Last Month's Poll Results & Our Latest Poll!!

Before we head off to TONIGHT'S last semifinal in the VM Radio Battle of the Bands, here's the results of last month's poll and the launch of our new poll, as it is the 18th of this month! As you may remember, we posed this question to you guys last month: What was the biggest local metal, hard rock, or punk news story of 2014? We got a decent amount of votes (25), which was easy to add up percentages with, but I was hoping that there'd be more of a response. Now, here are your final results!

Frightlight says goodbye at 10th Halloween Party (7 votes, 28%)

Das Bunkerfest debuts in Garden River in August (3 votes, 12%)

Gob headlines at The Rockstar Bar in October (2 votes, 8%)

The Emergency Festival debuts in August (2 votes, 8%)

Late & Loud reunites for "last show ever" (2 votes, 8%)

Alice Cooper headlines at Kewadin Casino (2 votes, 8%)

VM Radio & VM Rocks go on the air (1 vote, 4%)

AlgomA release "Reclaimed By The Forest (1 vote, 4%)

Random Killing returns for Hardcore Homecoming (1 vote, 4%)

Jack Spades releases debut EP "The First" (1 vote, 4%)

Anvil headlines at The Canadian in March (1 vote, 4%)

Heavy Thursday series starts (and ends) at The Rosie (1 vote, 4%)

Other (1 vote, 4%)

The Bear Hunters release "Eternal Hibernation" (0 votes)

Bret Michaels returns to Kewadin Casino (0 votes)

Detroit reunites at The Algonquin in December (0 votes)

Docks Riverfront Grill becomes Waterfront Legend (0 votes)

Heart & Jason Bonham rock The Essar Centre (0 votes)

Hempfest relocates to Moonbeam (0 votes)

Papa Fogals Chair return for stag & doe in May (0 votes)

The Ripcordz at The Rad Zone's 30th anniversary show (0 votes)

The Roosevelt Hotel is sold, becomes Reggie's West (0 votes)

Shit Liver releases self-titled debut CD (0 votes)

Swearnet movie released in theaters & on DVD (0 votes)

Tuned with Donna Hopper begins on Local2 (0 votes)

Woods of Ypres' first CDs reissued by Earache Records (0 votes)

What do you guys think? In ascending order, I am surprised that more than half of the included choices didn't get any votes, including the Heart and Ripcordz concerts, and The Bear Hunters & Shit Liver's CD releases, but it's all in who votes! The voting was for the most part evenly spread out between choices, so comparatively, I see why most stories got the votes that they did, but I did assume that album releases would get more votes as a whole, and it is very surprising that the private Das Bunkerfest in Garden River finished in second with 3 votes. Good sign for the sequel in August! Winning the poll, in a slight surprise with 7 votes and 28% of the final total, was Frightlight's farewell after their Halloween Party headlining set last October, which is a nice validation for their 5 year run, and even with Rick White absent, the guys delivered one last fright night that fans definitely seemed to enjoy! Thanks to everyone for voting!

As for this month's poll, we're in the home stretch of out "favourite _____ of 2014" questions, so we'll pose this topic to you guys this month: What was your favourite local metal, hard rock, or punk concert in the second half of 2014? We already took care of this poll for the first half of last year, but now, we're looking at a strong back half to 2014, as there were many major concerts for metal, hard rock, and punk fans to take in, but where will the votes fall before we gather the top vote-getters for next month's final poll on favourite concerts from the whole year? We've picked 20 concerts (plus "Other") for you guys to choose from, and remember, to be included in the poll, the show must have taken place between July 1st and December 31st (we already covered shows in June and before, and anything later is obviously 2015.) Also, concerts must have at least 50% of their lineup comprised of metal, hard rock, or punk acts, so shows like Toystock, Rotaryfest, and The Emeergency Festival aren't included.

Also, we're only listing public concerts in the poll like before, hence the absence of Das Bunkerfest and Blood Shed Productions' house parties, but if one of those was your favourite, "Other" is for you! With all of that said, here's some info on all 20 concerts in the poll!

Bands: The Bear Hunters, Jack Spades, and Redundant
Venue: The Rednecks Saloon
Date: July 25th, 2014
Info: The former Nicolet Tavern is best known for hosting cover and bar bands, but this concert last July started to help turn the tide, as The Bear Hunters (with returning guitarist Josh Stephney) put on this hard hitting concert that was uniquely streamed live online for fans who couldn't make it! Also featuring punk rock intensity from Jack Spades & Redundant, was this your top show in the poll?

Bands: Late & Loud, Haggith, and The Danger Cats
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: August 1st, 2014
Info: In advance of singer/guitarist Brendan Christie's move to England, defunct local classic metal quartet Late & Loud reunited one last time on August 1st for what they hyped as their "last show ever", giving Loudmouths a bittersweet presumed send-off! Also featuring hard rock action from Haggith (with new bassist James White) and The Danger Cats, did this win out in late 2014 to you?

Bands: Archspire, Shit Liver, The Bear Hunters, Rotopsy, Crucify The Whore, Brutally Fatal, and James Watterworth
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: August 12th, 2014
Info: One of the many entertaining all ages concerts from Heavy North Entertainment last year saw Vancouver technical death metal band Archspire brutalize a lively crowd of fans at The Oddfellows Hall, leaving hope for them to return in the future! Also featuring the surprise return of Shit Liver, and the reemergence of both Brutally Fatal & the Delusionair himself, was this your favourite?

Bands: Endast, Haggith, and The Revolution
Venue: The Rednecks Saloon
Date: August 27th, 2014
Info: Just a month after The Bear Hunters' successful concert at The Rednecks Saloon, guitarist Mitch Sirie revisited his old promoting days by booking Montreal death metal band Endast there on August 27th, in what proved to be their last Sault Ste. Marie concert before their impending breakup. Also featuring PaperClip acts Haggith & The Revoluton, was this your #1 show in this 6 month span?

Bands: IDNS, Catharcyst, Rotopsy, The Apocalypse Afterparty, Telephone & Address, and Crucify The Whore
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: September 6th, 2014
Info: Despite the late drop-out of Bring the Fight, Heavy North Entertainment still delivered a solid night of action via Toronto crust punk quartet IDNS and Sudbury metal veterans Catharcyst, each brutalizing fans in their own diverse ways! Also featuring the public concert debut of The Apocalypse Afterparty & the CD release from Telephone & Address, does this get your vote?

Bands: Random Killing, Jack Spades, Destroilet, Gatgas, and The Elements
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: September 13th, 2014
Info: It was time for Hardcore Homecoming on this September night, as Toronto punk legends Random Killing (featuring the Soo's own Drew Kiteley) played locally for the first time in 17 years at The Rockstar Bar to a huge reception! Also featuring London hardcore punk rockers Gatgas (with the Soo's own Bob Bromley & Garry Ingram), did you love this huge homecoming concert the most?

Bands: K-Man & The 45s and The Danger Cats
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: September 18th, 2014
Info: Under a year after their well recieved local debut, Montreal ska-punk quintet K-Man & The 45s made their long awaited return to Sault Ontario on September 18th for what was originally intended as the after-party for the cancelled Misfits concert. They delivered a fun set of their originals and "Ska-Mones" covers, with The Danger Cats opening in kind, but was this your top choice?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Jack Spades, Destroilet, and DJ Seith
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: October 11th, 2014
Info: Popular local music/skate shop The Rad Zone celebrated it's 30th anniversary in October at The Rockstar Bar, where Montreal hardcore punk legends The Ripcordz headlined this huge concert for Monk and company! Numerous draws and giveaways also populated this very well attended concert, and the local support delivered nicely, but was this your favourite show of late 2014?

Bands: Haggith, Sykotyk Rampage, and Greg Callaghan
 Venue: The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
Date: October 25th, 2014
Info: The annual Soo Zombie Walk enjoyed it's second year headquartered at The Bushplane Museum last fall, with the primary band lineup again moved to the pre-show entertainment, with Haggith, Sykotyk Rampage, and Northwest's Greg Callaghan each delivering special sets with visual or audio influence from the brain-eaters around them! Everything was entertaining, but do you agree?

Bands: Gob, Jack Spades, Northwest, and Redundant
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: October 29th, 2014
Info: It took 6 years for Langley. B.C. punk veterans Gob to come back to Sault Ste. Marie, but they sure made the most of it with a great night of original hits for a packed crowd at The Rockstar Bar over the Halloween season! Featuring local support from Jack Spades, Northwest (with new drummer Marc Santos), and Redundant, the crowd at this show spoke for itself, but did you enjoy it too?

Bands: Chase Wigmore, Archelon, Haggith, Crucify The Whore, Project 421, The North Shore, Rotopsy, The Revolution, James Watterworth & friends, Mikey Thomas, Miracle Man, and Phat Boii
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: October 30th, 2014
Info: Heavy North Entertainment's second annual Devil's Night concert at The Oddfellows Hall brought another diverse lineup of local bands to the stage last fall, with Sudbury death metal band Archelon devastating fans late in the night! Notably also featuring the local homecoming of Chase Wigmore & the rebirth of The Strange Coyotes, did you love Devil's Night the most?

Bands: Frightlight, Destroilet, and Sykotyk Rampage
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: October 29th, 2014
Info: If local horror punk/metal quintet Frightlight had to disband after a successful five year run, then going out at frontman Johnny Pints' 10th annual Halloween party (where they debuted in 2009) was the perfect way to do it! Though Jesse Cook filled in on guitar for the absent Rick White, they left on a high note, and the openers set the tone well, but was this your favourite show in the poll?

Bands: The Brains, Boids, and The Elements
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: November 2nd, 2014
Info: The last show of Johnny Pints' "Punkrocktober" slate of punk and metal shows was this clash of Montreal punk bands, with psychobilly fan favourites The Brains and punk standouts Boids rocking The Rockstar Bar on this Sunday night to close out the Halloween season! Also joined by local funk/hard rockers The Elements, were you there to back up this show as your favourite of late 2014?

Bands: Redundant, The Thrill Junkies, Mannapool, Mourning Wood, The Elements, Haggith, and Late Shift
Venue: The Delta Waterfront Hotel
Date: November 14th, 2014
Info: The second annual Rock For Dimes funraiser for the March for Dimes took place at the former Holiday Inn last November, with 7 bands convening for a great cause, including a rare Redundant headlining set and The Thrill Junkies' first show in 10 months! Though the planned youth battle of the bands was cancelled, did you still love Rock For Dimes?

Bands: The Pixo Control, Haggith, Project 421, The Thrill Junkies, Redudnant, Dillinger, Tym Morrison, Infamous, Shit Creek Survivor, Bocturoc Academy of Music students, Rotopsy, and The Strange Coyotes 
Venue: The Primavera Banquet Hall
Date: November 21st, 2014
Info: Mourning Wood bandmates Terry Eaton & Steven Flint put on Sault Band-O-Rama on November 21sr, uniting a dozen local musical acts for an all day, all ages event at The Primavera Hall, including headliners The Pixo Control, the debuting Infamous, and Haggith's last set with bassist Caleb Cachagee. There are hopes for this event to return, but did you like this event the most?

Bands: The Bear Hunters, Livid & The Bloodthirsty, and Haggith
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: November 29th, 2014
Info: After a lengthy recording process for their debut album "Eternal Hibernation", local death metal favourites The Bear Hunters finally released it to a strong reception at The Canadian last fall, with Josh Stephney back for the occasion! Also featuring Brampton death metal band Livid & The Bloodthirsty and Haggith's first set with new bassist Jordan Leach, did this reign supreme to you?

Bands: White Cowbell Oklahoma & The Paceshifters
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: November 30th, 2014
Info: On the same night as Toystock, Toronto southern hard rock veterans White Cowbell Oklahoma returned to the Soo for the first time in 4 years at the end of November to rock fans with their over-the-top, power tool infused stage show once again during their 15th anniversary tour! Also featuring Dutch hard rock band The Paceshifters, is this your preferred show?

Bands: The Cover-Up, Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide, The Boot Hill Crooners, and Frank Deresti
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: December 20th, 2014
Info: This seasonal concert served as a Christmas showcase for bands from local punk/roots record label Tidal Records, with pageless new cover punk quartet The Cover-Up headlining alongside Celtic/punk mainstays Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide, and more! Fans of Tidal Records definitely ate this up, but were you among them over the holidays?

Bands: Sleigher, Ms. Tillers, and The Elements
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: December 20th, 2014
Info: While Tidal Records ruled upstairs, the second annual X-Mess acoustic concert took over The Algonquin Pub downstairs, with Jack Spades members rocking as Sleigher, Danger Cats members playing as Ms. Tillers, and The Elements playing a special unplugged set of their own! Another fun unique event, but does this get your vote from this 6 month period?

Bands: Detroit, Destroilet, Bad Back, and Jack Spades
Venue: The Algonquin Pub
Date: December 23rd, 2014
Info: After a breakup lasting almost 5 years, local/Toronto hardcore punk quartet Detroit held a one-off reunion at The Algonquin Pub just before Christmas Eve, delivering their fast and furious originals to a local audience once again! Also featuring singer Brent Ellis' first set as a co-vocalist with Destroilet, this was a great way to end the year, but do you agree with that?

Other: Did we miss your preferred concert from July-December of last year? For reference, hard rock, metal, and punk bands like Beaumont Avenue, The Faps, Gnaeus, Griphook, Havadder, Long Shot, Lucky 13, Michael White & The White, RPM, Stiffler's Mom, That's Chester, Them, and Who Made Who all played public local concerts in the latter half of 2014, not to mention shows featuring bands already included in the chosen concerts. Maybe you want to vote for a private event, a show with less than 50% heavier bands, or maybe one from Sault Michigan? If, for any reason, your preferred choice isn't above, vote for "Other"!

VOTE TODAY!! You guys have until April 18th to cast your votes, after which we'll compile the top scoring shows with the high vote-getters from last summer's poll on the first half of 2015, in order to determine your favourite concert from all of last year! These results should be interesting, so cast your votes A.S.A.P., stay tuned for weekend concert previews TOMORROW, and we'll see you guys at The Canadian TONIGHT for night #3 of the VM Radio Battle of the Bands! Thanks everyone!