Passenger, Inland Sea, JacksonMcLaren @ The Zoo (06/05/11)

Mon 16th May, 2011 in Gig Reviews

Passenger aka Mike Rosenburg is known for his amazing vocal projection and a mesmerizing stage presence. Having toured the country relentlessly, Passenger has collected a slew of dedicated fans along the way. Since playing the Troubadour to a mere forty-one people early last year, the four Brisbane shows since has seen a constantly large fan base grow. A packed crowd filed into The Zoo in order to see Passenger play one last time – his debut as part of a full band – before heading back to the U.K.

Solo artist Jackson McLaren warms up the audience with a string of soulful acoustic folk tunes. Next Inland Sea provides a contrast with all ten members filing on stage. Whilst the number of singers in the band at times seems to overcrowd the musical layers they are trying to create, by the end of the set they have won over the audience with All Fall Down and a song featuring ten people singing in harmony.

Switching on the fairy lights on the drum set, Passenger takes to the stage. Always the charmer with his brutal honesty, he firstly thanks the audience for “Coming to The Zoo on a Saturday night to see acoustic music instead of going to the Valley to throw up on yourselves”. Beginning with Month of Sundays, I See Love and Unicorn, he displays his remarkable vocal control and projection. Lightening the mood with popular busking track Rain, Passenger sings ‘If it was raining buckets it would put Bunnings out of business,” cringing as he sings his self-professed shameful lyrics.

With Brisbane musician Stu Larsen on guitar, the five piece band successfully recreated album tracks in a live setting, filling the void sometimes noticeable in previous Passenger shows. A remarkable duet featuring the female keyboardist leave the crowd in silent awe as they sing Bloodstains.

Standout of the evening is a solo cover of the timeless Sound of Silence as well as full band Flight of the Crow. The encore provided a questionable song choice: a song about hate (including everything from people singing to loudly in gigs and Australian Idol) and Holes, an inspiring tune about overcoming adversity. Being able to get every member of a packed house to sign a long is no easy task, but which no Passenger gig is without. One thing is for sure – Passenger has some of the most dedicated fans, and rightly so.