, and soon John and TP post crabcake-a-thon. Inside we grab the edge of the stage, foregoing the opportunity of the nice barstools upstairs.

Blues and Lasers softens up the crowd with a body blow of a set, bringing Burlington to Baltimore.

The New Nocs take the stage for their official tour launch. Grace sports a short skirt, with a green tank top and short jacket, that gets lost after first song. Catherine is in black string strap top, black pants over boots. Scott and Benny both style in vest and slacks, and Matt's in, well, jeans and a T shirt.

Highlights Tonight:

Let's see....Opener Some Kind of Ride is a wailing balls to the wall kickoff, with Grace hitting 5th gear right of the bat.

Well, the truth is I don't remember the highlights. The truth is, I got so wrapped up in trying to take pictures and vids so that you can SEE the highlights I find that's where my concentration lies…so here, try this..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36837161@N04/sets/72157618929079771/show/

Toothbrush and My Table http://vimeo.com/4921040

I Shall Be Released http://vimeo.com/4926252

If I was from Paris http://vimeo.com/4929417

Falling or Flying http://vimeo.com/4932560

Ah Mary: Catherine had a nice line in the open

Apologies: I do remember Benny laying down a sweet little harmony to Scott's lead, and turning to Mojo, who just smiled and pointed at Benny..he heard it, too.

Catherine: Definitely a stylistic counterpoint to Bryan's stoic backline bottomline, Cat is right at home on mic at the front, with frequent eye contact with the crowd. And she can do a slinky little dance when the spirit moves her. Cat. Aptly named... Can't wait for a little Cat Chat...

The new lineup works. It was wise to bring in both Cat and Benny, because it makes comparisons to the previous foursome impossible. This is a new band with 2 new members, and I hope they have a lot of fun as they mold the new dynamic.

Hanging for just a bit after the show with Guava Girls + Casey (in from Burlington for the weekend to visit Abby), I head out to get a few miles under me on the way to Pitt, and make it, thru the rain, 70 miles to Hagerstown, MD. where I grab a Motel 6 late, download and review some pics, and turn in at 3:30.