(Enlarge) Cris Jacobs, third from left, returns with the Baltimore band the Bridge for a CD release party at the Rams Head Live! in the Inner Harbor on Wednesday, Nov. 26 .

Cris Jacobs was just another Pikesville kid when he met Kenny Liner. Little did he know that they were destined to become band mates in the Bridge, a band that has been building a national following in recent months.

"I was 10 years old and playing in a rec basketball league with his older brother," recalls Jacobs by phone from his home in Charm City. "I kept seeing this hyperactive kid doing handstands on the sideline and I remember thinking what a goofball he was," Jacobs says with a chortle.

That enthusiasm would pay off some years later, when Liner promoted the Bridge to the forefront of the competitive Baltimore music scene and secured the band its first gig in 2002 at the now-defunct Paloma's in Mount Vernon.

With its unique blend of rock and roll, country and soul, the Bridge has been called a modern-day successor to such niche bands as Little Feat and the Black Crowes.

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, the rockers celebrate the release of their latest CD, "Blind Man's Hill," with a concert at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore. The CD is the first to feature the band's new six-man lineup, which in addition to lead guitarist Jacobs and Liner on mandolin, is made up of bass guitarist Dave Markowitz, sax player Patrick Rainey, drummer Mike Gambone and keyboardist Mark Brown.

Like many successful musical teams, Jacobs and Liner started out as a duo playing covers of their favorite songs. "Our first show was in the backyard of Kenny's mom's house," recalls Jacobs, now 30. By the summer of 2005, the nucleus had expanded into a band called the Bridge, which agreed to host an eight-week residency at the 8x10 club (at the time called the Funk Box).

"That turned out to be such a great thing for us," says Jacobs. "We ended up drawing some nice crowds and it was a chance to start building a buzz around the band."

The Bridge has hosted similar multi-week residencies at the 8x10 ever since, filling out the year with a rigorous national touring schedule. Last year alone the band played more than 200 shows, including appearances at the annual Gathering of the Vibes and West Virginia's All Good Festival.

Just this summer, the Bridge was invited to open for musician Mike Gordon, bass player for the jam band, Phish. "It was really cool watching his band take chances every night," says Jacobs. "To see someone like Mike Gordon, who doesn't have anything to prove at this point, constantly trying to re-invent himself was really inspiring."

The Bridge released its first full-length CD in 2007, and its follow-up, "Blind Man's Hill," was recorded at Bunker Recording Studio in Cockeysville.

"We really made a conscious effort to capture the authenticity of the sound rather than get caught up in putting in too many bells and whistles," he offers. "The albums I really like are the ones that sound like a bunch of guys in a room just playing together, as opposed to the slick, overproduced, digital-sounding things coming out these days."

The songs on "Blind Man's Hill" do indeed take the band to the next level in terms of musicianship. The opener "Honey Bee," blends together guitar, Hammond B3 organ, and saxophone to craft a celebratory stew.

Elsewhere, Jacobs and Liner trade off vocals and licks with urgency and conviction on the mandolin-infused "Dirtball Blues." The addictive chorus on "Bury My Bones in Baltimore" sticks in your head long after the song ends, and the final track, "Lasting Hymn," is a beautifully spare acoustic ballad that showcases Jacobs's sweet vocals.

The band members will hit the road in December to play their new songs to an ever-expanding audience, but Jacobs admits that there is no place like home when it comes to performing.

"We do a lot of touring and it can get grueling," he notes. "Sometimes we might play for just a few people, and that can be a harsh reality check. To be able to come home and receive the reception we get in Baltimore is really great. That love and appreciation is a huge source of inspiration for us."

The Bridge will perform in concert at the Rams Head Live! in Baltimore Wednesday, Nov. 26 . Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 general, available at the box office and on line at tickets.ramsheadlive.com. For more information, call 410-244-1131.

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