Since joining Fairfax in 1992, Bernard has been an editor and written on education, roads and local politics. These days, he specialises in music and is the senior music writer and reviewer.
There are bands and (mostly male) artists who have built careers out of being a representative "everyman": one of us, just a bit better paid and housed. There's a couple of generations of Australian frontmen who would never have dared being anything else.
They were wobbly when old, didn't always sound hi-fi and threatened to self-destruct at any point. Why would anyone want them back? The return of the cheap, portable and small audio tape.
Bigger than Bruce, Gunners and Bieber. Bigger even than Ed. Adele is pulling in audiences who may not see another show this year.
Where soul and country meet in one vitamin B-injected, sweat-filled party.
James Mercer's band has been away for nearly five years but some things, like happy/sad pop songs and sexism, are constants in this world.
The new album from the most famous redhead in pop is personal and universal, and likely to rule the world.
The first new music in three years from New Zealand's biggest pop star shows she's done a lot of growing, and hurting.
Shows sold out in minutes, scalpers jumped in immediately, but the band believes it can undermine some of the profiteering with extra shows and new conditions.
Finding new ways into communities helps define a new television player.
In this Los Angeles band it is an instrument normally in the background which leads and creates the room for everyone else.
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