Last Month's Poll And Your Final Poll On Your Favourite 2017 Concerts!!

It's the 18th again, so let's shut down last month's poll and launch our new one to round out our "favourite _____ of 2017" polls for another year! As you may remember, we posed this question to you guys last month: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert in the second half of 2017? Only 9 votes came in this past month, which is actually an improvement on our first half of 2017 poll, so there's that, and thanks to everyone who voted!

Diamond Head at The Rockstar Bar on September 2nd (3 votes, 34%)
The Din & Bizotic at LopLops Lounge on October 21st (1 vote, 11%)
Taryn Bugyra benefit at The Rockstar Bar on October 14th (1 vote, 11%)
AlgomA & Shit Liver at The New American Pub on October 2nd (1 vote, 11%)
Oh!No 2017 Music Festival in Leeburn on September 9th (1 vote, 11%)
Mike Mikus & Id Iota at LopLops Lounge on July 15th (1 vote, 11%)
Vaultry & Garbageface at The Canadian Nightclub on July 7th (1 vote, 11%)
Darsombra & Pillory at The New American Pub on July 17th (0 votes)
Project 421 & The Din at The Canadian Nightclub on July 22nd (0 votes)
Treble Charger & A Dire Setback at LopLops Lounge on July 27th (0 votes)
Dany Laj & The Looks at The Canadian on August 10th (0 votes)
The Din at the Fringe North Theatre Festival on August 12th (0 votes)
Project 421 at The Canadian Nightclub on September 8th (0 votes)
Dokken & Firehouse at The Essar Centre on September 30th (0 votes)
The Ripcordz at The Algonquin Pub on October 7th (0 votes)
K-Man & The 45s at LopLops Lounge on October 10th (0 votes)
Halloween Party night #1 at The Rockstar Bar on October 27th (0 votes)
Halloween Party night #2 at The Algonquin Pub on October 28th (0 votes)
Dany Laj & The Looks at The Rockstar Bar on November 18th (0 votes)
Guy Thiffault tribute at The Canadian on December 27th (0 votes)
Other (0 votes)

What do you guys think? In ascending order, you'll notice that all but 7 choices received 0 votes, of which the Treble Charger, Dokken, and Ripcordz shows surprise me the most, given their scope. Alas, it's all in who votes! Six shows tied with a single vote each, which can be hard to accept as a "second place" finish given the turnout, but someone liked each of these shows the best, which is important! All six were big in scale or importance in their own way, from a large-scale festival to a farewell concert and everything in between, and they'll all be back for this month's poll! However, the clear winner of this poll with a third of the overall turnout is the Diamond Head concert at The Rockstar Bar in September, and for all the NWOBHM fans that came out in full force for this concert, I can easily see a pocket of attendees voting this show as the poll winner! There's one more poll ahead, but for the second half of 2018, Diamond Head's local debut is your victor, and thanks to everyone who voted!

As you may expect, we're now bringing the voted shows from last July's poll on your favourite concerts of 2018 together with the aforementioned 7 shows for one final poll on this topic, so here's the question we're posing this month: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert of 2017? Remember, to make the poll, this show must have received a vote in one of our half year polls, so if something's missing, that's why, and if you must vote for it, "Other" will return as an option. Now, here are your final choices as we close the book on 2017 and find out what show was your favourite in all of last year!

Bands: Gianni Gagoots, Bizotic, and Handsome Sandwich
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: February 18th, 2017
Info: What started as the first headlining showcase for creative instrumental jam/hard rock project Gianni Gagoots soon evolved into a special showcase for them and two new local bands, including the second live set from alt-hard rock quartet Bizotic and the debut live appearance from punk/alt/no genre trio Handsome Sandwich. With three extremely original bands on hand, including the headlining sauce masters, it's easy to see why it was well received, but would you concur?

Bands: Bone Yard, Justin Langlois, and The 3 Day Millionaires
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: May 6th, 2017
Info: A fundraiser concert to help kick off last year's Algoma Ride for Autism and help buy sensory equipment for the Algoma Autism Foundation's Sensory Lending Library, May 6th's Rock For Autism was a well attended and received event for a great cause, with country veterans Bone Yard and classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires sandwiching a solo set by Redundant frontman Justin Langlois. Kudos to everyone for their support, but was this your #1 choice?

Bands: Northwest & Greg Callaghan
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: May 27th, 2017
Info: After a 9 month hiatus from the local stage, indie/punk quintet Northwest re-emerged from the studio with a headlining set at LopLops two months ago, reintroducing themselves to fans with their up-tempo originals that punk and indie rock fans can each appreciate! Opened in a solo set by guitarist Greg Callaghan's solo project, this concert received a solid reception, and surely gave fans a preview of their upcoming second EP, but can you vouch for it in this poll?

Bands: CKY, The Wild, Jack Spades, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 8th, 2017
Info: Despite the late drop-out by the reunited As It Stands, fans flocked to The Canadian on June 8th for this highly anticipated concert, with Pennsylvania alt-metal trio CKY hitting the Soo for the first time with a set full of classic and new originals alike! Joined by Victoria, B.C. hard rock standouts The Wild, the new-look Jack Spades' first show since late 2016, and a rousing opener from A Dire Setback, this concert won many fans over, but after winning our early 2017 poll, would you vote for now?

Bands: The Din, A Dire Setback, and Electric Church
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date: June 21st, 2017
Info: A free and all ages concert returned for a third straight year for Tidal Records' annual Go Skateboarding Day event at the John Rhodes Center's skatepark, with The Din returning from 2016 for another vibrant set of original hard rock action, as joined by recent live favourites A Dire Setback and Electric Church in rare outdoor appearances. All three bands rocked the top of the ramp while local skaters demonstrated their skills, but was this concert your favourite of last year?

Bands: Rick E & Kodex, A Dire Setback, Garbageface, Vaultry, Bizotic, Coach Bombay, Handsome Sandwich, and Mikey Thomas
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: July 7th, 2017
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, 2017
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 2017 show?

Bands: Diamond Head, Jack Spades, and Project 421 
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: September 2nd, 2017
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 after winning the late 2017 poll, does it win your vote now?

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, 2017
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: AlgomA, Shit Liver, Winkstinger, and The Bear Hunters
Venue: The New American Pub 
Date: October 2nd, 2017
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: Lucky 13, The 3 Day Millionaires, Cherry Crush, and The Soo Fighters
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: October 14th, 2017
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, 2017
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?

Other: Did we miss a show that you'd prefer to vote for in 2017, perhaps one with few or no metal, hard rock, or punk bands, or one in Sault Michigan? For reference, acts like Adam's Mind, The Alien Boys, Anavrin, The Apocalyspe Afterparty, The Bananas Guerillas, The Band Camp Rejects, Bankshot, Curtis McKenzie, Darsombra, Destroyer, Dokken, Dri Hiev, Eclipse, The Faps, Firehouse, Flying Fortress, Gnaeus, The Gutter Demons, The HTs, If I Look Strong, You Look Strong, Incredible Woman, K-Man & The 45s, Love 'N Revenge, Mike McCleary, Mourning Wood, Nebraska Arms, The Noochin' Lanterns, The Old Wives, Pillory, Pseudo, The Raygun Cowboys, Return For Refund, The Ripcordz, River Jacks, Rob Speers & Jesse Cook, Ruptured Birth, Skeyes of Seven, Soundcheck, Special Ops, Stegadeth, Stiffler's Mom, Talk Shit, The Tea Party, Telephone & Address, Thekillingfield, Them, Treble Charger, Twistory, Tym Morrison, Who Made Who, Worst Days Down, and Zaum all played shows this year not otherwise included in the poll, not to mention shows only featuring bands who played in shows listed in the poll. If, for whatever reason, we missed your preferred choice, "Other" is for you! 

VOTE TODAY!! You guys have until June 18th to cast your votes, and it'll be interesting to see who the ultimate winner is before we shut the polls down for a month! This is it, so vote A.S.A.P., and stay tuned for more news in the coming days! Thanks everyone!