Wild Bill's brings an urban flair to the honky tonk scene

The crowd at most bars and honky tonks tend to reflect their surroundings, and at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, Georgia, is no exception. Located next to Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, just off Interstate 85 north of Atlanta, the partiers tend to be young, urban, well-dressed – more of a hip nightclub crowd than a country bar. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time here – just make sure you dress a little better than you would if you were going to the Floramaba, and do your smoking in the parking lot.

The venue bills itself as America’s largest dance hall and concert hall, and this weekend’s line-up shows its drawing power. On a recent Friday night, $10 got you in the door to see Jake Owen – and you could take home latest CD as well, free of charge. The CD, “Easy Does It,” includes the recent hit, “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You.” Owen topped the charts with “Staring With Me” in 2008, his first Number One hit.

The follow evening featured “Big Redneck Weekend”, a Saturday night special event headlined by Colt Ford that blended Southern country and hip-hop to produce a unique sound. Opening for Colt was Trailer Choir, whose video “Off the Hillbilly Hook” was featured in Toby Keith’s “Beer for My Horses” straight-to-DVD film.

The last time I was at Wild Bill’s, Montgomery Gentry was the headliner and the place was packed. Better yet, the opening act was Atlanta’s own Lost Trailers and their breakthrough hit, “Holler Back,” had just hit the Top 10. Fortunately I got there early – once it’s crowded, you don’t have time to explore the unique memorabilia on the walls and the little nuances at the various bars scattered over multiple levels. This is probably the most pristine honky tonk I’ve seen since the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville – a great place for good, clean fun.

To check out the upcoming concert and event schedule, visit www.wildbillsatlanta.com.