What was a regular show for British folk rocker Passenger (Mike Rosenberg) became a tad more newsworthy when his buddy and fellow musician Ed Sheeran joined the performer onstage for a number of covers at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville.
Rosenberg, Sheeran and opening act Stu Larson came together for a cover of Bryan Adams's 1987 hit "Hearts On Fire," as well as '90s R&B hit "No Diggity." Although some in the audience weren't as familiar with "Diggity" as the performers might have hoped, they still chipped in by participating in a handclap rhythm. Everyone in the crowd recognized when the musicians did a short reference to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Thrift Shop" however.
"[This] is what I got into music for," Rosenberg said to Rolling Stone. "Collaborations are just one of the f-----g most exciting parts of what we do."
Sheeran, despite being seven years younger than Rosenberg, has long been a proponent of the latter's music. Sheeran, who became famous for his song "Lego House" and as a possible object of affection for Taylor Swift, bought a home in Nashville in March, but has been living in Los Angeles for the last three months. He flew over to Tennessee to see his bud. Rosenberg reported that he suggested the guest appearance the night before the show.
Rosenberg performed a few solo covers as well, including an acoustic version of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence." Speaking of the latter, the collaboration between the two went so well that Sheeran has proposed a new project, emulating the soft rock legends.
"One thing that I really love about me and Mike is whenever we meet up, we always sit somewhere and play each other tunes," Sheeran said. "We're gonna start a group called the Chixie Dicks. It's gonna be the new Simon and Garfunkel."
