Last Month's Poll Results & Our Newest Poll!

After a slight delay into the evening, here is the final results for last month's poll on the SMS and the launch of our new poll! First, recall that we posed this question to you guys last month: What was the biggest local metal, hard rock, or punk news story of 2017? We received 16 votes, which is better than recently usual for our polls, so thanks to everyone who voted, and without any further adieu, here are the final results!

The Din dissolves following final CD release concert (4 votes, 25%)
Oh!No Music Festival debuts in Leeburn in September (4 votes, 25%)
Diamond Head perform at The Rockstar Bar in September (2 votes, 12.5%)
Theory of a Deadman end year with Kewadin show (1 vote, 6.25%)
Skeyes of Seven return after 2 year stage hiatus (1 vote, 6.25%)
Treble Charger return for LopLops headlining concert (1 vote, 6.25%)
The Quiet Riot & Rock the Border Fest cancellations (1 vote, 6.25%)
Alter Bridge and In Flames hit Sault Michigan in May (1 vote, 6.25%)
HMV closes and is replaced by Sunrise Records (1 vote, 6.25%)
AlgomA release splits with Shit Liver & Hooded Menace (0 votes)
Bankshot reunite for Guy Thiffault Memorial Concert (0 votes)
Bret Michaels rocks Kewadin Casino once again (0 votes)
CKY and The Wild rock The Canadian Nightclub in June (0 votes)
Dokken & Firehouse play at The Essar Centre (0 votes)
Gnaeus suddenly disbands in March (0 votes)
Grooves Music reopens as Crooked Music (0 votes)
Handsome Sandwich debuts (0 votes)
Jack Spades return with lineup overhauls (0 votes)
Lita Ford & Great White's outdoor concert in St. Ignace (0 votes)
NLFB Meltdown battle takes place at LopLops Lounge (0 votes)
Pop Evil returns to The Dreammakers Theater (0 votes)
Project 421 breaks up in October (0 votes)
The Tea Party headline free ONTour concert in July (0 votes)
Theatre of Night launch their Christmas tour in December (0 votes)
Vol. debuts (0 votes)
Other (0 votes)

What do you guys think? Well, while I'm happy to see more of a vote spread this month, it is a shame to see 16 options (besides "Other") not receive any selections from readers. I'm most surprised by the lack of love for the CKY concert, most Kewadin Casino events, and the breakups of Gnaeus & Project 421, but as always, it's all in who votes! I can't take too many qualms with the six options to get a single vote, all reflecting concerts in one way or another, but I am definitely most surprised by Skeyes of Seven's return show getting a pick. The guys haven't been heard from since, but hopefully they have something up their sleeves for 2018! The highly anticipated Diamond Head concert last fall came in third place, an expectedly good finish for the NWOBHM legends! In terms of the winners, we had another tie result between the debuting Oh!No Music Festival in Leeburn in September, and The Din's farewell/CD release concert in October. Both are very deserving shows with lots of positive buzz from the autumn months!

As our tiebreaker in such cases is recency (as a newer news item will have had less time to garner the same responses and recognition), I am deeming The Din's suburban sendoff as the "winner" of this poll, and hopefully they continue to garner posthumous attention from fans new and old in 2018! Thanks to everyone for voting!

As for this month's poll, we're posing this question to you guys: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert in the second half of 2017? As you may have surmised from past years on the site, we're winding down our "favourite _____" polls by looking at last year's concerts again, and with the first half of 2017 covered in July, we're due to tackle concerts that took place between July 1st and December 31st! Of course, to make this poll, shows must have had at least 50% of their lineup comprised of metal, hard rock, or punk bands, which omits such notable events as the Tea Party concert, Mike Mikus & K.I.C.K.'s CD release shows, Toystock, Rotaryfest, and The Northern Vibe Festival, among others (but "Other" is a choice as usual!) This month's voted shows will join those from our early 2017 in next month's total year poll, and I hope I picked 20 shows covering a little of everything notable in 2018 from our guidelines, so here's some info on your final choices (and "Other")!

Bands: Rick E & Kodex, A Dire Setback, Garbageface, Vaultry, Bizotic, Coach Bombay, Handsome Sandwich, and Mikey Thomas
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: July 7th
Info: Arguably Live705's biggest concert of last summer in scope, this July concert united the worlds of punk and rap into a well received clash of styles at The Canadian, including three out of town acts, fan favourite Peterborough rapper Garbageface among them. Despite mid-show lineup placements for the touring performers, this show was a success, but can you vouch for it?

Bands: Mike Mikus & Id Iota
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: July 15th
Info: Fresh off of both acts' Rotaryfest Stage 2 appearances that same afternoon, LopLops would play host to former Pixo Control frontman Mike Mikus' final concert as a solely local artist before moving to Montreal. Also featuring his bandmate Dustin Goodall's indie-hard rock quartet Id Iota, Mike got a great sendoff, and we even got a Pixo throwback, but was this your favourite late-2017 show?

Bands: Darsombra, Pillory, and Pointless
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: July 17th
Info: One of the most unique concerts of 2017 saw Baltimore, Maryland "trans-apocalyptic galaxy rock duo" Darsombra travel to Sault Ste. Marie for an audiovisual experience that had to be seen to be believed, making a number of new fans in the process! Also featuring drone rock trio Pointless and one of death metal trio Pillory's last shows to date, would this one earn your vote over all of the others?

Bands: Project 421, The Din, The Peach Thieves, Electric Church, The Elements, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: July 22nd
Info: After a 9 month hiatus, classic metal quartet Project 421 made their triumphant return to the stage last July to help kick off their own final stretch of shows together. A stacked lineup hit The Canadian on this evening, including a rare appearance by jazz rock trio The Peach Thieves, but was this metal and punk array from Live705 top of the line for you here?

Bands: Treble Charger & A Dire Setback
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: July 27th
Info: Despite an oddly minimal amount of promotion for this concert at first, LopLops was sold out on July 27th for local/Toronto indie/punk quartet Treble Charger's first local concert appearance in well over two years. It was great to have Greig and Bill back in a more intimate setting, and A Dire Setback got a huge rub as openers, but was this show your favourite of these options?

Bands: Dany Laj & The Looks, A Dire Setback, The Din, and K.I.C.K.
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: August 10th
Info: Already no stranger to Sault Ste. Marie from their headlining shows in the 2015-16 winter season, Montreal power pop quartet Dany Laj & The Looks played their first of two Soo shows last year at The Canadian in August, headlining one of Live705's final shows of the year. Also featuring an array of punk and alternative openers, was this your favourite late-2017 concert?

Bands: The Din & Bold Noize
Venue: The Roberta Bondar Pavilion
Date: August 12th
Info: We may not have gotten the Rock the Border Fest at this venue, but The Din still got to play The Roberta Bondar Pavilion last summer when they headlined a special show during The Fringe North International Theatre Festival, marking the one year anniversary of their "Give In To The Din" CD release. Also featuring a rap set by Bold Noize, was this concert your pick?

Bands: Diamond Head, Jack Spades, and Project 421
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: September 2nd
Info: Fans of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal were undoubtedly excited when the legendary Diamond Head came to Sault Ste. Marie to help kick off the fall season with hits like "Am I Evil?" and "Helpless" in tow! Also featuring explosive heavy rock from Jack Spades and Project 421, this well received show was definitely a highlight, but does it win your vote?

Bands: Project 421, A Dire Setback, and Skeyes of Seven
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: September 8th
Info: Though no one knew it at the time, Project 421 played the final concert of their four year run on this September night last year, but fans sure didn't know it from their hard and heavy array of covers and originals! Also featuring punk rock action from A Dire Setback and the first show in over two years from Skeyes of Seven, did you love this concert more than any other choice in this poll late last year?

Bands: DJ Seith, Run Coyote, Beaver Slap, Lightmares, Artificial Dissemination, The Franquilizers, Vol., Jack Spades, Pointless, A Dire Setback, The Elements, Slumshine, Winkstinger, and
Handsome Sandwich
Venue: "Robbie's Church" in Leeburn
Date: September 9th
Info: Finally realizing their goal for a large-scale concert festival, local promoters Six, Two, Oh. hosted the Oh!No 2017 Music Festival last September to a very positive response, attracting dozens of concertgoers for the wide array of local and out of town bands, and the camping and hangouts surrounding it! With this year's now announced, was Oh!No I your pick?

Bands: Dokken, Firehouse, and Love 'n Revenge
Venue: The Essar Centre
Date: September 30th
Info: A rare cross-border promotional event saw Sault Michigan's Superior Entertainment bring a quality hair metal package to The Essar Centre last fall, with past Kewadin Casino attractions Dokken and Firehouse joining forces to bring their classic hits to the Canadian side of the border! Despite mixed attendance levels, did this whet your Hair Scare appetite?

Bands: AlgomA, Shit Liver, Winkstinger, and The Bear Hunters
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: October 2nd
Info: Death metal fans flocked to The New A in October for local/St. Catharine's favourites Shit Liver's tour finale in support of their and fellow locals AlgomA's split covers cassette tape "Trading Faces", with both bands unloading lots of brutal renditions for the occasion! Notably featuring AlgomA's only tour stop after prior medical concerns, did this concert win your vote in this poll?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Jack Spades, and Stegadeth
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: October 7th
Info: Continuing a late-year tradition dating back to 2013, Montreal hardcore punk legends The Ripcordz brought their explosive and heavily tested stage show back to Sault Ste. Marie in October , with familiar linked local punk outfits Jack Spades and Stegadeth providing a fitting compliment themselves. The Ripcordz are always a big attraction, but do you concur?

Bands: K-Man & The 45s, The Faps, and Bizotic
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: October 10th
Info: Maintaining a similarly regular schedule of fall concerts here since 2013, Montreal ska-punk veterans K-Man & The 45s came back to the Soo last fall for their second local show of the year, with Saskatoon noise-punk duo also along for the ride in their own local return! Also featuring Bizotic's creative live attack, would you vote for this show over the others?

Bands: Lucky 13, The 3 Day Millionaires, Cherry Crush, and The Soo Fighters
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: October 14th
Info: Four local bands joined forces last October to help raise funds for the family of Cherry Crush frontwoman Taryn Bugyra, due to medical expenses related to her battle with kidney cancer. A big crowd came out to support her and bear witness to a one-off Lucky 13 reunion and the debut of the Soo's own Foo Fighters tribute band, but were you among them to pick this show?

Bands: The Din & Bizotic
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: October 21st
Info: After a successful local run together, alt-hard rock trio The Din announced their dissolution last fall following their "Suburban Sendoff" concert, where they ended their run with a bang via releasing their final studio album "Suburban Dream". Fans packed LopLops to see Mike Haggith off before his move to Manitoba, and the show & CD received rave reviews, but would you have agreed?

Bands: The Bear Hunters (as Mount Doom), Jack Spades (as Spinal Remains), and The Soo Fighters
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: October 27th
Info: J.D. Pearce's annual Halloween Party concert grew so big in 2017 a single night and venue couldn't contain it, with night #1 at The Rockstar Bar seeing local tributes to Amon Amarth, The Misfits, and The Foo Fighters for costumed brethren. Despite the late drop-out of planned headliners Decatur, fans responded positively to this one, but can you vouch for it in the poll?

Bands: Eclipse (as SSM of a Down), The HTs (as You First & The Passive Aggressives), The Bananas Guerrillas (as Enema of the State), and Anavrin
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: October 28th
Info: The second half of the aforementioned Halloween Party moved downstairs to The Algonquin Pub, where System of a Down, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, Blink-182, and Nirvana tributes gathered to rock a new audience! Notably including Eclipse's last concert set, the one-off Anavrin's only show, and two band debuts, did you like night #2 the most last year?

Bands: Dany Laj & The Looks, Bizotic, Handsome Sandwich, and Slumshine
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: November 18th
Info: Making their second local concert appearance in just over three months, Dany Laj & The Looks brought their upbeat power pop originals to The Rockstar Bar in November, giving existing and new fans another entertaining night of music, alongside some harder-tinged openers! Notable as the last local concert co-promoted by Larry Babic before moving, does this one win your vote?

Bands: The HTs, Bankshot, Nebraska Arms, Christian Pasiak, Jack Spades, A Dire Setback, Stegadeth, and Talk Shit
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: December 27th
Info: A second annual memorial concert for late Hangdowns frontman Guy Thiffault was held at The Canadian after Christmas, with a stacked lineup of punk bands and notables gathering for the occasion! Despite a drumkit mishap, band reunions and debuting new lineups led to a highly anticipated reunion by late 1990s punk favourites Bankshot, but did this take late 2017?

Other: Did we miss a show you preferred in late 2017? For reference sake, metal, hard rock, and punk acts like Adam's Mind, The Alien Boys, The Apocalypse Afterparty, Curtis McKenzie, Destroyer, Dri Hiev, Flying Fortress, Gianni Gagoots, If I Look Strong, You Look Strong, Incredible Woman, Mike McCleary, The Noochin' Lanterns, Northwest, The Raygun Cowboys, Rob Speers & Jesse Cook, Soundcheck, Special Ops, Stiffler's Mom, The Tea Party, Telephone & Address, Them, Twistory, Tym Morrison, and Zaum also played public shows here between July and December, while shows featuring bands otherwise in the poll also occurred. Did you like one whose lineup wasn't 50% heavy, or perhaps preferred a private, non-local, or Sault Michigan event? If we forgot your own favourite show, "Other" is here for you!

VOTE TODAY!! You guys have until May 18th to cast your votes, when last month's and this month's choices will join forces for one final poll on your favourite shows in all of 2017, so cast your votes A.S.A.P.! That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!