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Michael Rosenberg is a successful British musician, who began his career busking his way through England and Australia after failing to apply himself at school due to his overriding passions for music. Michael met his future writing partner, Andrew Phillips after performing at a benefit gig in aid of Burma in 2002, the pair returned to Brighton and began to write and compose music in the style of shared influences that including everything from Simon & Garfunkel, Fleetwood Mac to DJ Shadow.
They soon formed a band under the name Passenger in 2003 with fellow musicians Marcus O’Dair (bass), Alon Cohen (drums) and Richard Brinklow (keyboards) who they knew through the Brighton music scene, the quintet only released one album during their time together, 2007 'Wicked Man's Rest' which gained the group moderate successes before their demise in 2009.
After deciding to continue under the same name, Michael headed to Australia and gained great exposure whilst supported established artist Lior which then allowed him to sell out his own headline tours. It took him a few years in the UK to re-establish himself, however during the summer of 2012 he opened for old friend Ed Sheeran which gained him great exposure with UK crowds before the release of his third solo album 'All The Little Lights'. This album featured mega-single 'Let Her Go' which charted at number one in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Germany amongst others, number two in the UK and number five in the US. It also gained Rosenberg a nomination for Best British Single at the 2014 Brit Awards.
Passenger has had a very organic, humble musical career and the successes of recent years feel deserved, almost destined to this hard working singer/songwriter who has a clear passion for his music.
Passenger is the man.
First of all, his music is great. Live or recorded, I like listening to passenger and so should you. The first Passenger show I went to was at Slims in San Francisco in December of 2012. I actually had no idea who he was until a week before the show when a friend of mine posted "Let Her Go" to my Facebook (then it had maybe 6 million views, tops!). I thought it was great and added him to my song kick, only to find out he was coming to town in a couple of days. I made sure he really was as good as Let Her Go made him out to be, and searched a few more youtube videos, only to find out why he suddenly went from busking in Australia to touring with Ed Sheeran. He is an incredible musician and comes across as someone you'd want to be friends with. $60 and a four of tickets later, I convinced a motley crew of friends to join me at "this place called Slims in San Francisco to see this British guy Passenger." No one knew who he was or what this place we were going to was, and the skepticism from my friends grew as we walked into a strange (yet awesome) venue that was filled but not packed with an assorted crowd of San Francisco 20+'s. Needless to say, the show was incredible. His music, louder than any arena show I've seen (even with just an acoustic guitar, his bare voice, and foot as percussion). His personality presented him as a drinking mate you might go to a show like his with. And he kept the audience on their toes with brilliant music, a few fantastic covers, and a spot on sense of humor. After the show he thanked the crowd and said he'd be at the bar for a drink if anyone wanted to join--Two years later I feel like the biggest idiot for passing on that because of class the next morning (what an idiot, right!!) Fast forward a year, and Passenger plays the same venue. We waited in a line filled with teenage girls and their boyfriends to enter a jam packed venue. Generally not my cup of tea, but it was the same great Passenger, and another fantastic show. It would be a mistake to pass up an opportunity to see him live.
ncarrino
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