Embarking on a UK tour following the release of his 8th album, Passenger returned to Edinburgh with a live band in tow (a first for the solo artist) to play on stage at the iconic Usher Hall.
Supported by Gregory Alan Isakov, who kicked things off with an atmospheric sound that instantly won over the crowd, almost forgetting they weren’t watching the headline act!
The South African-born singer-songwriter showcased his unique mix of raw talent, story telling quality and Ryan Adams-esque sound to the high praise of the whole room including Passenger himself who joked he was “kind of regretting” the addition to his tour.
Passenger (aka Michael David Rosenberg) was later welcomed to the stage with whoops, cheers and rapturous applause from the almost sold out crowd.
Bringing his very distinctive voice and musical style to the Scottish capital, Passenger did not disappoint. With an amazing mix of surprisingly upbeat and trademark ‘sad songs’ he had the audience in the palm of his hand from the opening note.
Passenger’s storytelling ability, both in song and audience interaction, was captivating, emotional and funny all at once.
Telling the beautiful tale of an Australian man he met in Copenhagen and that inspired the song ‘Travelling Alone’ brought a tear to everyone’s eye.
While ‘I Hate’ provoked another level of emotion boasting the lyrics “I hate ignorant folks, who pay money to see gigs, and talk through every f*** song” …enough said!
Other highlights of the performance came from his cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence’, ‘Anywhere’, ‘Somebody’s Love’, his most recent single with Birdy ‘Beautiful Birds’ and smash hit single ‘Let Her Go’, which definitely drew the biggest reaction and sing-along from the crowd.
It’s obvious that his years spent busking prepared him for a life of live performances, even though he now performs to much larger audiences than the empty side streets of Copenhagen, it is remarkable how his voice translates so well from recording to live. Almost indistinguishable – although maybe his live version is even better!
If you get the chance – check him out live for yourself!