Rice makes art out of his own heartaches

THERE are a couple of things you would never have guessed about Damien Rice from listening to him pour his heart out in the gut-wrenching ballads on his albums.

On stage in front of a packed The Star Theatre last Saturday - and in Singapore for the second time in just over six months after last November's head-lining gig at the Neon Lights Festival - the Irish troubadour surprised everyone by showing his wicked sense of humour.

Rice's banter might have been deadpan but it never failed to leave the crowd in stitches.