Photo by Joseph Seidel via Baltimore Sun

In the latest, and perhaps greatest, sign that Baltimore is rapidly becoming the mid-Atlantic’s very own Portlandia, consider this dispatch yesterday from Insterstate 695.

A driver was puttering along on fumes, but his car eventually ran out of gas, forcing him to pull over on the busy expressway that bends around Baltimore. But, it turned out he had something to keep him occupied while he waited for roadside assistance.

The Baltimore Sun reports that when Maryland State Police stopped to help him about 10:30 a.m., they found the driver banging on a drum kit he had been carrying in his vehicle.

He told state police he had run out of gas and decided to set up and practice until assistance arrived. A State Highway Administration truck stopped and helped him refill his tank.

The drummer was not cited and continued on his way, she said. Police did not identify him.

Shame the percussionist was not identified, but at least the cops got a free show.