The Corner Pocket Saloon was the place to be Thursday night thanks to the house-packing phenomenon of The Recipe. Despite it being summer, everyone in town must have been there to see this Morgantown favorite, since the place was almost full to capacity.
     Thursday night was the long-awaited release party for their second CD "Night of the Porch People." Fresh off the press, it was quickly grabbed up by anxious Morgantowners who were excited to be some of the first to hear this eagerly-awaited recording.
     Not only was it The Recipe's CD release party, but it was the first time in months The Recipe have played in Morgantown. Recipe fans were out in great force to welcome their return and get back into The Recipe groove. They have been greatly missed over the past months as they have been out constantly touring the East coast building up a great reputation for themselves as one of the finest groove bands in the region.
     Thursday night was filled with high energy and excitement as fans danced to The Recipe's infectious tunes. The Corner Pocket was full beyond all expectations, but despite the heat from so many people, the dancing continued.
     The Recipe delighted the huge audience with many songs off the new CD. The songs are now already old favorites to many dedicated fans. Songs such as "Affected Specimen" (a.k.a. Alien Abduction), "World Swirl," and "Whiskey Pickle" were some of the best crowd pleasers, as they have been for months. But finally, with the release of the album, we can listen to them at home too.
     And even though they just released their CD, several new songs (not on the CD) have been becoming favorites. This band is so full of creative energy, and is continually coming up with something new and exciting.
     Case in point: The Recipe treated us to some out-of-the-ordinary antics Thursday night which just goes to illustrate this band's versatility. They had guest Chris Ramey on banjo and pedal steel, drummer Greg Lowley on guitar, guitarist and vocalist Joe Prichard on mandolin, and percussionist Tom Whelan on washboard. It made for a great sound! Let's just hope we will see vocalist Kristen Wolverton (who, by the way, looked beautiful in a creation by yours truly) jamming in the future to make the transition complete!
     Unfortunately The Recipe won't be playing here anytime soon. Worse yet they won't be playing at the Morgantown Music Festival at Rich Farms later this month. So be on the lookout for a show here sometime in August. (Hopefully their CD will tie us over.) However, they will be having their second CD release party Friday, June 12 at the 8X10 Club in downtown Baltimore. It should be a good party, if you can make it!
     Thursday's show was a great success and a hell of a lot of fun for the scores of fans who made it. The CD is brilliant and is a must have for all Morgantown music fans. (Look for the upcoming review in the DA.) "Night of the Porch People" is available at The Den, Backstreet Records, and Cool Ridge, as well as their first CD, "Love Marble Hoe Down."