She throws her head back in a rapturous fit of laughter, nudging me for effect, but to me her voice is miles away. All I can do is stare at Matthew as he plays the accustomed opening of a song that brings me right back to where I used to stand on my own, at the back of music venues, longing and yearning to talk to Tom Farley, settling only for a brief glimpse from afar or a quick hello before they were rushed away at the end of the night.

Matthew plays those oh so familiar notes and speaks over the music to introduce the song, just like he used to when the band was on the rise.

‘Before I sing, I’d just like to say that about sixteen months ago,’ he announces to his audience in our living room, who hang on every word he speaks with bated breath, ‘about sixteen months ago I made a very stupid decision to drive my car on one of the most treacherous nights of the year. Not a wise decision on any account, but an even lesser one when I’d had a few drinks and was in possession of a very tortured mind. I’m not proud of myself and I’ve paid the price since, as have my family.’

Everyone gathered in our apartment goes totally silent now.

‘I haven’t played my guitar in public for many years and, after the accident that almost killed me, I vowed I never would again,’ he says, looking directly at me, his eyes etched in pain. ‘I didn’t think I deserved the joy of playing music any more. But as tonight approached, I realized that being true to yourself is always much more important than punishing yourself. It’s always better to be yourself.’

I swallow, feeling my eyes sting.

‘I want to dedicate this song to my very brave, very supportive and very patient sister Charlotte who sacrificed so much to look after me, even when she knew sometimes I didn’t deserve it,’ he says softly. ‘I’m so happy for you tonight, and I love you more than you’ll ever know. This is one of your old favourites. So this song is for you.’

I stare at the floor now, unable to look at my brother any longer as Martin joins him on guitar and they launch into an acoustic version of a song called ‘Love and Pain’, which I remember Matthew practising for hours on end back in our student digs between band rehearsals.

It was a co-write between himself and Tom and the words now resonate with me so differently, as I finally understand the true story behind it from both Matthew’s point of view, and Tom’s of course.

I might never touch you, it drives me insane, oh nothing hurts more than your sweet love and pain