Passenger @ Norfolk Basement,Fremantle 05/11/10

Tue 9th Nov, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Perth’s own Bianca Jade turned our heads with her rustic country blues sound, beautiful storytelling and seductive vocals. Accompanied by Matt Willis who added more soulful tones to the set on a double bass, the pair were like an enchanting visit to the jazz era.

It’s hard to believe that someone who has two sold out shows in the same city, still enjoys the pleasures of busking on the streets of Perth – but that’s what Passenger is all about. Mike Rosenberg, the man behind the magic has been working on a project funded by gold and silver coins from his love and labours on the streets.

He is touring his new album Flight of the Crow which he told us is an album of duets featuring a wealth of household names including; Josh Pyke, Lior, Matt Corby, Boy and Bear and Kate Miller Heidke.

In all finger plucking perfection, the set began with Fairytales and Firesides, which was written last time he was in Perth. Rosenberg was altogether charming and witty, with his entertaining stage banter including: “Is Geelong anywhere near Mordor?” in reference to a shitty gig he had there during this tour. It’s good thing there were quite a few Lord of the Rings fans that night, or that joke would have failed.

Passenger is no one-trick-pony, he has music that can make you laugh out loud or bring tears to your eyes. On one hand we have The Last Unicorn embedded with a sadder memory and some very honest words, and the other we have The Rain that gave a little light-heartedness strung together with silly and clever lyrics.

An unplugged I See Love bought a dead silence upon the basement as Rosenberg performed with such emotion, belting out the words and stamping his foot on the wooden floor for percussion. The Anti-Love Song: Part One and Two revealed humour in self indulgent heartache which elicited a few laughs and sympathetic “Awws” from punters as Rosenberg told an intimate story of his Barcelona heartbreak. Golden Thread finally gave us a preview of the new album – although minus the former Australian Idol contestant Matt Corby.

The crowd put in a good effort at whistling along to Caravan, which Rosenberg delivered respectfully. Ending the night on sing-a-long gold, which by the way is a brainwashing tactic disguised as harmless repetition of: “We have holes in our hearts / We have holes in our lives / We have holes where we got holes but we carry on!”

Holes was a great way to end the night, but fans were chanting for more because the set seemed to finish much too soon.