Bad Time Records

02/01/2025

Happy New Year… thanks to everyone who supported BTR in 2024, starting with the bands who continue to build up this community and put their trust in me to promote their music.

Last year I put out more vinyl than I ever have, made a movie, made a record with my brothers in , and focused on a lot of touring to promote said record. Honestly, it all burnt me out quite a bit. I’ve never worked so hard on personal creative projects, and I the sheer amount of things happening at once caused my focus to slip on the overall BTR trajectory and each individual release. I’m immensely proud of everything that came out and grateful for the community support, but in the spirit of continuing to learn 2025 will bring some positive changes.

Working with independent ska music and bands and friends is my passion, and I decided a few years ago to also try and make it a small business to support myself and others. Making something a “small business” also brings the expectation and urge to continue to make things BIGGER, make MORE, and GROW FAST, which I’m learning to reject in a healthy and sustainable way (ty capitalism). I’m reevaluating why I really want to do this and what I want it to be, so that I can keep doing it for as long as possible. There was a pretty funny rumor going around that I do this because it has somehow made me wealthy. I started paying myself for the first time around mid 2023, roughly what I made in my first job out of high school almost 20 years ago. The fact that I can pay myself anything by putting out ska records is something I’ll be proud of forever. BTR is still just me, some dude who love ska, shipping records out of a garage.

I’m really excited about what is coming out of BTR in 2025. The pace might be a little slower but each record will hit twice as hard. After a couple weeks of thinking hard about the plan and the vision, I’m really excited and ready to recommit to the mission of this label… building community, making cool stuff, and making a space for the people who share the vision. Thanks for reading and understanding. Thanks for continuing to support. Thanks for listening. Thanks for showing up. Thanks 🖤✌️

19/12/2024

Got to see Adam from ‘s art show “the long way around” yesterday and left floored and inspired. The best part of doing this label is all the wonderful and talented people it’s introduced me to. Adam is at the top of that list, and not just because it’s ranked by height.

ATRC

13/12/2024

Put out a couple cool things this year. Will put out a couple cool things next year ✌️🏁🖤

02/12/2024

20 degrees and I’m out here shippin yer stuff!!! Today is the LAST DAY of the sale with mystery boxes, discount vinyl, blu rays, etc. I’m also closing up shop starting 12/16, so if you want Xmas stuff order it soon pls. Ok thanks back to work!!!!!

26/11/2024

All this can be yours in the big BTR END OF YEAR SALE! $15 mystery boxes (with 2 LPs), $10 mystery shirts, TEST PRESSES, ltd copies of previously sold out variants, BTRC extras, and for the first time copies of THIS IS NEW TONE on Blu Ray… plus 20%-50% off on select records!!! WOW! Also gonna send half of the funds raised from test presses to my local FOOD NOT BOMBS. Sale runs through next Monday 12/2 or when things run out. No vinyl was harmed during this promo✌️🖤🏁

25/10/2024

FEST!! Here at the flea market!!! Come say hi and dig through the boxes ✌️🏁🖤

22/10/2024

Eric Abbey us one of the kindest, most generous, and hardest working folks in the scene. I’m lucky to know him. If you haven’t heard, Eric suffered a heart attack a few nights ago and is now thankfully recovering, but dealing with the fallout of future complications, medical bills, and missed time from work. If you can, please donate to his gofundme. If you want to buy a record I’ll donate 100% of the sale to the gofundme as well. The link is in my bio. Thank you 🖤

20/08/2024

26/07/2024

23/07/2024

Chicago screening of THIS IS NEW TONE - on sale now!

⬜️⬛️🅙🅤🅢🅣 🅐🅝🅝🅞🅤🅝🅒🅔🅓/🅞🅝-🅢🅐🅛🅔 🅝🅞🅦⬛️⬜️
└’THIS IS NEW TONE’ Chicago Premiere Screenings [ 08.06 ] Early + Late Shows

Since 2018, DIY record label Bad Time Records has been the vanguard of the newest generation of Ska. Re-rooting the genre back into its foundational pillars of unity, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-homophobia, anti-transphobia, anti-colonialism, anti-xenophobia and the out right rejection of any and all hateful ideologies - the current movement of Ska set off by Bad Time Records incorporates a much larger scene and sonic range of subgenres encapsulating bands across Ska-Punk, Ska Core, Hyperska and beyond. Formed as a rejection of everything the genre had been become in the public’s eye following it’s mainstream rise and fall in the 90’s and early 00’s, Bad Time Records also serves as a collective of unification for the caring and brilliant bands, musicians and fans who so rightfully deserve their music and message be heard through such a rich and historic genre.

‘THIS IS NEW TONE’ is a concert film and documentary centered around the 2023 Bad Times Records Tour featuring We Are The Union, Catbite, Kill Lincoln, Bad Operation, Omnigone, J. Navarro & The Traitors, JER, Eichlers, Joystick and more - capturing the modern ska scene in a way never seen before and unveiling the full scope of the high energy live experience and community that has been built. Combined with BTS footage and interviews with both Ska newcomers and veterans (like Mike Park and Jay Navarro), the film is a snapshot of the current thriving US ska scene and tries to answer the question... what exactly IS New Tone?

Join us for two screenings of ‘THIS IS NEW TONE’ on Tuesday, August 6 at 6:30pm and 9pm right here at Sleeping Village - tickets on sale now! 🆙

15/07/2024

Philamoca this Thursday! Come watch the premiere with us!

05/07/2024

'REST IN PUNK - WORLD EDITION' from HEY-SMITH is now available on vinyl! Two US exclusive variants are up now in the BTR store... this album absolutely SHREDS and the vinyl contains the brand new unreleased track 'FEEL MY PAIN'... grab one now and get stoked to see HEY-SMITH on their North American tour this September!!

26/04/2024

I'm proud to announce that "Hold Up", the new debut solo album from Joe Gittleman, will be out 6/21 on Bad Time Records! Very limited vinyl is available for pre order now, and the album's first single "Plastered In The Rafters" featuring D-Ray of BAD OPERATION is streaming everywhere now.

You may know Joe from his split with BAD OPERATION last summer, his recent collaboration with The Kilograms, or his 30+ years as the Bass Fiddleman of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones... but "Hold Up" is his first full length solo record, and contains 12 songs brimming with an energy that is uniquely 'Joe'. With help from some friends in Big D, The Pietasters, Sammy K, and more, "Hold Up" touches on Joe's favorite elements of ska, reggae, and punk, and ultimately delivers a heartfelt and unforgettable experience.

Enjoy "Plastered in The Rafters", and look out for more music from "Hold Up" coming soon.

24/04/2024

HOLY #^$% DREAM TOUR COMING IN SEPTEMBER!!! T1X UP THIS FRIDAY 4/26 10am ET / 9am CT!!!

06/02/2024

FOLLY "RESIST CONVENIENCE" - ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME! NEW REMASTER, NEW ARTWORK, TWO LIMITED VARIANTS! Up for pre order now in the store!

02/02/2024