Opening with his pre-fame cut “ Fairytales and Firesides,” Passenger showcased what he’d be doing all night in one song.

Michael David Rosenberg, known by his stage name Passenger at Stubb’s / Photo © Manuel NautaĪs he stumbled onto the stage haphazardly like it was his first open mic, out came the unassuming Mike Rosenberg, or Passenger–as his fawning fanatics would call him.

“ We’re All Running” was tender but bombastic, and displayed some prolific call and response moments like their countrymen, The Barenaked Ladies, did in their heyday. It very well could have been transposed to take place on 6th Street. “ Around Again” is about a girl with a guitar set in the pub-per capita capital of the world, George St. Geraldine Hollett with The Once at Stubb’s / Photo © Manuel NautaĪfter the pathos-rich longing tale of “ All The Hours,” the group went into an anathematic take on “ Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.” It was undoubtedly the apex of their set, but their final few weren’t chopped liver either. In “ The Town Where You Lived,” the harmonies paired nicely with the tongue-and-cheek pessimism (or optimism, depending on your mood). Larsen closed with the up-tempo ballad-for-the-boxcars-tinged “ This Train.” (L-R) Phil Churchill, Geraldine Hollett, and Andrew Dale with The Once at Stubb’s / Photo © Manuel NautaĬanadian folk triad The Once wasted no time endearing themselves to the folk-friendly crowd by doing an a cappella version of the Leonard Cohen tune “ Coming Back To You.” The group is lead by vocalist Geraldine Hollett and the banjo-and-guitar string section played by Phil Churchill and Andrew Dale. A few differing vocal arrangements stifled a sing-along, but during the outro, he let the choir do the singing and it was goosebumps inducing. Larsen then covered Coldplay’s “ Fix You.” To most, this song is a “break in case of emergency” emotional-diuretic, but he played it as if it was an important part of daily consumption. With a wordless hook, one-octave jumping falsetto, and guitar body percussion, Larsen opened with the gadabout-themed “ San Francisco.” He then went on to tell how he initially wrote “ Thirteen Sad Farewells” for a friend to use for her album, but instead opted to keep it for himself. Stu Larsen in concert at Stubb’s / Photo © Manuel Nauta Promptly at 8, out walked Americana-archetype, the Aussie troubadour, Stu Larsen. What made its way into both genders’ wardrobes was the occasional burnt orange top with cattle silhouettes branded on them.Įven by sundown, it was still a steamy 90 degrees, so most opted for clear liquors topped with effervescent soda water, and tall boys of cider and beer you’d squeeze a lime into. The fellas wore what they always wear to concerts–nothing memorable. The female persuasion in attendance were wearing dashing dresses from Anthropologie, or cut-off and tank combos from H&M. The crowd ranged from tweens to late-thirties, but twentysomethings ruled the gravely knoll. Nary an aforementioned roadblock could slow down the sell out crowd with Passenger taking the wheel Saturday night at Stubb’s.

England’s Passenger rode into Austin and went head-on with the Longhorn’s kick off, Labor Day’s wedding filled travel schedule, and late August temps. Michael David Rosenberg, known by his stage name Passenger at Stubb’s / Photo © Manuel NautaĪUSTIN, TX – August 30, 2014.

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