It was hard going to the gym today after getting home at 1 a.m. from the Non-COMMvention in Wilmington, Delaware, but at least I was styling in this cute COMMvention T-shirt from Anti- Records:

What’s a publicist to do at a radio convention? Have a great time and hang with friends old and new! NON-COMM founder and WXPN producer Dan Reed [pictured below with Shore Fire's Marilyn Laverty] extended me an invitation to the 11th annual gathering of radio stations and promotions folk that was held for the first time at great new venue, World Café Live at the Queen.

Since WXPN hosts the 3-day fest, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s scribe Dan DeLuca [pictured below with his student sidekick Lauren DeLucca] was on hand to report on the highlights at the Queen.

The historic site has been renovated and is now home to a world class performance and production studio, and it was a great spot for artists and industry alike. I caught Glassnote’s Givers, my idol Todd Snider (with dashing manager Burt Stein) and was charmed by SubPop’s hot new act The Head and the Heart (sorry I missed saying hi, Matt Shay!). Q Prime’s Cliff Burnstein inspired the crowd with his brilliant comments on the non-commercial format, and I met new friends at a great dinner hosted by Sean Coakley and Melanie Shrawder of top promotion company Songlines.

At Songlines’ dinner at the Chelsea Tavern, I was delighted to schmooze with public radio deities Bob Boilen and Bruce Warren, and was tickled to hear great war stories from ATO’s Rick Brewer, RED’s Danny Buch, and my Songlines hosts. Other highlights: meeting KUT Austin’s Jeff McCord, chatting with KSMT Colorado’s Stacy Howar [pictured below with Sean Coakley], meeting new friends from fave labels such as Jagjaguwar and Six Shooter, and reconnecting with buddy LiveNation’s Harvey Leeds back at the Queen.