Passenger at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever

Nestled in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the very quaint Masonic Lodge flooded in with listeners of all ages on an extraordinary Tuesday evening. Better known by his stage name, Passenger, Mike Rosenberg was back in Los Angeles. This being my fourth or fifth time seeing this musician, you could say I was pretty excited. I’ll spare you the rambling, but he did not disappoint. Passenger is a music project comprised of Mike’s lovely vocals and melodies. His music is so truthfully raw and almost effortless to the sound. Pleased to be back in Los Angeles, he played us some brand new material off his upcoming September 23rd release Young as the Morning Old As The Sea.

The thing that really sticks out for me with a Passenger show has to be the intimacy you feel. This warm-hearted man fills any room with joy and fresh perspective from his many travels across the world.

Most appreciative, Rosenberg takes the time to thank his audience for the entire duration of his performance. He encourages and practically insists singing along loudly even if you don’t know the words.

Happy to be playing in such an intimate venue, Rosenberg came down off the stage to join the center of the room only at the third song in the night’s set. Fans were completely charmed by the English musician’s realness to bring his music directly to the people, unplugged with just his voice and guitar. It was totally and completely endearing.

Once back on stage, the stunning show continued with familiar songs, as well as brand new stories. Whether he’s singing in or out of range to the microphone, Passenger’s voice carries so elegantly.

I don’t think the people could get enough! Ending his set with a couple more tracks off his most recent and fifth album, Whispers, the entire crowd continued singing the melody once he went off stage.

We did get two more songs following that incredible encore chant, including a magnificent cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.”

Well done, Passenger. Very excited for more to come from him, including his release in September, with a following Spring tour.

Words & Photography: Danielle Gornbein