Ten albums in, Chicago’s Go Time! have earned the right to make a statement. 11, their latest full-length release, is exactly that, a focused, emotionally grounded record from a band that has spent more than fifteen years honing its craft without losing its hunger. The core lineup of Scott Niekelski (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Grzenia (drums, backing vocals), Paul Schmidt (guitar, backing vocals), and Mark Marketti (bass) remains unchanged, and that stability pays off throughout. These are musicians who genuinely know how to listen to each other.
URL: https://gotimebandchicago.com/
The band emerged from Chicago’s vibrant scene in 2009 and has remained a steady presence there ever since. 11 carries some emotional weight; health challenges and personal loss have touched the band’s world in recent years, and that lived experience filters into the album’s tone without ever going into self-pity. If anything, the hardship has sharpened their focus.
The opening track “Influencer” arrives fast and purposeful with the kind of melodic instinct that separates good rock songs from forgettable ones. The brisk tempo is immediately engaging, but it’s the tuneful undertow that makes it stick. “Dead Before Dawn” follows with wiry, kinetic energy, guitar and rhythm locked into a groove that pulls from new wave and roots rock in equal measure, feeling urgent without feeling rushed.
A retro sensibility runs through 11, though never as to mimic the past, but the guitars ring and stretch in ways that recall an earlier era of rock craftsmanship, and Niekelski’s vocal phrasing carries a storyteller’s sense of patience. “Expectations Falling,” “What’s Stopping You,” and “Fragments of Yesterday” all benefit from this quality, reflective in mood but never sluggish in pace. “R D A” is a highlight, pairing precise, considered lyrics with a mood that builds quietly and effectively. “Game of Extremes” takes a more aggressive turn, percussion driving hard beneath guitar work that grows increasingly fiery toward a well-earned finish.
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The album’s most emotional point may be “Fear of Forgetting,” an acoustic driven track that strips things back considerably. Memory, impermanence, and the weight of time all surface here with an honesty that resonates. It’s the kind of song that rewards close listening. “Too Soon” then reintroduces the full band with refreshed energy, its layered guitars pushing the record forward again with real passion and conviction.
“Easy” handles post conflict reflection with a measured touch, while “Worthless Endeavor” brings a looser, more traditional quality that nods warmly to classic rock tradition. “Turn Off Your Mind” embraces atmosphere and density in a way that contrasts productively with the album’s more direct moments. “Stabs You in the Back” and “In the Dark” both demonstrate the band’s strength with dynamics, subtle shifts that carry genuine emotional charge.
Closing with “Always On High” lands with the quiet confidence of a band that knows who it is. Across fifteen tracks, 11 presents Go Time! at their most considered, seasoned without being comfortable, introspective without being indulgent, and still clearly invested in the work of making rock music that matters.
Trace Whittaker