We’re about to dive into our annual NON-COMMvention here at WXPN, and we are psyched. Not just because we get to reunite with our friends from the public radio universe around the country, but for the legendary array of concerts that will fill our nights this week. NON-COMM is known as a place where you get to see legends in an extremely intimate, exclusive setting (this year, we can’t wait for The Black Crowes’ performance on Wednesday night) and you get to see future stars before they’re household names (excitement this year is high for Brigitte Calls Me Baby and Reyna Tropical). To get us excited for the big event ahead of us, this week’s WXPN Video Roundup dives into the vaults for some highlights from NON-COMM past.

Tom Tom Club – Full Set (NON-COMM 2013)

Performing to promote their 2012 LP Downtown Rockers, the funk/groove outfit led by Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz of the legendary Talking Heads made NON-COMM feel like Stop Making Sense for the evening.

Hozier – “From Eden” (NON-COMM 2014)

Before he was selling out major venues like The Mann Center months before his album was even released, Irish singer-songwriter superstar Hozier made his Philly debut at World Cafe Live for NON-COMM 2024.

Buffy Sainte-Marie – “Universal Soldier” (NON-COMM 2015)

Buffy Sainte-Marie had just released her fifteenth studio album when she played at NON-COMM in 2015, but the highlight might have been when folk rock icon gave a powerful performance of her 1964 antiwar protest song “Universal Soldier.”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Funeral” (NON-COMM 2018)

Another introduction to a future star: indie darling Phoebe Bridgers decked the stage in Christmas lights and played music from her debut Stranger In The Alps in 2018, including the chilling “Funeral.”

War – Full Set (NON-COMM 2023)

When funk rock groovy pop hitmakers War played NON-COMM in 2023, there was no agenda – no new album, no movie or book to promote – they just brought the audience an array of hits, from “The Cisco Kid” to “Low Rider.”

Sponsor Highlight:

This week’s YouTube Roundup is made possible with support from Rafferty Subaru. Subaru Loves the Earth.