Halloween Party at The Algonquin Pub on October 31st (7 votes, 32%)
Gob & Jack Spades at The Rockstar Bar on October 29th (4 votes, 18%)
Random Killing at The Rockstar Bar on September 13th (4 votes, 18%)
IDNS at The Oddfellows Hall on September 6th (3 votes, 14%)
Devil's Night at The Oddfellows Hall on October 30th (1 vote, 4.5%)
The Ripcordz at The Rockstar Bar on October 11th (1 vote, 4.5%)
Late & Loud at The Rockstar Bar on August 1st (1 vote, 4.5%)
Other (1 vote, 4.5%)
The Bear Hunters at The Rednecks Saloon on July 25th (0 votes)
Archspire at The Oddfellows Hall on August 12th (0 votes)
Endast at The Rednecks Saloon on August 27th (0 votes)
K-Man & The 45s at The Rockstar Bar on September 18th (0 votes)
Zombie Walk at The Bushplane Museum on October 25th (0 votes)
The Brains & Boids at The Rockstar Bar on November 2nd (0 votes)
Rock For Dimes at The Delta Hotel on November 14th (0 votes)
Sault Band-O-Rama at The Primavera on November 21st (0 votes)
The Bear Hunters at The Canadian on November 29th (0 votes)
White Cowbell Oklahoma at Rockstar Bar on Nov. 30th (0 votes)
Tidal Records at The Rockstar Bar on December 20th (0 votes)
X-Mess 2 at The Algonquin Pub on December 20th (0 votes)
Detroit at The Algonquin Pub on December 23rd (0 votes)
What do you guys think In ascending order, I'm very surprised that 13 of the 20 shows picked for the poll received no votes, including none from November or December. In particular, I assumed there'd be votes in particular for The Bear Hunters' CD release show & the Detroit reunion, but there's the joys of who ends up voting! Of the four shows with a single vote, I assumed that the Ripcordz-headlined Rad Zone anniversary show would get more of a response, but at least it got some love! The IDNS concert surprised me with it's fourth place run, especially among other Oddfellows shows late last year that had bigger lineups. The top three were all J.D. Pearce-promoted events, with the Gob and Random Killing concerts finishing high (as expected) with a second place tie, while last year's annual Halloween party won the half-year poll with 7 votes and 32% of the final tally! Good sign for this popular annual event, and Frightlight deserved the big send-off, but another poll awaits!
Bands: Pillory, Rotopsy, The Strange Coyotes, Crucify the Whore, The Bear Hunters, Project 421, Chase Wigmore, Brutally Fatal, and Mike Haggith & The Din
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: January 24th, 2014
Info: Inclement weather forced planned headliners TheKillingField & Buried Out Back to drop out on short notice, so there was a lot of late lineup shuffling and additions for this show, Heavy North Entertainment's first since launching as a company. Notably featuring the reunion of Mike Haggith & The Din, Project 421's first show with singer Curtis McKenzie, and the last official appearance by The Strange Coyotes, did you brave the storm to take in this all ages action?
Bands: Punch, The Bear Hunters, and The Elements
Venue: The Roosevelt Hotel (now Reggie's West)
Date: February 6th, 2014
Info: The first installment of the short lived Heavy Thursday series at the former Roosevelt Hotel saw Rosie favourites The Bear Hunters, debuting funk/hard rock quartet The Elements, and the last show from Haggith/Beaumont Avenue hybrid Punch, who all delivered solid sets! J.D. Pearce had a great idea in resurrecting a Thursday series at The Rosie, but was this the best show of 2014?
Bands: Late & Loud, The Danger Cats, and Redundant
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: February 21st, 2014
Info: Classic metal favourites Late & Loud held a one-off reunion set on February 21st at The Rockstar Bar, reminding all of the Loudmouths how exciting and talented they were in their heyday! Also featuring all-female rockers The Danger Cats and punk trio Redundant's first proper attended concert in 6 months (The Marquee notwithstanding), this was a great way to welcome back Late & Loud, but would you agree?
Bands: Anvil, Caym, Jack Spades, The Suicide Kings (now Beaumont Avenue), and Project 421
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: March 15th, 2014
Info: After two years away, Toronto metal legends Anvil brought the metal on metal back to The Canadian this spring for another well attended and very heavy night of hits! Also featuring the return of extreme metallers Caym and a trio of known and rising local hard rock bands, all of the metal pounders in attendance ate up the action before them, but was Anvil's grand return tops to you last year?
Bands: Fuck the Facts, Empyrean Plague, Shit Liver, The Bear Hunters, Crucify the Whore, and This Is Your Band on Drugs
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: May 4th, 2014
Info: A lower than expected attendance couldn't stop the metal intensity on this night, with Fuck The Facts and Empyrean Plague making the trip west for long awaited returns to the Soo stage! Also featuring Shit Liver's grimy homecoming and CD release, and one of the first local appearances by This Is Your Band On Drugs, fans at The Oddfellows Hall had a definite blast, but was it your #1 metal show of 2014?
Bands: The Bear Hunters, Sykotyk Rampage, Haggith, Rotopsy, Aggressive Acoustic, Pete Mozarowski, Rihkee Strap, the second Brutaly Fatal (now The Revolution), This Is Your Band On Drugs, DJ Seith, Mike Haggith, and open mic performers
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: May 10th, 2014
Info: The fourth annual Swampstravaganza returned to the spring months on May 10th with it's longest lineup yet, including four time Swampfest veterans The Bear Hunters, Sudbury hard rock from Aggressive Acoustic, Sykotyk Rampage & Haggith's first concerts of the year, a rare Mike Haggith solo set, and an entertaining block of open mic artists to kick off the day! Did last year's Swampstravaganza top the year to you?
Bands: Jack Spades, The Elements, Project 421, and Johnny Belanger & Jesse Cook
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: May 16th, 2014
Info: Punk/metal quintet Jack Spades launched their debut EP "The First" in style on May 16th at The Rockstar Bar with an explosive set of originals and covers, with members Johnny Belanger and Jesse Cook reprising Johnny's acoustic open mic set at the Swampstravaganza to open this show! Also featuring The Elements and Project 421 (with guest singer Travis McKenzie), a lively crowd reaction and great reviews followed, but would you agree?
Bands: Anciients, Havok, Wretched, Black Wizard, and The Revolution
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 24th, 2014
Info: Arguably the last major metal show of 2014's first half, J.D. Pearce brought in a huge bill of metal via two converging tours, with Vancouver progressive metal standouts Anciients, Colorado thrashers Havok, and North Carolina death metallers Wretched combining for one intense and well received show! Though attendance wasn't as high as hoped, fans in attendance didn't miss out on the brutality, but was it your favourite?
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 then-new bassist James White) and The Danger Cats, did this win out in late 2014 to you?
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: 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 2014?
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 31st, 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?
Other: Did we miss your favourite? For reference, metal, hard rock, and punk artists like AlgomA, Archspire, Bad Back, Boids, Brad Example & The Role Models, The Brains, Buried Out Back, Chronobot, Commencing Human Desperation, The Cover-Up, Crued, Detroit, Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide, Endast, The Faps, The Fever Tops, Fist Fighting Stephen Hawking, Glitch, Gnaeus, The Great Sabatini, Griphook, Havadder, Heart & Jason Bonham, Infamous, James Watterworth, K-Man & The 45s, Late Shift, Like Animals, Livid & The Bloodthirsty, Long Shot, Lucky 13, The Merves, Michael White & The White, Mourning Wood, The Northern Tragedy, The Paceshifters, The Pixo Control, Public Animal, RPM, Skynet, Stiffler's Mom, That's Chester, Them, The Thrill Junkies, T-Rex Manning, Tym Morrison, White Cowbell Oklahoma, and Who Made Who played live in 2014 in the Soo, along with additional shows from bands in the above choices, and possibly some in private-only gigs. Maybe your favourite concert was one without a 50% majority of metal, punk, and/or hard rock bands, one in Sault Michigan, or one that doesn't dip into our range, or one that didn't get a vote in our half year polls? If your preferred choice isn't above, vote for "Other"!
VOTE TODAY!! You guys have until May 18th to make your voices heard, so who will win out in this last poll on your favourite shows of last year? I'm very curious to find out, but as usual, I'll please ask for potential voters not to turn this into a popularity contest with online voting campaigns for one specific show. I'm hoping for a fair sampling of what everyone thought, not who can gather together the most votes for their preferred choice. VOTE A.S.A.P., and stay tuned for more news and notes over the coming week! Thanks everyone!
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