I should first of all point out that I don’t have a mad social life. Yes, I’m only 31 but living in the country with a family doesn’t make that sort of stuff easy you know! There are always the rare exceptions…

Last Sat night went off to the very funny Colin Murphy in Vicar Street, felt much sympathy for poor Declan in the front row (I now know more about his life than I do about some of my friends’) and really enjoyed the support, a guy called Colm McDonald from Dundalk. We all headed off for a drink afterwards in a pokey little pub in town that isn’t frequented by posers and wannabes (and no, of course I won’t be revealing its name here – it’s a rare pleasure to find a spot like that and keep its existence secret from those you know and love) and then on to Lillie’s Bordello…

I always thought that there are two surefire ways to spot a showbiz phony in Ireland – one is to appear on The Lyrics Board which I’ve sworn on pain of death never to do (mental note: erase this post when I do The Lyrics Board), the other is to get up and sing in the piano bar in Lillie’s Bordello… I’ve only ever been there 2 or 3 times in the last few years and it is for the very sad old man reason that I can book a table in the piano bar upstairs, sit down and hear what the person next to me is saying because the volume of the music is listenable…

In my defence it was 3.30am, beverages had been consumed, my longtime associate Dave Browne from Picture House called upon me in front of a packed room of people and it was to serenade my wife for her birthday (or does that actually make it worse?!!?!?) Thankfully my wife was so shocked she only thought afterwards what a good idea it would have been to video it on her phone…

Having two lads from Kerry loudly congratulate me and say my name out loud in the taxi queue afterwards when I was trying to keep a low profile has, I think, tought me my lesson…

Next week: how I get on when I do The Lyrics Board…

R

PS Ruth scooted off early today to London to interview a huge band for the show about their brand new album. No, we can’t talk about it yet but yes it’ll be well worth checking out when we run it…