Passenger and Gregory Alan Isakov warm hearts at packed Wiltern show

Passenger

To begin the gorgeous night of music that was to enchant the Wiltern theatre this past Saturday, Gregory Alan Isakov calmly walked out on stage. It was as though our hearts stopped. Within seconds the room was filled with beautiful melodies backed up by mandolin and guitar. The South African native had brief talks with his audience, sharing his sense for music and writing. When an artist feels so deeply about their craft, it shows, and for Gregory Alan, he surely made some new fans after his stunning performance.

Then came the highlight of the evening, the man many fans in crowded in the Wiltern were waiting for. Mike Rosenberg, better known by his stage name Passenger, walked out onto the stage welcomed with folks standing and applauding him, and girls frantically screaming. There is definitely a bond a tight bond between Mike and his fans.

Through his captivating storytelling lyrics of days busking on the streets all over the world, he truly connects on a deep level with your everyday, ordinary people. The beauty is not just in the stories he has to tell, but the lyrics he writes to explain unique details, and through his effortless vocals.

“You chose a horrible way to spend your Saturday evening out,” Mike playfully says to the crowd as he explains his show will be filled with some very sad songs.

As Passenger took us on a journey through beautiful and sullen moments, all eyes were fixated on him. You could almost hear a needle drop in the room. It didn’t matter if the person behind you was tearing up or that the girl next to you was inching her way in your line of sight, Passenger was transcending. His music touched our hearts and took us to another place this past Saturday at the Wiltern. Unforgettable.

Words & Photography: Danielle Gornbein