Ollie Collins

Ollie Collins

Writer

Ollie Collins is the founder of the theater company Monkey With a Hat On and co-founder of the cannabis farm Fire Flower. Read his thoughts on The Portland Underground in each issue of Vortex.

Articles

The Portland Underground: Still Open
Ollie Collins - Apr 30, 2020
Now is the time we need to feel connected. Join your #PDXmusic community—and start planning for our future—by participating in MusicPortland's city commissioner candidate forum on May 3 at 1pm....
The Portland Underground: When Shit Fucks Up
Ollie Collins - Mar 11, 2020
The best trick is to tai chi it so no one notices there’s something wrong.
The Portland Underground: Invite With Intention
Ollie Collins - Dec 10, 2019
If you want someone to go to your underground event, contact them individually—text, phone call, email or in person.
The Portland Underground: Digital Underground
Ollie Collins - Nov 4, 2019
While the digital age can let us down, we can still use it to our benefit.
The Portland Underground: In Person
Ollie Collins - Aug 14, 2019
Get back to basics, be intentional and live life looking up, not down at the phone.
The Portland Underground: Yes We Cannabis!
Ollie Collins - Jun 25, 2019
Weed is to the underground as apple pie is to Americana.
The Portland Underground: Step Up
Ollie Collins - Jun 4, 2019
"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
The Portland Underground: The Underground Rules!
Ollie Collins - May 15, 2019
The Golden Rule says you should treat people how you want to be treated. Horseshit.
The Portland Underground: Defining Community
Ollie Collins - Mar 19, 2018
In the underground, we define community as word-of-mouth inclusivity in order to create genuine and constructive connections.
The Portland Underground: Dig It Yourself
Ollie Collins - Dec 20, 2017
The underground isn’t just warehouse ragers and basement shows. Your grand, recurring event can begin as anything.
The Portland Underground: A Treasure Hunt
Ollie Collins - Aug 29, 2017
The underground must be organically discovered and experienced, not Instagrammed.
The Portland Underground: The Audience Makes The Show
Ollie Collins - May 8, 2017
The very nature of intimate, word-of-mouth gatherings gives extra responsibility to those who attend.
The Portland Underground: A Political Petri Dish
Ollie Collins - Feb 6, 2017
The underground has a free-form, free-thinking, sometimes fuck-the-government attitude—the ideal political petri dish.
Who is Yur Daddy?
Ollie Collins - Jan 11, 2017
Perennial favorites at the Oregon Brewers Festival, Yur Daddy is ready to release their latest album, 'Alive.' Check them out at their release show on January 13 at the White Eagle.
The Portland Underground: Welcoming Transplants
Ollie Collins - Oct 26, 2016
We are all strays and runaways, my friends. So if we close the doors on transplants, we close them on ourselves.
Captain Pabst Got Married
Ollie Collins, Roddy Jasa - Sep 8, 2016
I wasn’t excited about the marriage, but I got trashed and danced at the reception—reporting from Portland’s first festival mega-merger, MusicfestNW presents Project Pabst.
The Portland Underground: An Introduction
Ollie Collins - Jul 29, 2016
Even though our city may look like it’s going astray, The Portland Underground is alive and well.
The Captain’s Return: Day 2 of Project Pabst
Ollie Collins - Jul 21, 2015
Second verse, same as the first—hot sun and hot acts close out the second annual Project Pabst on Sunday, July 19. Photos by Christina Bargel
The Captain’s Return: Day 1 of Project Pabst
Ollie Collins - Jul 19, 2015
Gen Xers and millennials convened upon the South Waterfront for the first day of the second annual, 21-plus, beer-fueled Project Pabst on Saturday, July 18. Photos by Emma Browne
Hail Mary Mallon Light Up the Hawthorne Theatre
Ollie Collins - Feb 10, 2015
Collaborating under the name Hail Mary Mallon, the rap duo of Aesop Rock and Rob Sonic boasted New York City backgrounds with West Coast tendencies—and showed Portland that hip-hop is still fun....
Tennis Brightens Up Winter
Ollie Collins - Jan 21, 2015
Sometimes when a band’s sound develops, they lose touch of their roots. This was not the case with Tennis at the Wonder Ballroom on January 16. Photos by Christina Bargel
Mostly Smooth Sailing: A Q&A with Tennis’ Patrick Riley
Ollie Collins - Oct 22, 2014
Although Tennis was forced to reschedule their October show in Portland, in the days leading up to it Vortex got the chance to chat with Riley about food, the new album ‘Ritual In Repeat,’...
Brooklyn Pop in Portland
Ollie Collins - Oct 15, 2014
New York bands The Drums and Beverly provided the pre-rain soundtrack at Portland’s Star Theater on October 8.
The Inaugural Project Pabst: Day 2 featuring Modest Mouse, GZA and Shabazz Palaces
Ollie Collins - Sep 29, 2014
Clear skies closed out Portland’s newest music festival with the GZA performing 'Liquid Swords' and Northwest favorites Shabazz Palaces and Modest Mouse shining. Photos by Ronit Fahl.
The Inaugural Project Pabst: Day 1 featuring Tears for Fears, Red Fang, Violent Femmes, K.Flay and Guantanamo Baywatch
Ollie Collins - Sep 28, 2014
On Portland's South Waterfront, Zidell Yards turned into a 21-plus, beer-fueled festival with solid performances, a free '80s arcade and cornhole on the first day of the first-ever Project Pabst....
Patriotic Horror
Ollie Collins - Sep 17, 2014
In front of a sold-out audience, Rob Zombie turned the Roseland into a haunted house. Photo by Christina Bargel.
Searching for the Wizard of Bumbershoot
Ollie Collins - Sep 12, 2014
Our journey to the Emerald City for the 44th consecutive edition of Seattle's Labor Day arts festival. Photo by Christina Bargel.
Everclear: Still Intoxicating in Middle Age
Ollie Collins - Jul 24, 2014
In his hometown in front of a sold-out audience, a 52-year-old Art Alexakis and his Summerland 2014 crew rocked the Crystal Ballroom on July 22. Photo by Christina Bargel.
Foe tha Love of Bone Thugs
Ollie Collins - Jun 9, 2014
At the Roseland Theater on June 5, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony put on a fun show for their die-hard fans… and the police.
The Return to 'Psychic City'
Ollie Collins - Jun 6, 2014
Showing their rock and roll colors, YACHT lit up Mississippi Studios on June 3.
GMNI Rising
Ollie Collins - May 28, 2014
Geoffrey Victor Pope will unleash GMNI for the first time on June 1 at the Habesha Lounge—the horoscope says it’s gonna be dope.
Love for L.A. in PDX
Ollie Collins - May 21, 2014
People Under The Stairs converted a sold-out crowd at the Doug Fir into L.A. sympathizers on Monday, May 19. But that's not all they instigated...
'Voldemort Can’t Stop The Rock'
Ollie Collins - May 17, 2014
Harry and the Potters made sure of that at Lola's Room on Wednesday, May 14.
The New Danny Brown
Ollie Collins - May 12, 2014
Seemingly sober but full of energy, Portland threw the ball back to Danny Brown with just as much vigor as he brought to the Roseland Theater stage on Sunday, May 11.

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