More than or equally to the Sault Ontario metal scene (4 votes, 21%)
Casually or occasionally (4 votes, 21%)
Only for major Kewadin Casino concerts (4 votes, 21%)
Not at all (4 votes, 21%)
Just certain Sault Michigan bands/shows (3 votes, 16%)
Casually or occasionally (4 votes, 21%)
Only for major Kewadin Casino concerts (4 votes, 21%)
Not at all (4 votes, 21%)
Just certain Sault Michigan bands/shows (3 votes, 16%)
What do you guys think? Honestly, this is hard for me to break down full opinions on, because the voting was so even on this poll. The options that favoured and didn't favour Sault Michigan awareness did jump out to an early lead though, but the middle options pulled even by the end of the voting period, leading to this dead heat, more or less. I will say that I am encouraged to see people stating that they do follow Sault Michigan (even casually), and if you wanted to generalize it, 11 of the 19 voters indicated that they do follow Sault Michigan bands & concerts beyond just major Kewadin Casino events on at least a casual basis, which is encouraging! I hope there's more integration and awareness of Sault Michigan metal and hard rock rock bands & shows by Canadian fans in the future, and I'll surely do my part to help link things more! I admit that I've had thoughts in the past about intentionally separating all posts on the SMS between each of the Twin Saults, or even starting a dedicated Sault Michigan Metal Scene site, but that way, I think it'd just reinforce the divisions that I wouldn't want to see between the Twin Saults. We're so close, and there's so much talent on both sides, so hopefully things will be further linked and cooperative as time goes on. Thanks to everyone for voting!
With that said, what's this month's poll? It's somewhat of a revisit of a poll we launched on the SMS last summer, and with new band dissolutions and inactivities in the year+ since then, I wanted to explore current sentiment on this question: Which of these defunct or recently inactive bands would you most want to see hit the stage again? We got a lot of votes and solid results following our first stab at this poll in June 2011, but in our latest exploration of bands you guys would want to see return, we've expanded things a bit. Now, there's 25 choices (plus "Other"), including 15 from Sault Ontario and 10 from the Sault Michigan area (they weren't in last year's poll), and just in case you're curious, here's the criteria for poll inclusion. Each of these bands are either defunct, inactive, or have not played live in around 6 months or more, though we're only including recent bands (active in 2005 or later), just to focus on those that are fresh in the mind and more likely for a theoretical reunion concert. Also, none of these bands are studio-only projects, earlier names of active groups, or zero-vote getters from last year.
And for clarification, I have not included Woods of Ypres simply because there's no realistic way that they could ever come back following David Gold's passing. If we included them, they'd have a very strong chance at winning (and deservingly so), but like last year, the poll is intended to focus on bands who could play live in the future if all the right cards were drawn, and Woods' chances are nil without David around. No disrespect or slight is intended! With that said, here are this month's choices for this poll on the bands you'd most wanna see back on stage again, and hopefully I picked a good sampling of bands!
Absolute: Though most of this band's lineup has reunited in similar later bands like Riot! By Night and NoXcape, this Pickford, Michigan hard rock quartet saw the longest sustained success in their late 2000s run, which saw them play numerous concerts in the Eastern U.P. and record some well received originals in the process! Despite the closeness of the members' later groups, would an Absolute reunion be up your alley?
Bad Side: After a noticeably successful run in the local & Michigan rock scenes in the 2000s, this talented blues/hard rock outfit split up in 2010, with main members Melissa Krahnke & Jason Mapes later moving out of state. With three entertaining albums and numerous high profile concerts to their credit, Bad Side left a deep mark during they heyday, but would you want to see them back on a local stage more than any other band?
Bent Rollercoaster: This Eckerman, Michigan hard rock quartet made some noticeable waves in the region during their two year run in the late 2000s before going inactive in 2009. Though members have popped up in later bands like Half A Man & Hammerspace, there are Bent Rollercoaster fans who would welcome a return of their laid back and diverse hard rock sound, but are you among them?
Borderline Divine/Stillbroke: Though Borderline Divine only went on hiatus in July, existing band projects & frontman Jesse Frigault's move to Alberta leave them unlikely for an imminent reunion. That said, this talented Sault Ontario metal/hard rock quartet hit many heights under both names from 2008 onward, including a battle of the bands victory & an EP release under the Stillbroke name, but would you want to see them return the most?
Bring The Fallen: After a successful two year run that saw them play numerous major Sault Ontario metal shows (and win no less than three battles of the bands), Bring The Fallen sadly disbanded in the spring of 2011, though most of their members remain active in similar sounding bands. Was their brand of explosive death metal something you'd want to see back on the live concert stage?
Clownsack: Ever since 2005, this Sault Michigan band of clowns have brought mayhem and funk-inspired hard rock to local stages and beyond, including the releases of two CDs! However, they haven't visibly taken the stage since 2010, and have offered few updates since their latest CD release last year, leaving their status in question somewhat. Would a return of Clownsack and their clown sauce be ideal for you as a local music fan?
Detroit: This local/Toronto hardcore punk quartet featuring Lion Ride alumni (in swapped roles) tore it up in their 2008-2010 run with plenty of fast paced and brutal original songs, including the material on their two demo EPs! It should be noted that members Brenton Ellis & Curtis Faux continue to play and record very similar material in their current band Maximum RNR, but did the all local attack of Detroit leave you wanting more?
Dirty Virgin: Last seen on the local stage in March, Dirty Virgin have kept their profile alive with occasional concerts in recent years, but they've still only played two public concerts since the end of 2009. Still, their blend of punk and 1980s glam metal has attracted a solid local following, and their original run in the late 2000s had many memorable moments, but do you want Dirty Virgin to return to the stage sooner rather than later?
Elipzis: One of the most visible and successful Sault Michigan hard rock bands of the early 2010s, Elipzis played numerous major concerts at both local and Lower Peninsula venues before breaking up in the summer of 2011 to make way for RedStone Riot, a similar sounding Muskegon band featuring three of Elipzis' final members. That said, would you prefer Elipzis' brand of female fronted hard rock to come back to the stage?
Fitswitch: The winners of this poll last year, these punk/metal mainstays rocked local concert venues with their alcohol fueled and Misfits inspired sound through 2007, and then with the occasional one off show in recent years. Though four former members play similar (and more horror-influenced) material currently as Frightlight, Fitswitch maintain a sizeable fanbase, so would you want to see them back in concert?
Gates of Winter: Though still active and working on new material towards a third album (albeit slowly), Gates of Winter are approaching four years since they last played a live concert, partly due to some members living out of town. Their increasingly heavy progressive/death metal sound has attracted a huge following and major notices in the metal community in their mid-late 2000s heyday, but would you want to see them back on stage the most?
Half Past: Approaching a year since their most recent concert, this Sault Ontario hard rock quartet has offered little to no updates since the first few months of 2012, with some members focusing on newer bands like Skeyes of Seven & Frightlight. Defunct or not, Half Past showed lots of talent and cohesiveness in their various incarnations, but would you welcome their hard rock covers and originals in concert once again?
Insipid Brutality: Recently visible again with a posthumous album release, this mid-late 2000s Sault Michigan death metal quintet (featuring future members of Swayze Train and Midnight Manual) were among the most brutal sights in the Eastern U.P. at the time, though only two band members currently live in the area. Does Sault Michigan need a death metal infusion thanks to an Insipid Brutality reunion?
Integrated System of Machines: Though four former band members have recorded similar material in their later band End of Existence, I.S.O.M. were among the most prominent metal sights in the area in the mid-late 2000s, including some major support gigs out of town & the release of their "Apocalyptic Visions" album. Would an I.S.O.M. reunion be tops in your mind if it was up to you?
Lion Ride: The writing was on the wall given the late 2011 slowdown in activity, but the local/Toronto metal quintet's mutual dissolution in February still shocked many fans, especially with the heights they collectively hit since their 2007 launch! Most of the band has stayed active in local & Southern Ontario bands since, and they didn't shut the door on a farewell concert, but would you want that more than any other band's return?
Nixxon Dixxon: After a successful mid-late 2000s run in the Sault Michigan scene, including some huge opening sets at major Kewadin Casino concerts, Nixxon Dixxon dissolved in 2010, with members gradually splintering off into current acts like The London Gentlemen & The Hubbard-Menard Band. During their run though, their diverse hard rock/metal covers and entertaining originals gave them a great following, but would you want them to return?
Oddfellow: One of the biggest hard rock bands in the Eastern U.P. in the 2000s, this Cedarville, Michigan quartet were highly visible thanks to the release of their only album "Go" and major concerts in the area and beyond (including a prominent placement at a 2006 battle of the bands in Detroit) through their 2008 breakup! Though the members are doing very different things now, would you be for an Oddfellow return show in the future?
Renderware: Blending Tom Waits and Motorhead into their unique sound, this mid-2000s hard rock quartet attracted some positive notices with their frequent concerts and creative original material before dissolving circa 2007, with members later popping up in indie/punk bands like Talk Shit and Nebraska Arms. Renderware were popular in their day, but would you want to see them back on stage more than these other bands?
Sativa Rose: Last visibly active in December, this popular classic metal outfit melted many faces with their proficient covers and originals from their 2010 debut onward, though members have since moved on to bands like The Valentine's Day Massacre and Winkstinger. Despite the lack of a singer until their final months, Sativa Rose were an entertaining and dependable band in the local scene, but are you most for them returning to live shows?
SBD: An experimental grunge band featuring two former members of No Arrow, SBD had some successes (and even an album release) during their 2010 peak, though they have not played live since that year despite scattered activity and song uploads since. I heard that frontman Dann Pichette may relaunch SBD in his new home of Terrace Bay, but their local concert hiatus continues, so would you wanna see them back on stage in the Soo?
Sense of Truth: One of the more prominent Sault Ontario hard rock bands in the late 2000s, Sense of Truth went from their debut battle of the bands win in 2008 to even greater success at major later concerts, along with recording sessions for an unreleased EP, before breaking up in the fall of 2011 after a lengthy inactive period. Do you miss Sense of Truth's modern hard rock sound more than any other inactive local band?
Shift: A supergroup of sorts featuring Bad Side, Clownsack, Kickback, and Wild Fate alumni, Shift were a frequent sight at Sault Michigan and Upper Peninsula bars in the late 2000s with their blend of female fronted hard rock before quietly going inactive in 2010, with members moving on to newer bands like Seeking Reverence & Krosswalk. Would Shift's proficient and fun covers be welcomed back to a local stage to you?
Soldiers of Misfortune: Though no online pages of theirs survive, this mid-late 2000s metal band was a favourite sight at local concerts thanks to their blistering metal covers, and though they were broken up by 2007, members can be seen frequently in newer bands like Winkstinger and Cowboys & Indians. I really miss them, but am I alone in that sentiment to see Soldiers of Misfortune return for a show down the road?
State of Misery: Featuring past & present members of The Valentine's Day Massacre, Stealing Kisses, and March Into Regression, this young local death metal band melted many faces in their off & on run from 2010-2012, and opened for some major bands along the way, but their multiple breakups and quiet stretches were disappointing. Would you be for another State of Misery reunion in the future?
Other: Do you have another band in mind? Did I miss your favourite inactive local band, or are you going for a non-metal act? A studio-only project? One that got no votes in last year's poll? An older band from way back in the day, like Foothill Road or Bludgeoned? If I missed the band you most want to see returning to the local concert stage, vote for "Other"!
VOTE TODAY!!!! You have until October 18th to make your voices heard in this month's poll, and I hope to see a lot of votes this month, as it is a question that many local fans can concur on. Everyone has bands that they like that don't play live anymore/as much, so hopefully we get a nice sample of readership this month! That's all for now, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews and more as the weeks rolls on! Thanks everyone!
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