Welcome to Notes From Pig City. This is my online archive for as much of my journalism as I can keep up with. Published pieces will be reposted here as soon as they can be. I also write exclusively on my Patreon page; those pieces are not republished here.
I’m the author of two books: Pig City (2004), a book about Brisbane, and Something To Believe In (2019), a music memoir. I'm currently employed by AAP. I continue to freelance occasionally for other publications, mostly Guardian Australia, where it doesn't conflict with my full-time gig.
I have a wide variety of interests, and they’re reflected by the number of tabs in the main menu. You can click through those, or the archive list at the bottom to find what you might be interested in, whether you’re a casual visitor or looking for something specific.
If you want to get in touch send me a message here.
Answering the prayers of a world where too much sport is never enough, HG Nelson and Rampaging Roy Slaven – the doyen and dominatrix of satirical sportscasting – are heading to Paris to present their new ABC radio show: People, Medals And Cheese. After earning the ire of former prime minister John Howard with their […]
Roy & HG: Cheese Buffet in Paris Read More »
I am about midway through my interview with the Church’s Steve Kilbey when, without warning, he morphs into AC/DC’s Brian Johnson. “She was a mean machine, she loves me, aargh!” Kilbey squeals. He might be misremembering the opening line of You Shook Me All Night Long, but otherwise, it’s a convincing impersonation of Johnson’s sandpaper
The Church’s Steve Kilbey: an unguarded moment Read More »
Encounters with hummingbirds are not easily forgotten. I vividly remember my first, on a visit to Los Angeles 15 years ago: walking the streets of Beverly Hills, it buzzed towards me like a supersized bee, eyeballed me, pivoted, and zipped across the road, leaving me slack-jawed with wonder that something so miraculous could even exist. Miracles
Every Little Thing: A measure of humanity Read More »
The Saints – the Brisbane band who jump-started the punk movement in Australia with their hot-wired debut single (I’m) Stranded – have announced a national tour in November with a new five-piece lineup, more than 50 years after their rough beginnings. Joining founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay will be singer Mark Arm, from the Seattle band
The Saints return to reclaim their dues Read More »
It was 60 years ago today that the Beatles arrived in Australia. For those of us who weren’t there – even those lucky enough to see Taylor Swift’s Eras tour – it’s hard to fathom the level of hysteria that accompanied their 1964 visit: 300,000 people lined the streets of Adelaide to welcome the band
The Beatles: When We Was Fab Read More »
The acclaimed Gumbaynggirr-Yamatji soul singer Emma Donovan has alleged she was refused service by multiple taxi drivers at Perth airport, with one driver allegedly telling her that he didn’t serve her “kind of people”. Donovan, who had flown to Perth after launching her album Til My Song Is Done in Melbourne, wrote on Facebook that she was writing
Singer Emma Donovan refused cab service Read More »