Between a rock concert and a jail cell

RADIO REVIEW:The programme challenged the widespread portrayal of the concert as the ninth circle of hell

AT THE MOMENT Colm Hayes (2FM, weekdays) is the star of a TV advertising campaign that pushes the credentials of his phone-in show as a no-holds-barred forum for contentious radio. The ad sees the presenter sprint through a room full of exploding phones before he ruefully observes that “the phones are crazy this morning”. On Monday, with the fallout from the chaotic Phoenix Park concerts in full progress, Hayes showed just how controversial his programme can be.

Having opened the show with a meditation on the “drunkenness, debauchery and crime” that had marked the weekend, Hayes invited calls from those who had been there. The stories that followed were enough to make the most seasoned shock jock turn pale.

“It was a good atmosphere,” said Danielle. “It was brilliant,” said Catherine. “I want to highlight the positives,” said the mother of a 15-year-old concertgoer. Given the negative coverage elsewhere, this was an unexpected turn of events, and not quite the incendiary fare advertised.

Eventually, however, more lurid accounts rolled in of the Saturday-night Swedish House Mafia gig that had seen multiple stabbings and two deaths.

Sharon’s teenage nephew had been randomly punched by “scumbags looking for trouble”. Michelle, a 34-year-old mother, feared for her life after witnessing drug dealers hawking their wares and a young woman being beaten senseless in the mud. Then again, she described the performance by Swedish House Mafia as fantastic.

It may not have been Hayes’s intention, but his programme challenged the widespread portrayal of the concert as the ninth circle of hell, exclusively populated by feral delinquents. Even so, the presenter also used the event as an excuse to focus on the old talk-radio reliable of drink and drug use.

On Wednesday Hayes wondered whether consumption of narcotics had reached epidemic level, as he heard about heroin problems in towns such as Longford. He also had an unintentionally hilarious conversation with Ben, who felt his regular use of cannabis and LSD had few bad effects. He believed that everything is good for you in moderation, hence his avoidance of heroin, ketamine and crystal meth.

Throughout it all Hayes struck an awkward pose. He self-consciously showed off his streetwise credentials, recounting his college experiences of cannabis, but ultimately betrayed the priorities and world view of a middle-aged father. “Is it okay to take drugs now?” he asked. “Is it even cool?” Like, I’m totally with it, daddy-o.

Nonetheless, one could not imagine this loaded topic being discussed so frankly by Ryan Tubridy, whose midmorning time slot Hayes occupies this month. Indeed, listening to Tubridy’s current spell as guest host on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show (BBC Radio 2, weekdays), it is hard to imagine him managing anything more taxing than friendly banter with his traffic reporter, Lynn Bowles (which, in fairness, he handles very well).

This is the Irish presenter’s most visible BBC stint yet, but, in contrast to his zingy tenure of Graham Norton’s Saturday show last year, Tubridy sounds as if he is broadcasting on autopilot. As he asked for his listeners’ thoughts on the weighty subject of frequently mispronounced words on Tuesday, Tubridy sounded like a professional going through the motions rather than a fresh new voice for British radio.

The only time he came to life was when he could put an Irish spin on matters: he excitedly harked back to Stephen Roche’s triumph in the Tour de France after the resident sportscaster reported on the British rider Bradley Wiggins’s pole position in the 2012 race.

For those who had missed his underwhelming UK performances, Tubridy phoned Derek Mooney’s show (Mooney, RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays) on Tuesday to reassure Irish listeners that he was not abandoning them. “I know what I’m doing and where my heart lies, and I’ll be home.” At times he sounded downright melancholic, musing on his late friend Gerry Ryan and bereavement in general. “It’s one of those life lessons that you learn as you get older and become more reflective,” Tubridy told Mooney, “though being alone in London maybe helps.” Clearly, he is not about to give up his slot just yet.

A more lighthearted presence appeared with Mooney the next day, in the unlikely form of Gerry Adams. The Sinn Féin leader showcased the kinder, gentler side of his latterday personality. Describing himself as “a positive thinker and an optimist”, he spoke about how the North was now “in a better place”, citing the arrival of gay civil partnerships as a big day in the peace process.

“Sometimes the official version of Ireland belies the great kindness, gentleness and tolerance that there is within the broad hidden Ireland,” Adams opined, suggesting he may have had an irony bypass. But it wasn’t all plain sailing. Mooney asked some tough questions, such as whether his guest was hurt by satire. “The past has to be dealt with properly, but there’s no harm in having good fun,” responded Adams. “Ask anyone who was in jail and they’ll tell you funny stories about jail.” It was hard to know whether to laugh or cry.

radioreview@irishtimes.com

Radio moment of the week:

With a timely survey suggesting that 58 per cent of us believe the Government is not doing enough to reduce alcohol intake, Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1, weekdays) debated the issue on Thursday. Fiona Ryan of Alcohol Action Ireland sought minimum pricing and restrictions on promotions. Jean Doyle of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland was less keen, instead highlighting our culture of binge drinking. And that is a factor. But that such a commercial lobby group should be invited to debate public health is absurd. Would such “balance” be tolerated from cigarette companies? Or worse?