By “Tampa” Earl Burton, Rock At Night Tampa
Single/Video Review – NightShift’s single “Rocket Man” – Release date February 9, 2025
In rock history, popular songs that are reinterpreted by other artists – “cover” songs – are extremely hit or miss. You can get gems like Metallica’s remake of the Bob Seger classic “Turn the Page,” or you can get complete trash such as Limp Bizkit’s pitiful cover of George Michael’s “Faith.” Take the right song with the right artist, and magic can occur – such as with the
NightShift – Chase Engel handling the vocals and guitar work, Connor Schrems on lead guitar, James Hudson in support on rhythm guitar, Zander Regent on bass, and Jimmy Shaw at the drum kit – have performed the John song in their sets around Saginaw, somewhat as a one-off for fun. After it was heard by their then-manager, Tesla’s Brian Wheat, it was suggested that they put the song down in the studio. The result is a moment of excellence that should not only excite new music fans but John aficionados.
The feel of the song holds closely with the original work from John and Bernie Taupin, but Engel’s vocal abilities on the tune quickly take it off into a soulful stratosphere (no pun intended). The band slowly comes in behind Engel and provides an excellent punch to the tune, with Shaw’s drums bringing the group to the crescendo where NightShift surges into the finish. It can be a bit breathtaking to hear a cover song done that is comparable to the original work (and Elton John has had three albums where people tried this); NightShift fills that bill tremendously.
The video for the song captures the intensity of the John original, which dealt with an astronaut and how his work keeps him from his family. In the NightShift version, the song takes on a further intensity as they try to bring it to life in a different manner – and with a surprise twist at the very end. Whether you’re checking it out on YouTube or through Soundcloud, it is well worth it to take a listen to NightShift’s work with an Elton John classic – you might come away with a better appreciation for the song and appreciate how the Michigan band put their own touches on the tune.
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