You can find out more information at: www.gotimeband.com Americana U.K 2009 GO TIME have produced an album chockfull of energetic songs embracing a power pop idiom with more than a nod to the grungier end of that style… there is no denying the quality of Scott Niekelski’s writing or the verve with which the band approach the songs. Go Time has kept a punk/garage/Americana sensibility alive. July 7, 2009 Posted by Hubbub UK GO TIME! are a group of musical nomads who have come together to produce a fantastic collection of melodic pop, which has more than a hint of retro rock to it. " For all those who claim that the age of rock and roll is overdue to the rise of manufactured groups and boy bands, give "Speak" a listen, it might just change your opinion. August 18, 2009 The Essential Music Review A friend of mine gave me this CD to listen to. I checked out their MySpace to see what was going on here. They are bringing some life back to rock. It is a mixture of all the things that I like (the Pixies, Big Star, The Replacements, and Husker Du). Mind you that they take all these things and blend them into a new sound that invites the listener in (or it did me). The band is tight – and the production gives an endearing live quality to the record. Issue # 47 Rocktober Magazine “GO TIME! indeed, as in "time to go to any bar these moody power poppers are rocking!" Great psychedelic-cloud production makes these straight-forward pop tunes sound extra awesome. Caitlin Hotchkiss – Chart Attack August 28, 2009 GO TIME! inhabit that same classic rock world of a younger Blue Rodeo or even Kim Mitchell. There's just no sense of pretention or tongue-in-cheek irony. This is four guys kicking out solid country-rock-ish jams. It's definitely enough to make the casual listener sit up and take notice. 2009, Wildy’s World mixing a working-class vocal ethic with mildly crunchy rock tunes you can really dig into. This is bar rock at its most essential. Imagine if the Ramones and The Knickerbockers jammed together; it might sound something like this. GO TIME! is a strong band with great material and a fun and frothy Garage aesthetic. " The melodies in here - above average, and there's a distinct emphasis on structure (thanks to the rhythm section of Marketti & Grzenia) that allows the band to stay tight. Kevin Wallbank – Psychedelic Central August 19, 2009 GO TIME! is a concoction of powerful sounding guitars that mix pop sensibilities with elements of rock and overtones of the best the guitar noise bands from down the years. The arrangements and playing throughout the album is tight and very well executed. Singer Scott Niekelski's vocals sit well over the top of the roaring guitars and have a slightly detached but authoritative tone which just adds to the whole sense of urgency that pervades the album from start to finish, even in their quieter moments. If you're into bands that just cut to the chase with their songwriting and get on with getting their message across with the minimum of fuss, but without dispensing with the necessary hooks needed to draw you in then Go Time will be right up your street. If this is a sign of the start of a trend towards this type of music, then I will be the first in the queue for more of it. Buy it! Leicesterbangs.com Carl J. October 12, 2009 The harmonies and intricate guitar parts underneath driving power pop. Highlights include the country pop of “Wait and See”, which has an early R.E.M. feel and the throbbing opener “You Know”. This might be one for friends and family but certainly warrants exploration on MySpace – just don't confuse them with The Go Team. Earl Clifton Radio GO TIME! these guys sent out a disc and I've got to say they grow on you like grass being well-watered during the summer - great garage rock sounds! The Razor and Di Show WLUW 88.7 Chicago "The Cheap Trick of the New Millennium!" Andy Argyrakis – The Illinois Entertainer January 1, 2010 "Loaded with crunchy guitars and hummable melodies, GO TIME! is a Chicago power pop surprise, thanks to some alt-country underpinnings." By: Isaac Davis Jr. Juniorscave.com - September 7, 2009 With a mixture of Power Pop, Garage Rock and Alternative, GO TIME! creates perfect harmonious melodic tunes that will get fans jamming to the band's music. November 22, 2009 Bill’s Music Forum GO TIME! is the brainchild of Chicago-based musician Scott Niekelski (formerly of Prairie Town). For those of you who've never heard him before, Niekelski is backed by a band rooted in no-nonsense, garage-jangle pop. As the name implies, GO TIME! is all about high energy and a Go(od) Time! Forcing myself to listen to "Speak" more than once did allow me to begin to appreciate the smart power pop within. There is a certain charm about these guys, as their sincerity and attitude will remind you of that wide-eyed kid next door who wants nothing more than to have his garage band hit the big stage. I recommend checking them out if you dug the early indie pop sounds of R.E.M., The Connells, or Hoodoo Gurus. Bill Kopp Musoscribe.com The group isn't flashy; for the most part these guys are just rocking out. Pegging influences for a relatively unknown band is tricky, but this reviewer hears definite hints of 80s country-influenced rock: BoDeans, Jason and the Scorchers, Long Ryders, Green on Red, and R.E.M.. April 27, 2010 - David Bash International Pop Overthrow Some tried and true, dyed-in-the-wool Chicago power pop is a happenin' right now at IPO Chicago, with GO TIME! led by the affable Scott Niekelski, the band's harmonies and Rickenbacker-fueled melodies would please many a power pop fan! Their sound is best categorized as power pop with a hard edge: a mix of The Who, Cheap Trick and various other artists with a contemporary twist. They travel the spectrum from melodic power pop to paint peeling hard rock rave outs. In a nutshell, a little something for all musical tastes … well most anyway. Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - Rocktober Magazine There it is! I was wondering where all the regular guy rock went. You know, rock n roll music for actual people who actually like to have a beer, have a good time, and hear some rock n roll. Hook-filled, driving, unpretentious, timeless stuff here. Baby Sue (www.babysue.com) - February 2011 Go Time! play straightforward and exceedingly unpretentious pop/rock music. These guys aren't following trends...they don't wear stupid clothes...they don't have obnoxious haircuts...and they don't wear makeup. They consistently hit the target. These guitar-driven tracks are punchy, smart, and masculine...and ultimately effective. Good solid stuff with a defined backbone. Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Terry Flamm – Broken Hearted Toy Go Time! describes its musical approach as taking power pop to less-traveled latitudes, but after listening - more accurate to say the Chicago-based band brings power pop melodies to hard rock. Certainly, the inspiration for the songs comes from The Rolling Stones rather than The Beatles. The CD has a raw, live performance sound fueled by the twin guitars of vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski and guitarist-vocalist Paul Schmidt. The band never loses track of the melody while charging through songs that tap into catchy garage rock…this is a solid effort from a group that has pretty much staked out its own territory. Andy Argyrakis - The Illinois Entertainer October 1, 2011 Armed with just as much garage rock as power pop and psychedelia, Go Time could easily be a product of the late 1960s if it wasn’t for the sound quality. Mastered by Mike Hagler (Wilco, Neko Case, The New Pornographers), the instruments pop in all the right places, while there’s plenty of contagious choruses that could’ve easily been in the company of The Zombies one minute and the 13th Floor Elevators the next. Friday January 20, 2012 Terry Flamm – Broken Hearted Toy No one is ever gonna come away from a Go Time! album wondering what a guitar sounds like. The Chicago-based quartet features the instrument up front on a series of melodic songs. It’s still a challenge trying to slap a label on Go Time! due to the variety of approaches, but that doesn’t make them any less enjoyable. Tuesday, January 24, 2012 Jake Austen – Roctober Magazine There is nothing more Midwestern than bar band power pop, the kind of music made by regular guys who know how to dig rock n roll for fans who are ready to have a good time. Not this - this is mindless fun, the best power pop always has a tinge of melancholy, hints at story behind the hooks. Go go go!