Not only did we see Jay at his best, we also got both surprise guests Justin Bonds and Lady J, and a budding Irish guitarist Alan Matthews. Justin, you may recall was in Shortbus, and has a formidable voice and sang the Shortbus theme acappello. Jay opened with a soulful take on Molly Malone. He was quite moved that so many people sang along with some of his tracks. It was an absolutely brilliant night of live music. I’m wrecked today from standing through it all (ah! old age) but I’m delighted I went to such a delicious singer.

While you’re right to point out how he is his own man, he also ran the tour on a shoe-string. He talked about taking the bus or walking everywhere to play, he mentioned staying in Rathmines (a B&B?) and the horrors of flying flyBe from Southampton … we really felt moved by these vignettes… which had such a 1980′s vibe (which you might recognise too) of gay poverty sutured over by puttting a best foot forward. It made us love him even more, but I felt I want to adopt him … oh dear, definitely getting older!