Remember how the movies depicted country bars? They weren’t welcoming places, were they? Typically a “not from around here” duo would unwittingly stumble into a wild dive that became eerily subdued upon their noticed arrival.
There was always a jukebox. There was always a pool table. The bar had beer logo lighting. And hunting trophies hung from walls. Trying to fit in, our bumbling friends bravely struck up a conversation that invariably led to a free-for-all brawl. Fists, cowboy hats and stools flew, but the shaken protagonists sidestepped the chaos and slipped out unhurt, though a little wiser.
If the depiction was in any way accurate, Hollywood needs to update. Just take Wild Bill’s in Duluth, where the term “bar” is replaced with “country music dance club and concert hall.”
The jukebox? A DJ commands a state-of-the-art mass sound system.
The stuffed boar and deer heads? No thanks.
The pool table? In a room that looks like a stylish Midtown lounge.
The brawl? Not if the burly security team has anything to say about it.
The cowboy hats? Don’t worry, they stayed. But imagine them being tipped to ladies on a massive dance floor awash with synchronized lights.
“It’s a little country, but there’s all kinds of music here, which I like,” said one young girl, a little tipsy and in search of a “real cowboy.”
Given that Wild Bill’s is the size of a Wal-Mart super center and hosts a number of events, it’s anything but country. For example, it’s currently home to mixed martial arts (MMA), which regularly draws close to two thousand people. It’s also one of Gwinett’s elite live music venues, and bands play on several nights.
There are also several bars with big screens, ideal for football night.
“I’ve been coming here since it opened and I’ll keep coming,” said Will, a 29-year-old mechanic. “It’s got a tremendous variety: If I want to chill out for a little while I can and if I want to hit the dance floor, it’s full of ladies. Sometimes I’ll come for the MMA, which puts on a good show.”
Heck, you can even throw your wedding reception here, as hosting private parties is big business at Wild Bill’s. “Dukefest” was among the more recent, colorful events, featuring the living cast from the Dukes of Hazzard.
“There’s just about anything you can do here,” said Billy. “As far as getting married here, I need to see if I can get lucky on the dance floor first.”
