Every town has their favorite hometown band, but in Chicago there is such a deep musical legacy that we’ve definitely earned out bragging rights. Come on, we walk every day in the hometown of Buddy Guy! Through the years, XRT had helped so many upstart bands to make their name in the national scene. So now we want to hear from you- which are your favorite Chicago bands…. Wilco? Poi Dog Pondering? Kanye West? Smashing Pumpkins? Cheap Trick? Fall Out Boy?  Any new up-and-comers you think we’ll be seeing in a few years at the Grammy’s or onstage at Lollapalooza?

Coldplay were in town this Tuesday and Wednesday playing a couple of excellent shows at the United Center. The fans at the sold-out Tuesday show were treated to an extra surprise- Coldplay were filming the show for the video to their new song “Lost!”. Now they all can tell their grand-children someday that they were in a video on TRL. (That show will definitely still be on then, trust us)

It got us to thinking, what are the coolest random things that can happen at a concert to make it more memorable? Sorry Coldplay, the video thing was cool, but it doesn’t make the cut.

#5. A Surprise Special Guest - We’re not talking about the avalanche of guests that Dave Matthews often features. This is for the more off-the-cuff partnerships like John Mayer joining Buddy Guy on stage at legends. Or even Jay-Z performing “Big Pimpin” with Phish in Brooklyn. Those are the kind of moments that create one-of-a-kind musical creations.

#4. Equipment Malfunction - If Janet Jackson accidentally exposes herself to millions of people at the Super Bowl that’s one thing, but anytime something goes wrong onstage you get the chance to see whether you’re favorite band is cool under pressure. Wouldn’t it be hilarious to see something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CukuwxkMk5A at a real show?

#3. Someone Gets Arrested Onstage - Nothing says Rock ‘n Roll like trouble with the law, and sometimes a rock star can be so hard to get that onstage is the only place the cops can get him. It would be pretty cool to see a guy get taken off the stage in handcuffs, and you know the band would play an extra-long set to hold off the cops Blues Brothers-style. Bonus points if the arrest doesn’t involve Jim Morrison exposing himself onstage.

#2. The Show Becomes A Live Album - Whether you’re seeing the Who in Leeds, Cheap Trick in Japan, or Johnny Cash in prison, if your show gets recorded and sold to millions of people, you know it was a special performance.

#1. It’s The Last Performance Ever - Sometimes a band will announce ahead of time that a show will be their last, but its more exciting to see a band self-destruct and storm offstage like the Sex Pistols did at their last show. Or the end could be more tragic like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s death in a helicopter crash as he left Alpine Valley immediately after a concert. Either way, a band’s unexpected last show is guaranteed to attain legendary status.

When people ask you what kind of music you listen to, most 93XRT listeners will probably say “Everything”. True as that may be, it’s still a cop out. Everyone listens to some things more than others, and some don’t want to admit to what their favorites are.

Well with the advent of iTunes there is finally a way to find out. The “Top 25 Most Played” feature on iTunes reveals the preferences that people will never tell you. You can tell somebody how into Radiohead you are until you’re blue in the face, but you can’t change the fact that your iTunes says you’ve listen to “Oops, I Did It Again” 150 times.

So spill the beans XRT listeners, whats the most played song on your iTunes? Its OK, we won’t judge.

Summer in Chicago wouldn’t be the same without attending at least a couple of our street festivals. Last weekend, we hung out at both the Roots and Folk Festival in Wells Park and the Rock Around the Block in Lakeview. Looking ahead at this weekend, the Old St. Pat’s Block Party is always a blast, and the Sheffield Garden walk is an awesome fest for the whole family. We all know that various locations, music genres and food vendors draw a wide range of people to Chicagoland’s summer festivals. Now we want to hear from you… Here’s your chance to sound off on which festivals are your favorites! Best Food? Best Lineup? Best Location? People watching? Hilarious stories from fests-gone-by? Tell us what you think!

With both the Cubs and White Sox leading their divisions, there’s really not much to complain about in Chicago baseball this summer. We’ve even spotted Cubs and Sox fans peacefully coexisting around town. The All Star break this week gives us some free time, which led us to contemplate our ideal concerts at the Friendly Confines and the Cell. There’s something to be said when the stadiums in which we have cheered and jeered are transformed into the ideal venue for our favorite artists. We’re thinking back to the Police at Wrigley last summer and the Rolling Stones 40 Licks Tour on the South Side a few years back. Who would you most love to see in the hallowed home of your favorite team?