May 7, 2025
A friend shared this post just now, looks like this is happening TODAY at 10:20PM ET. You can find out more and join the stream through here: https://xpn.org/2025/05/07/non-comm-2025-day2/
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A friend shared this post just now, looks like this is happening TODAY at 10:20PM ET. You can find out more and join the stream through here: https://xpn.org/2025/05/07/non-comm-2025-day2/
Sparks at Non-Commvention 2025, 5/7/25.
Officially (?) the Most Delayed Recap of Non-Comm
Finally getting into the groove of summer, sorry for the delay! Hopefully I'll be back making posts more regularly now. So here's what I wrote almost a month ago....:
What an amazing three days! Non-commerical radio industry members and supporters gathered together at World Cafe Live in the lovely city of Philadelphia (home of 88.5 WXPN) May 17th - 19th to discuss the future of the music business, catch up with old co-workers and new friends, and check out some great bands from all across the country.
The convention returned to Philadelphia this year after a visit to the then-brand-new venue World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington, Delaware in 2011. If the weather was any indicator on how the convention would go, it was sure to be a knock-out event (and it was!)
The out-of-towners were welcomed to the city with a special "Philly Sings Philly" Key Studio Session recording, followed by a red-hot performance by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals late Wednesday night,
Thursday marked the official start of the convention with music, meetings, and a mind-stirring interview with controversialist-extrordinaire Bob Lefsetz ("People don't listen to the radio..."). Joseph Arthur and Citizen Cope took over the NPR Music Stage at noon, and if the crowd wasn't awake before they sure were after those two sets.
Shortly after, Joe Jackson joined David Dye on stage for an interview that will be aired on World Cafe. Jackson has a forthcoming album called The Duke, on which he reimagines some favorite Duke Ellington tunes with a surprising twist - you'll have to tune in to the interview to find out what that twist is (I'll post broadcast information when it becomes available).
After a energizing lunch, everyone reconvened upstairs to hear a discussion between David Dye and Dr. John. The room was packed as Dr. John talked about his new record and took some questions from the audience. My duty while he was talking to David was get a cab to take him to the train station immediately after he finished to catch a train. I'm not the most experienced cab-caller, and also the pressure (?) of being in charge of getting Dr. John somewhere on time probably took a couple of years off my life. But cab came, Dr. John asked me what color my nail polish was, and then he was on his way.
While the panel discussions may have been the main event for industry folk, the music showcases at night were definitely the main event for the XPN members. Everyone got a little extra exercise during the showcases - sets alternated between the upstairs stage in the World Cafe Live restaurant and the downstairs NPR Music stage. The mix was definitely eclectic - Jonathan Wilson, Lee Fields & the Expressions, JD McPherson, and The Barr Brothers benefited from the intimacy of the upstairs stage, while Father John Misty, Beth Orton, War on Drugs, and Polica filled the downstairs room with their diverse sounds.
Polica closed the night well, flawlessly and captivatingly performing XPN listener favorites 'Dark Star' and 'I Saw My Mother' to a tired but enthusiastic crowd. Father John Misty was the polarizing set of the evening after his post-modern performance of songs of the new Fear Fun - picture Hugh Grant's character in Music & Lyrics (the hip shaking) with any number of equipment-throwing punk rockers. (I happened to be one of the few who really liked his set). I've read a few other recaps that said War on Drugs were the best of the night, and I have to agree. Best I've ever heard them sound live.
Day Two's noontime show was one for the record books. Willie Nelson took the stage with his son Lukas (Lukas and his own band, The Promise of Real was playing at the Blockley that night), followed by Brandi Carlile and finally, Norah Jones. Willie let his son take the spotlight for most of the set, contributing backing vocals and watching proudly as Lukas ripped through some guitar solos. That is, until he was signaled that his 25 minutes were up. Instead of politely waving and walking off the stage, Willie broke into a rousing rendition of 'Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die' that proved he still has what it takes at 79. The crowd loved it.
This got everyone nice and ready for Brandi Carlile, who was accompanied by the Hanseroth twins and played some tracks from her new album. Her single 'That Wasn't Me' was the surprise highlight of the day, probably. (p.s. does anyone else think the Hanseroth twins look like young Tom Waitses?).
Norah came on as the last act of the noontime show. She performed the songs from Little Broken Hearts well, but something about her vibe seemed off to me. It didn't feel like she was enjoying her time on stage, so it was hard (for me, at least) to enjoy her set. But she seemed grateful to the audience for listening.
The World Cafe interview session for the day was with THE John Mayer. Mayer waltzed in with a hat that prevented most people from seeing his face, but had a refreshingly candid discussion with David. You can listen to the 45-minute World Cafe interview here.
Unfortunately, Dry the River had to back out to vocal loss. Aside from War on Drugs, they were the band I was most looking forward to! However, the rest of the evening was great. Continuing with the Upstairs/Downstairs system, Non-Commers were treated to sets by Diego Garcia, Megan Reilly, Nada Surf, Zeus, Good Old War, The Walkmen, and JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. Nada Surf had the crowd reliving their 90s' glory days, and JC Brooks had everyone dancing well into the night.
Saturday was a little different, starting off with the much-anticipated Music Meeting hosted by Sean Coakly of Songlines. Like usual, scores were all over the place for most songs with listeners liking the songs industry-ers didn't, and vice versa. What was interesting was why people didn't like songs - for The Heavy's "What Makes a Good Man" it was said that there weren't enough dynamics - it was over produced and not raw enough. But then with Daughter's "Youth" there was aversion the juxtaposition of the folky vocals and the heavy drums (certainly strong in the dynamics department). So I guess we still don't know what unconditionally makes a good song. (Though I love Daughter).
The music part of Saturday occurred on the newly opened Penn Park across the street and was free for everyone! There was a great turn out, even in the 80 or 90 degree heat. I ahve a feeling the amount of people there had to do with the fact that Rufus Wainwright was the second musician to go on. But before him was Philly-based Dex Romweber Duo, followed by Rufus (with Teddy Thompson on guitar), Sons of Fathers, Elle King, and Nick Waterhouse. Lawn loungers were treated to free CDs from the XPN Volunteers, and everyone had a great Saturday in the park.
Well. Instead of loading up posts with my sometimes-good-mostly-red-and-blurry pictures, I'll link you to Joe Del Tufo who takes great shots of almost all WXPN-related events. Here they are!
J.D. McPherson, mark it down, a breakout artist out of the 12th Annual NON-COMMvention. These guys killed it with their showing; it was a real punchy concise rock. Vintage Rock and Roll with punk rock energy.
His record has been out since 2010, but now it's getting a big promotional push and rightly so. I wouldn't predict Rock and Roll is back the same way folk is back in. I will predict that J.D. McPherson will do quite well for himself in the coming weeks and months.
This is one of the best parts of the current musical generation: we have everything at once. From cutting edge electronic, all the way back to the roots. Unlike in earlier generations, there is no one movement, and the culture overall is stronger for it. Speaking of electronic, NON-COMMvention also had another break out band...
Last week I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday on a Non-Commercial Radio fueled bender: NON-COMMvention. The 12th annual public radio event was organized and hosted by WXPN in Philadelphia and it featured a ton of incredible performances. I covered the event for the radio & recorders insider site The Top 22. Linked up top.
Not in the article: The War On Drugs and Jonathan Hamilton both provided heavy doses of excellent psych rock. I hadn't seen Jonathan Hamilton live before and I only know that he produced the Father John Misty record. At times he and his band sounded like some combination of Radiohead and Pink Floyd. Really tight.
This was the second time I've seen (Philly's own) The War On Drugs, and yet again I was in totally in it. I get spun into a musical trance whenever I hear these guys.
The Barr Brothers' set was a bit too short, they only really got going towards the end. When this band is afforded the time, they impress with their wide range. Folk, blues, their harp rock fusion, bits of jam...here it just felt too cramped, a pity.
Check the link for the rest of the wrap.
Wilmington: New Sweden - 'A Poor Man's Song'
If you're familiar with the non-commericial radio community in the U.S., you may have heard of the Non-COMMvention: a three-day gathering usually held at WXPN in Philadelphia where industry professionals and WXPN members get together to check out new music from both well-known acts and some of the best up-and-coming musicians of the year. Last year, as part of the grand opening celebrations of the newest World Cafe Live venue, the event was held at the Queen Theatre in Wilmington. And to highlight the small but burgeoning music community of that revitalized city, New Sweden was invited to play a set during the Saturday portion of the convention.
Since that weekend last May, New Sweden has gone on to win a few awards (including Delaware Indie Band of the Year at the 1st annual Tri-State Indie Awards last month and the Beta-Hi-Fi Emerging Artist Competition).
Their stage presence is undeniably energetic, authentic, and genuine, as anyone who has been to a New Sweden show will tell you. Their sound, though, is what really makes them stand out. In a year where "nu-folk" and "folk-pop" bands were popping up all over the place thanks to the likes of Mumford & Sons and The Head & the Heart (both of which we love here at NOE), New Sweden takes folk back to its Americana roots with foot-stomping rhythms and earnest lyrics.
The group has been on tour in support of their 2011 release The Mountain and they have a bunch of shows scheduled throughout the spring.
website
bandcamp