Hot weekend in Chicago, in more ways than one! With the temperatures and the proliferation of great concerts soaring, it was a opportune time to get out and catch some fantastic shows.

Iron Maiden has earned a reputation as being one of the greatest live acts you will ever get a chance to see. Many years ago at the beginning of their career, we all went out for a few tastey adult beverages and the thing that sticks in my mind was how excited the guys in the band were that they might be starting to break through in North America. This past weekend, some 25,000 Loyal Loopers (the largest crowd ever for Maiden in Chicago) packed the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater to catch them. It it a rare sight indeed to witness an opening act get a standing ovation, but Dream Theater did just that as they cultivated many new fans with a stunning performance. Little more than 30 minutes later, the mighty Iron Maiden took to the stage and delivered another spectacular show worthy of their hard-earned rep. Well done lads. Up The Irons!

(See Dream Theater perform "Pull Me Under" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bkEkdAyag4)

(See Iron Maiden perform "Number Of The Beast" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzmQAGzwEw4)

(See Iron Maiden perform their encore "Running Free" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFmq-MDlb4)

Across town that same night, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar filled the Charter One Pavilion and rocked the house there.

(See REO Speedwagon perform "Ridin' The Storm Out" live at Charter One Pavilion here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S6otevh0jg)

(See Pat Benatar perform "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" live at Charter One Pavilion here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8tVa6SpBF8)

The previous night, Tom Petty played to a sold-out crowd at the United Center.

(See Tom Petty perform "Runnin' Down A Dream" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff6NqGZfhE8)

Also on Saturday, Heart appeared at the first Lilith Fair in more than a decade at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre.

(See Heart perform "Crazy On You" live at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_Jfmea8IA)

This week on show from 3pm-7pm on 97.9 The Loop in Chicago and worldwide at www.wlup.com: Win 4-packs of White Sox tickets, a commemorative Loop 33 1/3 t-shirt and a chance to win Crosley turntable and 15 classic Loop vinyl albums at 5:00pm daily during our month-long 33 1/3 birthday celebration as well as passes to the premiere of the Crossroads Guitar Fest 2010 theater screening each day. Conversations this week with Ted Nugent this Tuesday at 3:30pm and Jeff LaBar of Cinderella on Thursday at 4:30pm.

(See Ted Nugent perform "Stranglehold" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIKbjqq2tEU)

(See Ted Nugent perform "Cat Scratch Fever" live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCJux_7W2i8&feature=related)

(See Cinderella's video for "Shake Me" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptPekKOigkQ)