Last Month's Poll Results & Our Poll On Your Favourite Metal Concerts Of 2013!!

For our second post of the day, we're closing down last month's poll and launching our last of our "favourite _____ of 2013" polls, though they're very much linked! As you may remember, last month's poll posed this question to you guys: What was your favourite local metal/hard rock concert in the second half of 2013? We scored a solid 48 votes, much higher than in the early 2013 poll from last July, but possibly indicative of the stronger concert lineup from July and after, so thanks to everyone for voting! The final results from last month are below, so check them out, and give our extended preview of TOMORROW NIGHT'S Dank Fest a look in the post below this one!

Dayglo Abortions at The Rosie on September 9th (12 votes, 25%)
Haggith at The Algonquin Pub on December 7th (8 votes, 17%)
The Bear Hunters at The Oddfellows Hall on October 30th (6 votes, 13%)
Frightlight at The Roosevelt Hotel on August 1st (6 votes, 13%)
The Ripcordz at The Roosevelt Hotel on October 26th (5 votes, 10%)
Other (3 votes, 6%)
Bunchofuckingoofs at The Roosevelt Hotel on August 12th (2 votes, 4%)
Bam Margera at The Canadian on December 14th (1 vote, 2%)
Biipiigwan at The Moose Lodge on November 24th  (1 vote, 2%)
Airbourne at The Canadian Nightclub on August 19th  (1 vote, 2%)
Swampstravaganza III at Oddfellows Hall on August 10th  (1 vote, 2%)
Oddzfest 2013 at The Oddfellows Hall on July 26th (1 vote, 2%)
The Golers at The Roosevelt Hotel on July 4th (1 vote, 2%)
The Creepshow at The Rosie on September 16th (0 votes)
 The Hydra's Teeth at The Algonquin on September 20th (0 votes)
Ray Brown Benefit at The Verdi Hall on October 11th (0 votes)
Crash Karma at The Rockstar Bar on October 18th (0 votes)
Diemonds at The Algonquin Pub on November 21st (0 votes)
Amy Ellis Benefit at The Canadian on November 23rd (0 votes)
Toystock at The Canadian Nightclub on December 1st (0 votes)
Garden of Bedlam at The Algonquin on December 27th (0 votes)

What do you guys think? In ascending order, I'm most surprised that no one voted for Garden of Bedlam or The Hydra's Teeth's late-2013 headlining dates (or any of the benefit events), but it all depends who votes. Oddly, all July-August shows in the poll got at least one, which is a great sign for last year's summer slate of concerts! I'm surprised that all of the 1 vote choices that tied for eighth didn't get more love (particulary Airbourne & Bam Margera), while the BFGs show's 7th place finish with 2 votes made sense. I can't speak for the three "Other" voters, but the top 5 shows are all deserving in their own right! The Ripcordz' Halloween party was a smashing success, Frightlight's benefit for Mike Gingras' short film was well recieved, the Devil's Night show at The Oddfellows Hall was huge for many of our younger metalheads, and Haggith's farewell show was definitely a bang to go out on! However, the winner of this poll with 12 votes and 25% of the final total was the Dayglo Abortions show at The Rosie last September, which is slightly surprising given the rainstorm that severely affected the turnout, but fans who braved the weather were rewarded for sure!

Thanks to everyone for voting, but we're not quite done! As promised, once we had winning choices for each of our half-year polls on your favourite concerts of 2013, we'd combine the top vote getters into one winner-take-all final poll, so with that in mind, I'll pose this question: What was your favourite local metal/hard rock concert of 2013? As only 19 individual shows got votes in the polls, we'll combine them all for this one (plus "Other"), and they include 7 from January-June and 12 from July-December. No concerts that didn't make either poll or get a vote in them are included, but if you want to cast a belated vote for them, you do have "Other"! Now, here's a refresher on each of your choices for our last of the 2013 polls!

Bands: 40 Sons
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: February 28th, 2013
Info: After a three year absence from local concert dates, local concert promoter J.D. Pearce brought Hamilton hard rock quartet 40 Sons back to the Soo (this time at The Rockstar Bar) for their first of two local shows this year, and they received high praise for their talents, energy, and professionalism following this concert! Was 40 Sons' first Soo stop your favourite of the past year?

Bands: The Suicide Kings, Haggith, The Pesto Shirts, The Bear Hunters, Late & Loud, Giwakwa, The Northern Tragedy, Sarah's Valley, and Sykotyk Rampage
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: April 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th, 2013
Info: The biggest Sault Ontario battle of the bands of 2013 (and the winner of our early 2013 poll) saw 9 acts battle across four consecutive Wednesdays last April, with local hard rockers The Suicide Kings claiming victory in the finals, and wild cards Haggith & The Pesto Shirts outperforming their initial sets to make the podium! Notably featuring many Rockstar Bar debuts, the return of Free Beer under the Sarah's Valley name, and Late & Loud's last concerts before falling inactive, was the Rockstar Bar Battle of the Bands tops to you in 2013?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Destroilet, and T-Rex Manning
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: April 13th, 2013
Info: Almost 6 years after last hitting Sault Ontario, Montreal hardcore punk legends The Ripcordz made a triumphant return with a well attended and very entertaining concert at The Algonquin Pub on April 13th, inciting some solid pits and intensity! Also featuring local talent from T-Rex Manning and the first live set from Destroilet in over 2 years, was The Ripcordz' 2013 local show your favourite of the year?

Bands: Jack Spades, T-Rex Manning, Haggith, The Bear Hunters, The Suicide Kings, Greg Callaghan, and Crimson Crusade
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: May 20th, 2013
Info: Local concert promoter & singer J.D. Pearce held The Crusade, a cancer fundraising concert on May 20th featuring a wide array of local metal and punk talent, including a rare headlining set from T-Rex Manning, Crimson Crusade's first show in over 6 months, and the surprise debut of J.D.'s new band Jack Spades! Lots of money was raised for the cause, but did you enjoy the music more than at other shows?

Bands: Skeletonwitch, Caym, The Bear Hunters, and Crimson Crusade
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 3rd, 2013
Info: Perhaps the biggest metal show in scope to hit Sault Ontario in early 2013, Ohio blackened thrash metallers Skeletonwitch took over The Canadian on June 3rd with Toronto openers Caym in tow for the action! Also featuring local death metal openers The Bear Hunters and Crimson Crusade (who released their debut EP that night), this show had a great response, but was it your favourite?

Bands: The Golers, Destroilet, and AlgomA
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: June 20th, 2013
Info: Vancouver crossover thrash quartet The Golers came to The Rosie with a purpose on June 20th, and they rocked an intense and very entertaining set for local fans in their first of two stops in Sault Ontario this summer! Also featuring the Rosie debuts (and second 2013 dates) of Destroilet & AlgomA, did The Golers' first Soo concert top early 2013 in your eyes?

Bands: Striker, Frightlight, The Bear Hunters, and Giwakwa
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: June 25th, 2013
Info: June went out with a bang as Edmonton speed metallers Striker impressed everyone in attendance with their proficient originals that definitely called to mind the 1980s (hence that night's costume contest!) Also featuring Frightlight's first show in 8 months and the last Rosie appearance from Josh Stephney of The Bear Hunters & Giwakwa, did this late-June concert top the last year in your opinion?

Bands: The Golers, Haggith, and The Northern Tragedy
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: July 4th, 2013
Info:  Just two weeks after headlining at The Rosie, Vancouver crossover/thrash quartet The Golers returned for another well received and intense night of metal on the Fourth of July, with recent Rockstar Bar Battle competitors Haggith & The Northern Tragedy picking up where AlgomA and Destroilet left off as openers! Like the June show, The Golers' local encore was a hit, but was it your favourite 2013 event?

Bands: West of Hell, Bring The Fallen, The Bear Hunters, Shit Liver, James Watterworth, Giwakwa, and Crimson Crusade
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: July 26th, 2013
Info: In honour of Bear Hunters guitarist Josh Stephney's impending move out of the Soo, he held Oddzfest 2013 Metal Mash-Up at The Oddfellows Hall on July 26th, which featured a one-off reunion of his death metal band Bring The Fallen, his last show with sludge metal quartet Giwakwa, and an explosive headlining set from Vancouver metal standouts West of Hell! Rain and a fire alarm threw wrenches into the fun, but was this huge show worth the trip?

Bands: Frightlight, The Bear Hunters, Redundant, and Chronic Demonic
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: August 1st, 2013
Info: To raise funds for Frightlight bassist Mike "Eddie Fright" Gingras' then-upcoming short film "The Kid Who Made The Face", a benefit show was held on August 1st featuring an assortment of established local talent, plus a one song preview appearance by new local punk/metal band Chronic Demonic! The movie came out to positive reactions this year, but was the benefit your favourite from all of last year?

Bands: Warsenal, RedD Monkey, The Bear Hunters, Haggith, The Northern Tragedy, Sykotyk Rampage, James Watterworth, Crimson Crusade, and Guy Smith
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: August 10th, 2013
Info: The third annual Sewer Swampstravaganza went down last August, and despite inconsistent attendance and the late dropoff of Goatface Killa, fans were treated to a nice diverse lineup of local talent (covering everything from folk to death metal), with Montreal thrash trio Warsenal brutalizing in an explosive headlining set! A fourth installment kicks off next month, but was last year's Swampstravaganza tops to you?

Bands: The Bunchofuckingoofs, The Last of the V8 Interceptors, Destroilet, and Shit Liver
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: August 12th, 2013
Info: Hardcore punk fans at The Rosie were treated to another huge night of music on August 12th, when notorious Toronto favourites The Bunchofuckingoofs headlined this show alongside Victoria, B.C. trio The Last of the V8 Interceptors' first local stop of the year, and fans ate it up! Notably also featuring Shit Liver's last public date before moving to St. Catharines, was this your favourite show of this 12 month stretch?

Bands: Airbourne, Bleeker Ridge, Garden of Bedlam, and The Suicide Kings
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: August 19th, 2013
Info: In one of the highest anticipated concerts of last summer, Australian hard rock standouts Airbourne made their Sault Ste. Marie debut in August to run wild all over The Canadian, with Orillia's own Bleeker Ridge finally getting a regional make-up date as well! Also featuring local hard rock standouts Garden of Bedlam and The Suicide Kings, this was a big success, but would you agree the most?

Bands: The Dayglo Abortions, The Last of the V8 Interceptors, Destroilet, Cross Dog, and Jack Spades
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: September 9th, 2013
Info: Despite a major rainstorm that flooded The Canadian, the show (which won our late 2013 poll) went on at The Rosie as Victoria, B.C.'s Dayglo Abortions made their long awaited return to Sault Ste. Marie for an intense night of hardcore punk brutality! A skilled lineup including local musician Mark Rand's new Peterborough trio Cross Dog opened the proceedings, and attendees who braved the weather had a ball, but were you among them?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Jack Spades, and Destroilet
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel
Date: October 26th, 2013
Info: Local promoter/Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce's long-running Halloween party moved from The Algonquin Pub to The Rosie last fall, and hosted an out of town band once again too, as Montreal hardcore punk legends The Ripcordz made their second local appearance of the year as the headliners! Though Frightlight couldn't play, Jack Spades & Destroilet kept the intensity rolling, but did you enjoy it the most?

Bands: The Bear Hunters, Crimson Crusade, Crucify The Whore, Rotopsy, Chase Wigmore, Project Legion, James Watterworth, and Brutaly Fatal
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: October 30th, 2013
Info: Upstart independent label Blood Shed Productions and future Heavy North Entertainment owner Tyler St. Amour made their first public concert splash (outside of house parties) on Devil's Night last year with this all-local feast of death and grind metal, including many fans' first glimpses of Blood Shed acts! Notably featuring Crimson Crusade & Project Legion's last sets to date, was this show your favourite?

Bands: The Bear Hunters, Biipiigwan, and Bad Back
Venue: The Moose Lodge
Date: November 24th, 2013
Info: A rare metal event at The Moose Lodge (excluding stag & does) took place on November 24th with Ottawa doom metal favourites Biipiigwan brutalizing at this all ages show, with The Bear Hunters and grungecore duo Bad Back bookending the festivities with their own well received sounds! Definitely a well received show, but was it your favourite of 2013?

Bands: Haggith, Sykotyk Rampage, The Danger Cats, Project 421, and The Strange Coyotes
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: December 7th, 2013
Info: Local grunge quartet and Rockstar Bar Battle runners-up Haggith surprisingly announced their breakup after this show last December, but they went out with a bang, playing some of their best songs for the occasion! Also featuring the debuts of members Daniel Horton & Mike Haggith's new bands to open the show, this was a bittersweet event, but was it your #1 last year?

Bands: Fuckface Unstoppable, Wilson, Destroilet, Jack Spades, and The Bear Hunters
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: December 14th, 2013
Info: Some fans didn't know what to expect when it came out that Bam Margera's band was rocking The Canadian last December, but it was a party & a half from his band Fuckface Unstoppable and openers Wilson, with skilled local support from Destroilet & Jack Spades as well! Notably featuring Viva La Battle winners The Bear Hunters (with the returning Josh Stephney in tow), was this your favourite show last year?

Other: Did another metal/hard rock-featured concert in Sault Ontario beat all of these? For reference, heavier bands like Aggressive Acoustic, Catgut, Caveman Morrison, Crued, Crush, Diemonds, For Those About To Rock, Glitch, Greber, Griphook, The Hydra's Teeth, Last Bullet, Late Shift, Loud Lazer, Lucky 13, Mama Kin, Mike Haggith & The Din, One Bad Son, Pillory, Punch, The Rabid Whole, Riding Shotgun, Sailor's Tongue, Skeyes of Seven, Sleep When You're Dead, Social Suicide, Soul Killing Female, Stiffler's Mom, Telephone & Address, The Thrill Junkies, Tym Morrison, Winkstinger, and Xanadu (among others) rocked the area at shows not mentioned above, along with extra shows featuring bands at some of the above concerts. Perhaps you preferred a show with no metal bands, or one in Sault Michigan, but if your preferred choice isn't listed above, vote for "Other"!

VOTE TODAY! You guys have until May 18th to cast your votes to determine the fan favourite metal/hard rock concert of 2013, and like before, I respectfully discourage band-ran campaigns to stuff the ballot for a given show. I want a fair and representative sampling from our readers, this isn't a popularity contest. Cast your votes A.S.A.P. above on the right, and I'll see you guys tomorrow at The Oddfellows Hall for Dank Fest! Thanks everyone!