Between Greg Laswell’s take on Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and now this cover, my soft spot for mellow versions of 80s hits has been confirmed. Fellow East Bayers Rogue Wave stopped by KCRW recently to promote their new album Permalight and perform this breezy version of the Martin Gore-penned 1985 Depeche Mode single “Shake the Disease.”
Iconic Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan’s trademark baritone should never be impersonated, a pitfall for many a cover song, IMO, and singer/guitarist Zach Rogue thankfully does nothing of the sort. His voice is decidedly sweeter in tone and more relaxed than Gahan’s (it’s closer to Gore’s brief vocal part in the bridge/coda), so you may want to revisit the original if you’re looking for a more intense pleading love song today. Check out Rogue Wave’s take on Depeche Mode below: