NonComm by the Numbers
After another NonComm is in the books, I'm breaking down NonComm by performances all time like only a music nerd would
Looking back at all NonComms back to 2010 (not counting 2009 since I only attended one double header Free at Noon), I did a break down of all of the performances of bands that I saw play NonComm. This year was probably by far my highest percentage of NonComm that I saw with 25 out of 27 bands.
Some early years have been downstairs only or upstairs only skipping a bunch of bands.
In trying to determine what the best NonComm year was I added a point total based on where I placed the band in my overall rankings. Before you start attacking my list and saying things like “I thought you liked Gov’t Mule, Geese and G. Love”. I do like all of those bands but some performances are truly to showcase and album with 5-6 songs and some are just bad. Charge it to the music biz. Geese followed G. Love’s shitty upstairs performance with just as bad performance downstairs and I thought last years Union Transfer show was one of the best last year by Geese (and I’ll always give love to Garrett Dutton but he had a bad upstairs performance).
Top 20: +10 points
21-40: +8 points
41-60: +6 points
61-80: +4 points
81-100:+2 points
Add the top seven scores for the performances in the top 100 each year, I came up with this overall ranking of NonComms:
2024: 60
2026 & 2017: 52
2018: 50
2022: 48
2015: 44
2023, 2016 & 2019: 38
2025: 36
2010: 28
2014: 24
When I look at the breakdown by scores, I tend to agree. As a tiebreaker, I’d take 2026 slightly over 2017. Also, post COVID the acts started to get better that were booked at NonComm.
Below are top 225 performances I saw at NonComm since 2009. 2026 NonComm performances are listed in BOLD.
Car Seat Headrest (upstairs) 2016
The Black Crowes (downstairs) 2024
Trombone Shorty (downstairs) 2010
Genesis Owusu (downstairs) 2023
Strand of Oaks (upstairs) 2019
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country (upstairs) 2025
Carolina Chocolate Drops (upstairs) 2010
The National (downstairs FAN) 2019
Britt Daniel & Alex Fischel (downstairs FAN) 2022
Sharon Van Etten (downstairs) 2022
Ben Folds (downstairs) 2023
Ratboys (upstairs) 2024
The Dream Syndicate (downstairs) 2017
RIDE (downstairs FAN) 2024
Starcrawler (upstairs) 2018
Sunflower Bean (upstairs) 2016
Blondie (downstairs) 2017
The Hold Steady (downstairs) 2014
Kurt Vile & the Violators (upstairs) 2016
Death Cab for Cutie (downstairs) 2026
The Districts (upstairs) 2017
Calexico (downstairs FAN) 2015
Buffy St. Marie (downstairs) 2015
John Legend & the Roots (downstairs) 2010
King Tuff (upstairs) 2018
Jeff Rosenstock (upstairs) 2018
Gaslight Anthem (downstairs) 2010
Dr. Dog (downstairs) 2015
Tallest Man on Earth (downstairs) 2015
Stephen Wilson Jr. (upstairs) 2026
Mondo Cozmo (downstairs) 2017
Parquet Courts (upstairs) 2018
Hiss Golden Messenger (downstairs FAN) 2026
Old Crowe Medicine Show (downstairs) 2022
Margo Price (downstairs FAN) 2025
Phoebe Bridgers (downstairs) 2018
Kevin Morby (downstairs) 2026
DEHD (upstairs) 2024
Laura Jane Grace (downstairs FAN) 2024
The Old 97s (downstairs FAN) 2024
Derek Trucks Band (downstairs FAN) 2009
Father John Misty (downstairs) 2022
Deer Tick (downstairs) 2023
Brandi Carlile (downstairs FAN) 2018
Fontaines DC (downstairs) 2024
Medium Build (downstairs FAN) 2026
WAR (downstairs) 2023
Arcade Fire (downstairs) 2025
Rhiannon Giddens (downstairs FAN) 2026
tune-yards (downstairs FAN) 2025
The Decemberists (downstairs) 2024
Lucy Dacus (upstairs) 2018
Janis Ian (downstairs) 2022
Tyler Ballgame (downstairs) 2026
Paul Shaffer & the World’s Most Dangerous Band (downstairs FAN) 2017
Hozier (downstairs) 2014
The Pixies (downstairs FAN) 2017
Ex Hex (upstairs) 2019
Broken Social Scene (downstairs) 2026
Jay Farrar (downstairs FAN) 2019
Wives (upstairs) 2019
Ron Gallo (upstairs) 2017
Friko (upstairs) 2026
Afghan Whigs (downstairs) 2014
Courtney Barnett (downstairs FAN) 2018
Grace Vonderkuhn (upstairs) 2022
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers (upstairs) 2022
Purr (downstairs FAN) 2023
Orville Peck (upstairs) 2019
Kevin Morby (downstairs FAN) 2016
Telehealth (upstairs) 2026
Lo Moon (downstairs) 2017
The Animeros (upstairs) 2026
Brian Wilson (downstairs FAN) 2015
Tunde Adebimpe (downstairs) 2025
Ricky Hell & Voidboys (upstairs) 2018
Weird Nightmare (upstairs) 2026
Gov’t Mule (downstairs) 2017
Best Coast (downstairs) 2015
Yeasayer (downstairs) 2015
Lykke Li (downstairs) 2014
The Felice Brothers (downstairs) 2014
The Hooters (downstairs) 2026
Retribution Gospel Choir (downstairs) 2010
Bash & Pop (upstairs) 2017
Josh Ritter (downstairs) 2019
Hannah Cohen (downstairs) 2026
David Shaw (downstairs FAN) 2025
Bully (upstairs) 2023
Moustapha Noumbissi (upstairs) 2024
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm (downstairs) 2017
Lizzo (downstairs FAN) 2019
Nancy & Beth (downstairs FAN) 2017
Freak Slug (upstairs) 2026
The Zombies (downstairs FAN) 2016
Hamilton Leithauser (downstairs FAN) 2014
Elbow (downstairs) 2014
Ryan Bingham (upstairs) 2026
Minus the Bear (upstairs) 2010
Band of Horses (downstairs) 2016
Genesis Owusu NonComm 2023 Benjamin Booker (upstairs) 2014
Mitski (downtsairs) 2018
Black Pumas (upstairs) 2019
Mon Rovia (downstairs FAN) 2026
Cedric Burnside (downstairs) 2024
Cherry Glazerr (upstairs) 2019
Hop Along (upstairs) 2018
Judy Collins (downstairs) 2010
Mt. Joy (downstairs) 2018
Brother Wallace (downstairs) 2026
Belly (downstairs FAN) 2018
Tacocat (upstairs) 2019
The Editors (downstairs FAN) 2018
Rodrigo y Gabriella (downstairs) 2019
Charley Crockett (upstairs) 2022
Counting Crows (downstairs) 2025
Lizzie No (downstairs) 2024
Maren Morris (downstairs) 2025
Molly Tuttle (downstairs) 2026
Kiwi Jr (upstairs) 2022
Sweet Spirit (upstairs) 2018
KT Tunstall (downstairs) 2019
The National (downstairs FAN) 2010
Cardinals (upstairs) 2026
Alberta Cross (downstais) 2010
Dr. Dog (downstairs) 2010
Jessica Lea Mayfield (downstairs FAN) 2014
Laura Marling (upstairs) 2017
Allison Russell (downstairs FAN) 2022
Ryan Culwell (upstairs) 2022
Alex Amen (upstairs) 2026
Nikki Lane (upstairs) 2022
Alejandro Escovedo (downstairs FAN) 2024
Strand of Oaks (downstairs) 2014
Brandi Carlile (downstairs FAN) 2015
Sundays (1994) (downstairs FAN) 2025
Bonnie Raitt (downstairs) 2016
The Head and the Heart (downstairs) 2025
OJR (upstairs World Cafe Producer Session) 2016
White Denim (upstairs) 2018
Catbite (upstairs) 2023
Jade Bird (downstairs FAN) 2024
Kyle Craft (downstairs) 2017
Titus Andronicus (downstairs FAN) 2018
The Record Company (downstairs) 2018
Hayes Carll (upstairs) 2016
JJ Grey & Mofro (downstairs) 2015
Chicano Batman (downstairs) 2017
Buffalo Traffic Jam (upstairs) 2026
Morrissey (downstairs) 2019
Curtis Harding (upstairs) 2022
Gail Ann Dorsey (downstairs FAN) 2026
Shovels & Rope (downstairs) 2014
Graham Parker (downstairs FAN) 2010
Sparks (downstairs) 2025
Robert Francis (downstairs) 2010
Elle King (upstairs) 2015
Hannah Jadagu (downstairs) 2023
Zella Day (downstairs FAN) 2023
Blondshell (downstairs) 2023
Mayer Hawthorne (downstairs) 2010
Phosphorescent (downstairs) 2019
Blessing Jolie (downstairs) 2026
Andrew Bird (downstairs) 2019
Sugar Ray Rayford (upstairs) 2022
Black Opry Revue (downstairs FAN) 2023
Say She She (upstairs) 2023
Cosmic Guilt (upstairs) 2022
Angelique Kidjo (downstairs) 2018
Real Estate (upstairs) 2017
The Jayhawks (downstairs) 2016
The Both (downstairs FAN) 2014
JP Chrissie & the Fairground Boys (downstairs) 2010
Brent Cobb (downstairs) 2017
The Growlers (upstairs) 2017
Indigo Souza (downstairs) 2022
Guy Sebastian feat. Steve Cropper (downstairs FAN) 2010
Eli Paperboy Reed (downstairs FAN) 2010
Chet Faker (downstairs FAN) 2014
Hurray for the Riff Raff (downstairs) 2014
The National Reserve (upstairs) 2017
The Mavericks (downstairs) 2017
Jealous of the Birds (downstairs FAN) 2019
Art d’Ecco (downstairs) 2022
Abraham Alexander (downstairs FAN) 2023
Margaret Glaspy (downstairs) 2023
Adia Victoria (downstairs) 2019
Devon Gilfillian (downstairs FAN) 2019
Bebe Stockwell (downstairs FAN) 2026
The Wood Brothers (downstairs) 2018
Jacob Banks (downstairs) 2018
Sunny War (downstairs) 2018
The Constellations (downstairs FAN) 2010
Natalie Prass (downstairs) 2015
Sunny War (downstairs) 2025
Nicole Atkins (downstairs) 2014
Amy Correia (downstairs FAN) 2010
Gregg Graffin (upstairs) 2017
Ala.ni (downstairs FAN) 2017
Craig Strickland (downstairs) 2018
Mattiel (upstairs) 2019
Leon Bridges (upstairs) 2015
Martin Sexton (downstairs FAN) 2010
William Prince (upstairs) 2018
Jade Bird (downstairs FAN) 2018
Nilufer Yanya (upstairs) 2022
Reyna Tropical (downstairs) 2024
Benjamin Booker (upstairs) 2017
Bobby Long (upstairs) 2010
JS Ondara (downstairs FAN) 2019
Geese (downstairs) 2022
JS Ondara (downstairs) 2022
The Dip (upstairs) 2022
Junius Meyvant (downstairs FAN) 2019
Lady Blackbird (downstairs) 2025
Secret Sisters (upstairs) 2010
Corrine Bailey Rae (downstairs FAN) 2016
Palmyra (downstairs FAN) 2025
Gang of Youths (upstairs) 2018
G. Love (upstairs) 2022
Counting Crows (downstairs) 2014
Low Cut Connie (upstairs) 2016
Arlo Parks (downstairs) 2023
Joseph (downstairs FAN) 2024
Citizen Cope (downstairs) 2019
Miscellaneous NonComm Debris
You could say that I started learning the art of getting the setlist at my first full NonComm in 2010. The venue formerly known as World Cafe Live was a bredding ground for unclaimed setlists. Whether it was grabbing it yourself, getting a stage hand to help or grabbing from the sound guy - I found all of these ways in the early days and transferred that into other events and venues to great success. Of the 453 setlists I’ve grabbed as of 5/12/2026, 77 have come as easy pickings at NonComm.
I’ve gotten paper towels, napkins, menus, contracts, plates and guitar string packs as some of the odd setlists over the years. This year at NonComm, I got the one of the best setlist ever from Alex Amen. A Doritos bag (Nacho Cheese flavor) with the songs written on front and a bit of crumbs leftover.
You should figure out how to apply to come as an industry rep for next year.