Of course, if you want to vote for any of these shows, "Other" is available if you are so inclined! I hope I picked a good range of shows for this poll, so without any further adieu, here are your 20 choices!
Bands: Gnaeus, A Dire Setback, The Din, Stegadeth, Sleepwellcity, and The Autumn Roots
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: January 21st
Info: In their second promoted concert and first at The Canadian, then-new local promoters Live705 hosted the January Jam with a six band lineup of talented local artists, including one of Gnaeus' final concert sets, lots of punk/alternative action, The Autumn Roots' first gig with new guitarist Chase Wigmore, and the local debut of former local punk bassist Nathan Bouliane's Ottawa-based electronic project Sleepwellcity. Was the January Jam your favourite concert of early 2017?
Bands: Gnaeus, The Din, and K.I.C.K.
Venue: Searchmont Resort
Date: February 4th
Info: A midquel of sorts between promoters Tidal Records' annual Go Skateboarding Day events, the Searchmont Skateapalooza brought skateboarding demonstrations and live alternative and indie music to the local ski resort to kick off the month of February! In hindsight, the concert half of the Skateapalooza is most notable now for being the final local concert appearance from Gnaeus before the post-punk quartet's breakup, but would this event be your top choice in this poll?
Bands: Gianni Gagoots, Bizotic, and Handsome Sandwich
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: February 18th
Info: What started as the first headlining showcase for creative instrumental jam/hard rock project Gianni Gagoots soon evolved into a special showcase for them and two new local bands, including the second live set from alt-hard rock quartet Bizotic and the debut live appearance from punk/alt/no genre trio Handsome Sandwich. With three extremely original bands on hand, including the headlining sauce masters, it's easy to see why it was well received, but would you concur?
Bands: Garbageface, Pseudo, A Dire Setback, and Mikey Thomas
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: February 21st
Info: Though not promoted by Live705, this concert served as an inspiration for that agency's later punk/rap hybrid events, with both out of town acts even returning to the Soo for another joint concert in October. With Toronto's Pseudo and locals A Dire Setback uniting with fan favourite Peterborough doom rapper Garbageface and the Soo's own Mikey Thomas, this well received concert helped set future hybrid shows in motion, but was it your favourite of the year prior to July?
Bands: K-Man & The 45s, Stegadeth, and Bizotic
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: March 5th
Info: After 4 years of annual fall concerts in Sault Ste. Marie, a wrench was thrown into the pattern when Montreal ska-punk quintet K-Man & The 45s hit The New A in March, unusually soon after their 2016 concert here. Fans of their rousing originals and "Skamones" covers were out in full force once again for The 45s return, complete with high energy opening sets by Stegadeth and Bizotic (with new drummer Travis St. Amour in tow), but would you vote for this concert?
Bands: The Din & Andrew Pucci
Venue: The Gore Street Cafe
Date: March 10th
Info: The only public hard rock-featured concert in the sophomore run of The Gore Street Cafe's Fishbowl Festival in February and March, this acoustic event saw The Din return from their live CD recording event the previous year for another well received headlining concert at the laundromat. Notably opened by former Stereo North frontman Andrew Pucci as he continued his solo rise in the area, did this Fishbowl Festival event earn your vote here?
Bands: A Dire Setback, The Din, Electric Church, Pillory, Bizotic, and DJ Seith
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: March 11th
Info: The second Live705 concert of the year (and first to experiment with vouchers in lieu of advance tickets) saw 6 more acts join forces at The Canadian for their March Mash-Up, including a solid showcase from young blues/hard rock trio Electric Church, brutal death metal action from Pillory, and spotlight headlining sets from A Dire Setback and The Din. Another high quality concert from Live705, but was it good enough to earn your vote?
Bands: AlgomA, Pillory, and Chase Wigmore
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: March 30th
Info: Serving as both the kick-off show for their European tour in April, and as the de facto release concert for their vinyl split single with Hooded Menace, local doom metal trio AlgomA hit the stage for the first time in 2017 with this headlining show at The New A, which delivered more crushing brutality to fans to end March with! Also opened by the aforementioned Pillory and a rare solo set by Chase Wigmore on short notice, did this show win you over more than the rest?
Bands: Who Made Who
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: April 7th
Info: Arguably the most familiar touring hard rock tribute band to come to Sault Ontario in the past decade, Toronto-based AC/DC tribute band Who Made Who returned to The Rockstar Bar in April for their first local appearance in two and a half years, giving local fans another round of high voltage rock 'n roll! Who Made Who's faithful sounding and looking experience is always worth checking out when they come north, but did this show beat out the rest in early 2017?
Bands: Electric Church, The Noochin' Lanterns, A Dire Setback, K.I.C.K., Stegadeth, Shit Creek Survivor, and DJ Seith
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: April 15th
Info: Live705's only Rockstar Bar show to date, this Easter Bash was laden with giveaways and solid music from the assembled punk, alternative, and hard rock acts on hand! Despite late scheduling delays and post-show discussion therein, the show was very well received thanks to featured bands like A Dire Setback and Electric Church, and notably saw The Noochin' Lanterns' public concert debut as well. Was this Easter weekend show your favourite of this year so far?
Bands: The Hazytones, Eclipse, and Gianni Gagoots
Venue: The New American Pub
Date: April 23rd
Info: Montreal stoner rock trio The Hazytones returned to the Soo for their second headlining concert back in April, and like last summer, hard rock quartet Eclipse opened for them. This time around though, Eclipse's set was extra notable as it marked their first show back after a four month long breakup, and it was great to see the guys back after their contentious breakup last fall! They and Gianni Gagoots brought some hard rocking action to this one, but would you vote for it?
Bands: Bone Yard, Justin Langlois, and The 3 Day Millionaires
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: May 6th
Info: A fundraiser concert to help kick off this year's Algoma Ride for Autism and help buy sensory equipment for the Algoma Autism Foundation's Sensory Lending Library, May 6th's Rock For Autism was a well attended and recieved event for a great cause, with country veterans Bone Yard and classic/hard rock cover quartet The 3 Day Millionaires sandwiching a solo set by Redundant frontman Justin Langlois. Kudos to everyone for their support, but was this your #1 choice?
Bands: Id Iota, The Din, A Dire Setback, DJ Seith, Pointless, Bizotic, Andrew Pucci, and Soo York City rappers
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: May 12th
Info: Another creative Live705 event (not to mention their biggest one yet) took place on May 12th, when they hosted Soo Art Rocks!, a concert combined with a local art exhibition, with artists and photographers on hand to showcase and sell their wares. This show featured such sights as Id Iota's Live705 debut (with cellist Pete Mozarowski in tow), the public debut of Bill Priddle's new band Pointless, and three S.Y.C. rappers joining forces to open things, but did you find that Soo Art Rocked?
Bands: Northwest & Greg Callaghan
Venue: LopLops Lounge
Date: May 27th
Info: After a 9 month hiatus from the local stage, indie/punk quintet Northwest re-emerged from the studio with a headlining set at LopLops two months ago, reintroducing themselves to fans with their up-tempo originals that punk and indie rock fans can each appreciate! Opened in a solo set by guitarist Greg Callaghan's solo project, this concert received a solid reception, and surely gave fans a preview of their upcoming second EP, but can you vouch for it in this poll?
Bands: Ruptured Birth, Thekillingfield, The Bear Hunters, and Twistory
Venue: The Oddfellows Hall
Date: June 4th
Info: It was a night of returns when these four metal bands hit the stage on June 4th, as touring Northern Ontario extreme metal bands Ruptured Birth and Thekillingfield hadn't played here in 5 and 2 years respectively, while The Bear Hunters were ending a 7 month stage hiatus, and death metal duo Twistory hadn't been seen in a year themselves. Assembled fans got a nice throwback night of metal brutality as a result, but was this all ages Oddfellows show your pick here?
Bands: CKY, The Wild, Jack Spades, and A Dire Setback
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 8th
Info: Despite the late drop-out by the reunited As It Stands, fans flocked to The Canadian on June 8th for this highly anticipated concert, with Pennsylvania alt-metal trio CKY hitting the Soo for the first time with a set full of classic and new originals alike! Joined by Victoria, B.C. hard rock standouts The Wild, the new-look Jack Spades' first show since the fall, and a rousing opener from A Dire Setback, this concert won many fans over, but would you vote for it in this poll?
Bands: Handsome Sandwich, The Din, and Eclipse
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: June 10th
Info: With the summer season underway and their patio re-opening for the season, The Rockstar Bar welcomed Handsome Sandwich, The Din, and Eclipse (notably all featuring Haggith alumni) for their kick-off show for the summer, and all three delivered fun sets of original material and select covers for assembled fans! All three bands have solid fanbases locally, but were you among them to label this as your favourite concert of this year's first 6 months?
Bands: Electric Church, Speaker, A Dire Setback, Stegadeth, The Autumn Roots, Eclipse, and Soo York City rappers
Venue: The Canadian Nightclub
Date: June 18th
Info: Live705's first promoted concert with a touring out-of-town band, this Father's Day concert was the only multi-band hard rock event rocking the border on Father's Day this year, with Toronto hardcore band Speaker joining a stacked local roster including another Electric Church closing set, more punk action from A Dire Setback and Stegadeth, and a new group of S.Y.C. artists for good measure. Was this Father's Day show your favourite?
Bands: The Din, A Dire Setback, and Electric Church
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park
Date: June 21st
Info: A free and all ages concert returned for a third straight year for Tidal Records' annual Go Skateboarding Day event at the John Rhodes Center's skatepark, with The Din returning from 2016 for another vibrant set of original hard rock action, as joined by recent live favourites A Dire Setback and Electric Church in rare outdoor appearances. All three bands rocked the top of the ramp while local skaters demonstrated their skills, but was this concert your favourite of the year so far?
Bands: Beaver Slap, AlgomA, and Jack Spades
Venue: The Rockstar Bar
Date: June 24th
Info: This late June concert united Barrie all-female hardcore punk quartet Beaver Slap with Jack Spades' new lineup (including outgoing bassist Steve Shaw) and doom metal trio AlgomA's first post-tour local set, and fans on hand spoke highly of this union of punk and metal intensity at The Rockstar Bar! The headliners made many new fans, and the locals held up their end of the bargain, but did this show impress you more than any before it this year?
Other: Did we miss a show that you'd prefer to vote for, perhaps one with few or no metal, hard rock, or punk bands? Maybe one in Sault Michigan, or one we just forgot to include entirely? For reference, acts like The Band Camp Rejects, Curtis McKenzie, The Elements, The Gutter Demons, Mourning Wood, The Old Wives, Return For Refund, The River Jacks, Soundcheck, Stiffler's Mom, Telephone & Address, Tym Morrison, and Worst Days Down all played shows this year not otherwise included in the poll, not to mention shows only featuring bands who played in shows listed in the poll. If, for whatever reason, we missed your preferred choice, "Other" is for you!
VOTE TODAY!! You guys have until August 18th to cast your votes on this month's poll, and as always, it will be very interesting to see what show(s) come out on top! Cast your votes A.S.A.P., and stay tuned for more news and previews soon! Thanks everyone!
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