The Evil Reds

After I moved to NYC in 1999, I picked up guitar, singing and songwriting and put together a band I called Vince Allen and the Evil Reds. I met Danny, and Bob on Craigslist. One of them knew John. We played around NYC and Brooklyn from 2003 - 2005 and eventually recorded a 6-song EP. I usually brought a video camera and quickly set it up wherever I could find a spot. Here's a few clips.

Guitar, Vocals - Vince Allen
Pedal Steel - Bob Parins
Upright Bass - Danny Zanker
Drums - John Bollinger

Freddy's Bar and Backroom was the epicenter of the Brooklyn indie-country music scene for a long while. First located on Dean St. in Prospect Heights, it featured free live music almost every night and video art created by the owner displayed in various parts of the bar. It also hosted various music events.

Bitch for Hound - Freddy's Bar and Backroom, Brooklyn, NYC in 2004-07

Freddy's Bar and Backroom was the epicenter of the Brooklyn indie-country music scene for a long while. First located on Dean St. in Prospect Heights, it featured free live music almost every night and video art created by the owner displayed in various parts of the bar. It also hosted various music events. We were the first band to play the Brooklyn Country Music Festival hosted by Alex Battles. This song is from that set in July 2004. 

Studio track - https://open.spotify.com/track/4BBqxa82o7hHThb8ex70SD

Old Crow - Vince Allen at Kenny's Castaways, NYC in 2004-05-02 Kenny's Castaways was one of a group of live venues along Bleeker Street in the West Village featuring local music across a broad set of genres.

Old Crow - at Kenny's Castaways, West Village, NYC in 2004-05-02

Kenny's Castaways was one of a group of live venues along Bleeker Street in the West Village featuring local music across a broad set of genres. When I moved to the neighborhood in 1999, I was doors down from spots like The Bitter End, Terra Blues, The Back Fence, The Red Lion, and The Zinc Bar. Kenny's was huge, well worn and always had something interesting going on. This is a song from our set in 2004.

Studio track - https://open.spotify.com/track/5gEYCh7k5CK8QElIxShxx9

I first visited The Living Room on Stanton Street before it moved to Ludlow Street in 2003 and thought I'd found the perfect singer-songwriter venue. A room full of people seated at tightly packed cocktail tables could drink and listen to soloists or full bands.

Pot Pie Bride - at The Living Room, NYC in 2004-07

I first visited The Living Room on Stanton Street before it moved to Ludlow Street in 2003 and thought I'd found the perfect singer-songwriter venue. A room full of people seated at tightly packed cocktail tables could drink and listen to soloists or full bands. I remember thinking I wanted to play there somehow even though I'd just started playing guitar and singing. I got a chance after The Living Room moved to Ludlow. Here's a song from our set in 2004.

Studio track - https://open.spotify.com/track/642pmrJWHcym7MHK93dbZH