Live Review: Passenger, The Once

9 February 2015 | 3:32 pm | Thomas Munday

Passenger put on a flawless performance in Perth.

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Red Hill Auditorium, covered in a smoky haze blocking out the cityscape view, played host to two of modern music’s most assured ensembles. The family-friendly crowd poured in as the sky delicately shifted from bright orange to pitch black. Canadian folk group The Once acknowledged their on-the-back-foot ‘support act’ status. Their harmonic rendition of Coming Back To You quickly wowed the buzzing audience.

The group’s modest sense of humour and sparkling chemistry registered with those before them. They even delivered several brilliant retorts to unwarranted heckles. A heartfelt rendition of I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You lived up to their “most romantic song ever” claim, and the group’s spirited tempos and rhythms amped up the crowd. Overcoming broken strings and sweltering nighttime conditions, the jaunty numbers matched the band members’ glowing attitudes. Passionately elevating their set with We Are All Running, The Once rounded out their latest tour gaining new fans for their next.

As stagehands rushed across the stage and bartenders kept everyone happy, the anticipation and humid conditions steadily increased. Mike Rosenberg AKA Passenger, capping off his Whispers tour, sauntered out to thunderous applause. Launching straight into Rolling Stone, his captivating presence drew audience members to the stage, his distinctive vocals and signature acoustic sound pulled us into his dreamscape-like world. The singer-songwriter launched into several between-track diatribes and anecdotes, his heartening tone and modest wisecracks maintaining the searing momentum. He made sure to clear up two important things – this was a solo performance and his jeans weren’t always THAT skinny!

Hearty renditions of Life’s For The Living and The Wrong Direction showcased his impressive skill set. His entertaining style never showed weakness, unexpectedly throwing in chunks of What Is Love? and Eye Of The Tiger for the fun of it. Sweat and spit flailed as he dug into several heartbreaking songs, including sure-fire tearjerker Riding To New York. Rosenberg, taking multiple opportunities to salute Perth fans, ably conducted his frenzied mosh pit. Clicking, waving hands, and thrilling singalongs further bolstered his impassioned set. However, Rosenberg’s live-for-live-events style captivated the arena-spanning audience. His enthusiastic guitar riffs and uncompromising high notes sent fans into welcomed fits of hysteria.

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His cover of Simon & Garfunkel classic, The Sounds Of Silence, sent shivers down our spines, the crowd falling silent as his haunting sound echoed across the hillside. Straight after, spirited renditions of I Hate, 27 and Scare Away The Dark helped him preach to his screaming flock, successfully capping off the tour. Underwater Bride was a touching ode his busking roots. Of course, the set wouldn’t have been complete without breakout smash, Let Her Go. Encore tracks Things That Stop You Dreaming and Holes checked off more much-requested hits. He and The Once delivered a flawless medley of well-known classics, Passenger fans receiving the right mix of summery vibes and loveable tracks.