Last Month's Poll Results & Our Final Poll On Your Favourite 2016 Concerts!!

Here's our poll results from last month on the SMS, plus the launch of our final poll on last year's events in the local scene! 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 2016? Sadly, this poll received only 10 votes, which isn't great, but there is a clear and deserving winner, and we did have a comparable number of votes from our first half of 2016 poll. Thanks to everyone who did vote, and here are the final results!

Guy Thiffault tribute at The Rockstar Bar on December 27th (3 votes, 30%)

Live705 Show at The Oddfellows Hall on November 19th (2 votes, 20%)

The Ripcordz at The Canadian Nightclub on August 13th (1 vote, 10%)

The Din & Gnaeus at The Tech on August 12th (1 vote, 10%)

Iskra, Pillory, and Rotopsy at The Oddfellows Hall on July 14th (1 vote, 10%)

Cocaine Moustache at The New American Pub on July 12th (1 vote, 10%)

Hedley and The Rising Tide at The Yard on July 1st (1 vote, 10%)

Gnaeus & The Din at The Rockstar Bar on August 5th (0 votes)

SNFU & Jack Spades at The Rockstar Bar on September 1st (0 votes)

K-Man & The 45s at The New A on September 17th (0 votes)

The Gnar-BQ at Queen Elizabeth Park on September 24th (0 votes)

Castle & AlgomA at 180 Projects on September 28th (0 votes)

Moon Tan & The Din at The New American Pub on October 6th (0 votes)

Norilsk & AlgomA at The Oddfellows Hall on October 28th (0 votes)

Halloween Party at The Algonquin Pub on October 29th (0 votes)

Punk Rock Bingo at The New A on October 30th (0 votes)

Eclipse at The Rednecks Saloon on October 31st (0 votes)

Toystock V at Grand Gardens North on November 20th (0 votes)

Mike Mikus & Id Iota at LopLops on November 26th (0 votes)

Gnaeus & The Din at LopLops Lounge on December 26th (0 votes)

Other (0 votes)

What do you guys think? Well, given the lack of votes, I can't be too surprised by the amount of shows with zero votes, but if anything particularly shocks me, how did SNFU's return in September get no love? Five shows got a single vote, ranging from the expected (Hedley, The Ripcordz) to the less expected (Cocaine Moustache, though with the debut of the Gagoots, that may have helped.) A scant two shows recieved multiple votes, with Live705's debut concert at The Oddfellows Hall eking out second place. This was a big debut for this fast rising promotion agency, and though they haven't booked an all ages show since, fans definitely came out last fall and have continued to do so (and stay tuned for our coverage of their next show in the coming days!) But the winner of the poll was December's Guy Thiffault tribute concert, and I can definitely see how that won out. If you were there, you would have saw the emotion, the packed crowd, the responses, the band reunions, and the Guy rememberances, and that all added up in a very positive way at that sad time. Thanks to everyone for voting!

Now, for our final poll of our "favourite _____ of 2016" poll cycle, and given the recent voter turnout, our last poll on the SMS until July's poll on shows from the first half of this year. Today, we are suitably posing this question to you guys: What was your favourite metal, hard rock, or punk concert of 2016? As previously indicated in past years, we're combining the shows that received at least one vote from both of our last half-year polls, in order for readers to determine their favourite SMS-covered concert in the whole year! Six shows from early 2016 got votes, seven did over the past month, and "Other" is back just in case, so hopefully that will help cover missing bases. As usual, these all took place between January 1st & December 31st, 2016, and 2017 shows so far will be covered in July. If a specific concert you liked isn't in the poll that was in one of the prior half-year polls, it didn't get a vote last time, but we do have "Other" if you must vote for it! Now, here are your final 13 choices!

Bands: The Din, Stereo North, and Morgan Steele
Venue: The Gore Street Cafe
Date: March 4th, 2016
Info: This special acoustic concert was a featured event during The Gore Street Cafe's inaugural Fishbowl Festival from February-March 2016, and notably was the source of The Din's debut live CD "The Din Does Laundry". Fans got a mellower take on their and Stereo North's originals, plus a late notice opening set by country pop musician Morgan Steele, but was this show up your alley?

Bands: Gorod, Bookakee, Jack Spades, and Them
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: April 15th, 2016
Info: Word of mouth was great from 2015's Bookakee show, so when the Montreal theatrical metal band returned last April with a different French headlining act (Gorod) in tow, there was quite a response! Despite microphone issues and Winkstinger's dropout, this was an extremely fun show that had to be seen to be believed, particularly on Bookakee's part, but was it your favourite choice?

Bands: Id Iota, The Pixo Control, and Gnaeus
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: April 21st, 2016
Info: Capping off their tour of Ontario with Tidal Records, these local alternative hard rock bands returned home for this concert in April, which Id Iota headlined in their first local concert appearance in almost a year, launching their "Maudlin Fair" EP in the process! Also seeing the local debuts of Id Iota bassist Dan Linklater & Gnaeus drummer Alex Proulx, would you vote for this show?

Bands: Project 421, Eclipse, and Shit Creek Survivor
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: May 13th, 2016
Info: After taking four months off from the stage due to a family emergency and other personal matters, classic metal quintet Project 421 returned to the scene for this Friday the 13th show, and picked up right where they left off alongside their sister band Eclipse! Notably joined the next day by a late notice fill-in gig from both bands (albeit with Curtis McKenzie opening instead), did you like this/both show(s) the most in the poll?

Bands: Project 421, The Leash Kids, and Mourning Wood
Venue: The Rednecks Saloon
Date: June 4th, 2016
Info: The surprise winner of our poll from early 2016, this second Redneck Rock Bash concert had a completely different and smaller lineup that time around, partly due to the late dropouts of Redundant and Shit Creek Survivor. Notably featuring the debut of the short lived experimental duo The Leash Kids, and a rare multi-band concert from Mourning Wood, was Redneck Rock Bash 2 your favourite concert in the year?

Bands: Jack Spades, Gnaeus, DJ Seith, The Din, K.I.C.K., and Conika
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date: June 21st, 2016
Info: The fourth straight local installment of Go Skateboarding Day (but second with live bands) saw an almost entire overhaul from 2015's lineup, with only DJ Seith returning, but this diverse lineup of punk, alternative, and hip hop (including both VM Battle winning bands) delivered a fun soundtrack to the day's skateboarding events and showcases! Was this outdoor show your favourite?

Bands: Hedley, The Beaches, and Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide
Venue: The Yard
Date: July 1st, 2016
Info: The second half of 2016 began with a bang when Abbotsford power pop/punk favourites Hedley returned to the Soo for the first time in 5 years as the headlining act for the first half of The Yard's Canada Day Kicker!  This well received show entertained many fans of the Juno-winners, while fans of The Rising Tide also rejoiced for the local openers' only Soo show of the year, complete with Mikey Hawdon back behind the kit! Would you cast your vote for Hedley's local return?

Bands: Cocaine Moustache, Gianni Gagoots, and War Baby
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: July 12th, 2016
Info: An intriguing meld of styles hit The New A in mid-July when touring Vancouver acts Cocaine Moustache and War Baby came east to give local fans a taste of their bluesy hard rock and grungy punk originals respectively! Sandwiched in between was the local concert debut of funk/hard rock instrumental group Gianni Gagoots, who began their local ascent with their creative improvised stage show for assembled fans! Would this show be your favourite of 2016?

Bands: Pillory, Iskra, Rotopsy, and AlgomA
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: July 14th, 2016
Info: Despite an unusual lineup order that saw the headliners playing second and AlgomA opening, this all ages concert from July gave fans an aggressive blast of extreme metal, with Victoria grindcore veterans Iskra making their long awaited return to the local stage after 12 years away! Notably also featuring the first non-battle of the bands appearance at a normal concert venue by the reunited Pillory, this show definitely melted faces of attending fans, but did this one earn your vote?

Bands: The Din & Gnaeus
Venue: The W.W. Baldwin Auditorium at The Tech
Date: August 12th, 2016
Info: Just one week after Gnaeus' CD release concert with The Din opening, the two bands switched places when The Din launched their own debut studio album "Give In To The Din" at The Tech's auditorium back in August. Despite a pre-show fire alarm at the former St. Mary's College, the show was also well received, even becoming the basis of Shaw TV's first OnStage episode, and The Din's CD also won praise from fans! Would you give in to this show?

Bands: The Ripcordz, Jack Spades, Project 421, and Eclipse
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: August 13th, 2016
Info: The idea of an all ages concert in the Soo with The Ripcordz as headliners had been teased for many months, and that came to fruition when Jack Spades frontman J.D. Pearce brought the Montreal hardcore punk legends to The Canadian in mid-August for another hotly recieved Soo show from Paul Gott and company! Also featuring a special guest appearance by Dayglo Abortions bassist Willy Jak(!) with Jack Spades, did this night of all ages punk & metal action win 2016 to you?

Bands: K.I.C.K., A Dire Setback, Electric Church, The Din, Talk Shit, Stegadeth, and Jizzy Baby
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: November 19th, 2016
Info: New local concert promoters Live705 and their featured band A Dire Setback made a big splash in November with their first concert and only Oddfellows Hall appearance to date, with a nice variety of local acts on display for fans! Notably also including the first live set from T-Rex Manning successors Stegadeth, punk quartet Talk Shit's first live set in seven years, and a breakthrough set from blues rockers Electric Church, did this intriguing concert top 2016 in your eyes?

Bands: Bin Hawdon & The Taliband, Destroilet, Rotbottyrot, Talk Shit, The Business Suit Trappers, Nebraska Arms, AlgomA, Stegadeth, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: December 27th, 2016
Info: The sudden passing of ex-Hangdowns frontman Guy Thiffault in December was extremely sad, but his friends and former bandmates quickly came together to host a benefit concert for his family over the holidays, which included returns to the stage after a year+ away from Bin Hawdon & The Taliband, Destroilet, and two of Guy's former bands to a raucous and emotional reception from attending fans. This was a huge concert to end 2016 with, but was it your favourite?

Other: Did we miss a show you'd rather vote for? For reference, bands like 1971, The 3 Day Millionaires, 9 Lives & Counting, The Anti-Queens, Artificial Dissemination, Astral Gunk, The Bear Hunters, Big Brother, Bizotic, The Black Mirrors, Black Tremor, The Blackwood Sinners, Blessed, Bloody Diamonds, Bon Jovi Forever, Caroline Divine, Castle, Caveman Morrison, Crucify the Whore, Curtis McKenzie, Debutaunt, Dumpster Mummy, The Elements, Foam, The Franquilizers, Grave Party, Griphook, Havadder, Heavy Head, Kaepora Gaebora (now Exploring Detritus), K-Man & The 45s, Like A Pisces, Long Shot, Lost Love, Lucky 13, Moon Tan, The Motherfuckers, Mulligrub, The Nailheads, Nameus (now Soundcheck), Norilsk, Northwest, Reanimator, Redundant, Shit Liver, SNFU, Stiffler's Mom, Still of the Night, Sykotyk Rampage, Telephone & Address, That's Chester, Them, Twistory, Tym Morrison, Vintage Slang, and Winkstinger all played locally last year in shows not included in the poll otherwise. Did one of them have your preferred concert of 2016, or perhaps a show featuring bands in the poll that isn't listed? Vote for "Other"!

VOTE TODAY!! You have until June 18th to vote for your favourite concerts of last year, so hopefully there's a good turnout of votes to end our year-end polls with! That's all for now, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews next! Thanks everyone!