Quite a summer season it's turning out to be for guitar virtuosos visiting our fair city. First it was Jeff Beck, then Eric Clapton and on Friday night at the House Of Blues, Robin Trower... with more to come.

Robin Trower and his band put in a note-perfect, mind-blowing show.

(See Robin Trower perform "Bridge Of Sighs" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqlNwAGwqdk)

(See Robin Trower perform "Too Rolling Stoned" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjXV3NCWnLI)

This Monday at the House Of Blues, the Loop presents another guitar legend, Michael Schenker. Schenker was a founding member of the Scorpions along with his brother Rudolph, former lead guitarist of seminal hard rockers UFO during their recorded-live-in-Chicago classic "Strangers In The Night" period and has led his own successful band since then.

(See the video for The Michael Schenker Band's song "Armed and Ready" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBsdYcZDglE&feature=PlayList&p=CC4FF8F941D91C3A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3)

(See Michael Schenker perform "Rock Bottom" with UFO live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qP_OqOJ8ug)

While we're on the topic of guitar gods, the Joe Satriani fueled super group Chickenfoot will indeed be coming back to town for another Loop show, this time at the Chicago Theatre August 7th. Even Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap is excited.

(See Nigel Tufnel of Spinal Tap give props to Joe Satriani here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3_dPrt7vSw&feature=related)

Because of the downturn in the economy, many people are opting these days for "stay-cations" with extra value. This 4th of July weekend, the Loop presents a phenominal 2-day event for those on a budget. Dubbed the "Bridgeview Musicfest", it features a robust line-up that includes Billy Squier, Warrant, Lita Ford, L.A. Guns, Lynch Mob, Enuff Z'Nuff, Off Broadway, Starship, Adler's Appetite (featuring former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler), Over The Rainbow (featuring former Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner) and many more this Friday and Saturday at Toyota Park all for only $5.00 per day with fireworks included on the 4th!

(Click here for more info on the "Bridgeview Musicfest": http://www.bridgeviewmusicfest.com/)

(Click here and use the codeword "Loop" to get $5.00 tickets to the "Bridgeview Musicfest": http://www.wlup.com/music/concertcalendar/Listings.aspx)

This week on my show from 10am-3pm win tickets, backstage passes and more for the Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick show July 17th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick will be joining me this Thursday at 1:30pm to tell us a little more about the show and their new CD entitled "The Latest." This is also your last week to win $10,000 with "10 Grand In Your Hand" daily at 10:05am and 2:05pm. Don't miss out!

Happy Father's Day!

The iconic Eric "Slowhand" Clapton made another musical pilgrimage to his spiritual home of Chicago this past Wednesday night. Playing classics from his solo career, Derek & The Dominoes, Cream and even Blind Faith with his old band mate Steve Winwood in tow, it was another memorable show from Clapton. Although he is of British and Canadian descent, Eric has long made it clear that the inspiration for his sound was rooted in the Chicago blues scene. So central to him is Chicago that he was reportedly furious upon leaving the Yardbirds in1965 that his replacement Jeff Beck and the rest of the band had managed to play a live concert here before he could. Ironic that in 2009 Jeff Beck once more played Chicago before "Slowhand"... 2 months and 1 day, to be exact. Not to be outdone, Eric invited local blues legend Buddy Guy on-stage with him to jam, just as he did back in 2007 when he brought his Crossroads Guitar Festival to Bridgeview's Toyota Park.

(See Eric Clapton perform "After Midnight" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXqvKY89DVs)

(See Eric Clapton perform "Crossroads" live at Toytota Park in 2007 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxWqsHX2mw)

(See Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy perform "Sweet Home Chicago" live at Toyota Park in 2007 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtmebR-vqNQ)

Eric Clapton's old pal George Harrison would be proud. George's son Dhani helped develop the forthcoming special edition "The Beatles: Rock Band" slated for release 09/09/09*, the same day the entire re-mastered Beatles catalogue gets it's release. "The Beatles: Rock Band" is a stunning achievement in gaming, raising the bar for all future releases of it's kind.

(See a preview of "The Beatles: Rock Band" here: http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/)

All this week on my show from 10am-3pm, more chances to win $10,000 with "10 Grand In Your Hand" at 10:05am and 2:05pm each day as well as chances to win tickets to Cruefest 2 starring Motley Crue, Godsmack, Theory Of A Deadman, Drowning Pool and Charm City Devils July 22nd at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. This Tuesday at 12:30pm, Tommy Lee of Motley Crue will be checking in with me to fill us in on what to expect. Don't miss out!


*John Lennon was very fascinated by the number 9 (he was born on the 9th of October in Liverpool, his son Sean also on October 9th) and titled numerous of his Beatles and solo songs employing the number 9, so convinced was he of it's significance in his life. Tragically, his murder would occur on the 9th of December, Liverpool time.

Just as they promised when they stopped by my 10am-3pm show to say hello and have a few laughs, Chickenfoot have indeed announced a return to Chicagoland with a Loop show at the Chicago Theater August 7th. Hope you had a chance to win free tickets from the Loop this weekend!

(See Chickenfoot visiting my show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MpmwcPQ1A)

(See Chickenfoot's video for their new song "Oh Yeah!" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKkxxLEBwBo)

Also stopping by the Loop studios this past Friday, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry filled us in on their Loop show at Alpine Valley for Saturday night. Joe was very excited to tell us about the killer new sound and lighting system that they will be bringing out on this tour and that in addition to playing the "Toys In The Attic" album in it's entirety, they would be also be playing several rarely heard live songs this time around, including "Combination."

(See Aerosmith perform "Train Kept A-Rollin'" live at Alpine Valley here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aNxprwiZcY)

(See Aerosmith perform "Sweet Emotion" live at Alpine Valley here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY5cIsE5Yz4)

(See Aerosmith perform "No More No More" live at Alpine Valley here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfPIYxZxZ0)

You'll have another opportunity to catch this one-of-a-kind Aerosmith show August 28th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre with ZZ Top. Tickets can be had through www.wlup.com.

All this week on my show from 10am-3pm, chances to win tickets to see Ratt and Extreme at the House Of Blues July 24th and Queensryche November 1st at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet... and of course, $10,000! Don't miss out!

Guitar Hero: Van Halen won't officially be out until August 4th, but I've got a sneak preview for you.

(See a preview of Guitar Hero: Van Halen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA-S6m4vGBk)

Speaking of sneaks, any self-respecting rock star (or rock star wannabee) must dress the part. Converse has issued several limited edition rock-themed Chuck Taylor sneakers including Van Halen, Metallica, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, The Who, Ozzy Osbourne, The Doors, and Black Sabbath to aid you in your endeavor.

(See the rock-themed Chuck Taylor's here: http://www.classicsportshoes.com/converse-music-shoes.html#top)

Several years ago, I blogged to you that I had just caught a local Chicago band live who I thought were quite good and a band to watch. Fast forward a couple of years and my prediction came true. Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue agreed with me and subsequently signed the guys in The Last Vegas to his record label as well as having them open up for Motley Crue's winter tour. This past week, the guys dropped by my show once again to catch up and play their new song live before their gig at the Metro. Rave reviews from Billboard magazine, Spin magazine and inclusion in Guitar Hero II have made this a whirlwind 12 months for the band.

(See the video for The Last Vegas' new song "I'm Bad" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_F4_DG_5O8&feature=related)

Keep it locked on the Loop for word on more upcoming Chicago shows from Chickenfoot, Queensryche, Motorhead and more.

It was supposed to be an honor for Poison to play the Tony Awards, but it ended up breaking Bret Michaels' nose. D'oh!

(See Poison on the Tony Awards here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dA-AL90_RE)

Coming up all this week on my show from 10am-3pm, your chance to win tickets to the Loop's triple bill July 17th at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre featuring Def Leppard/Poison/Cheap Trick. Don't miss out!