When one thinks of country music, images of guitars, pickup trucks, cowboy boots, and alcohol come to mind. When one thinks of heavy metal, usually leather pants, metal studded bracelets, long hair, and tight t-shirts come up. Country is traditionally the “good ol’ boy’s” music, whereas heavy metal is associated with loud, trouble making teenagers. This usually leads to a conflict between each genre’s respective listeners, who are focused mainly on the superficial image of the music. But, deep down, country and metal aren’t all that different, sharing many musical methods, common influences, and a certain fluidity that allows artists to go between both genres of music, which creates new types of music in all the intersecting and intertwining. Starting with the basics, the structures of each genre’s backup bands are quite similar. Country is dominated by guitars and an upbeat rhythm. The backup bands usually consist of the aforementioned guitar, as well as drums, and a bas...
100 Things To Do In Holland Before You Die: #16 - Feed Your Need For Hashbrowns At Windmill Restaurant
Windmill Restaurant (228 W 8th Street, #220) is one of the most unique restaurants in downtown Holland. As much as I've bitched and moaned about "lack of culture" in Downtown Holland , Windmill Restaurant is one of the few "cool" spots along 8th street. They're not pretentious, they're not exclusionary, and they're one of the few spots that doesn't cater to wealthy patrons or to tourists. The restaurant opened in the 1940s, and maintains its original storefront. It's a long, narrow building with a sit-down counter along one wall and booths for seating along the other, making it so it's possible for a small party (1-2 people) can sit at the counter with very little waiting. One of the unique aspects of Windmille is that the space is so small and compact that there's no room for queuing inside the building. The sign on the front door instructs diners to queue outside the building, so it's not unusual to see folks waiting outs...