Southern California ska-punk vets CodeName: Rocky returned in 2022 with the new EP Blueprint, their first release in six years and first with new vocalist Justin Picon (of Eve of Destruction) and new guitarist Matthew Montoya (of Cry Havoc), and now they’re set to follow that with another new EP, Foundation, on July 19 via Wiretap Records. They recently released lead single “Little Devil,” which features Bite Me Bambi singer Tahlena Chikami, and we’re now premiering second single “Killing The Chemist,” which features another cool guest: The Last Gang singer Brenna Red. It’s a fast, catchy song ..read more

Ska-punk label Bad Time Records is releasing This Is New Tone–a film that’s part documentary about the New Tone ska scene, part concert film filmed on the 2023 Bad Time Records Tour–on digital/Blu-ray on July 19, and it will also premiere at various events around the country between July 13 and July 25. The screenings will include special guests, post-film Q&As, and more, and they happen in DC, Asbury Park, Philly, Berkeley (at the iconic 924 Gilman), Anaheim, and Detroit, with more screenings TBA. Tickets for this first run of screenings go on sale Friday (6/7) at 10 AM local. The Asbury ..read more

“Twelve years! You wouldn’t believe what it took to get here,” Madness frontman Suggs McPherson told the crowd at Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday, who were very glad the London band were finally playing NYC again. They were supposed to play in 2020 but the pandemic obviously delayed that, and Suggs also noted that in some ways it was for the best, as during those four years, Madness released their terrific thirteenth album Theatre of the Absurd Presents C’est la Vie (which went to #1 in the UK), not to mention a band memoir and accompanying three-part documentary. It all worked out and everyo ..read more

Omnigone, the ska-punk band helmed by former Link 80 members Adam Davis and Barry Kripene, have announced their third album, Feral, due July 26 via Bad Time Records (pre-order). For this album, the band has a new permanent lineup featuring labelmates and friends Brent Friedman (ex-We Are The Union) on drums, Russ “Ike” Wood (Eichlers) on guitar, and Nick Tournie (Noise Complaint) on guitar. It was recorded with past collaborator Jack Shirley, who’s also worked with Joyce Manor, Jeff Rosenstock, Deafheaven, and more. The first single is opening track “Quicksand,” which picks up where last year ..read more

Since the breakup of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, former bassist (and Avoid One Thing vocalist) Joe Gittleman has been focusing on his solo career, and today he announced his debut solo album. It’s called Hold Up, and it comes out June 21 via Bad Time Records (pre-order). Joe produced it himself, and lead single/opening track “Plastered In The Rafters” features trombone by D-Ray of Joe’s recent splitmates Bad Operation. That song is out now, and it scratches a similar itch as classic Bosstones/Avoid One Thing and finds Joe’s voice in great, gravelly form. Check it out below. The album’s also g ..read more

Greg Lee, co-vocalist of California ska veterans Hepcat, has sadly and unexpectedly passed away. He was 53. His partner Amanda Becker broke the news, writing: Gregory Lee 11/3/1970 – 3/19/2024 Hello Everyone, This is Mandie writing. I am about to share some unbelievable, heartbreaking news. Our dear friend, Gregory Lee, has left his earth body and joined the angels officially as of March 19th at 1pm. Greg had a massive brain aneurysm followed by cardiac arrest late Sunday, March 17 in our home in Paramount. I found him on the floor unconscious and not breathing. I immediately called for 911 a ..read more

Half Past Two‘s new album Talk Is Killing Me comes out April 19 via Bad Time Records, and today we’re premiering the music video for its title track. The song finds the band putting a ska-infused take on big, crunchy, anthemic pop punk, and the band says it’s “how we’ve always dreamed of sounding,” adding, “It’s not even ‘classic’ Half Past Two, it’s the best song we’ve ever written together, it’s the crème de la crème of what we’ve worked toward since the beginning.” The Rae Mystic-directed video takes place at a fancy dinner party, and… things get weird. Check it out below. Half Past Two als ..read more

Noted Operation Ivy fan Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! has announced that she’ll be teaming up with Philly ska band Catbite for an Operation Ivy cover set at this year’s Supernova Ska Festival. They’ll be playing the band’s sole album Energy in full. Catbite have also covered Op Ivy in the past, so all signs point to this being a real treat to see. The fest goes down from September 13-15 on the Chesapeake Bay at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia and also includes The Slackers, Inspector, Mad Caddies, Los Skarnales, Skavoovie & the Epitones, Five Iron Frenzy, Mephiskapheles, The Planet ..read more

LA ska / “dirty reggae” vets The Aggrolites are coming to the Northeast to headline day two of CT Ska Weekend at Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT and headline day three of Pennsylvania ska festival This Is Not Croydon Fest on April 21, and right before that, they’ll play a just-announced Brooklyn show on April 19 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets for the Brooklyn show go on sale Friday (3/8) at 10 AM. CT Ska Weekend also has Sonic Boom Six, High School Football Heroes, and Drop Party on day one; and Spring Heeled Jack and Nick and the Adversaries on day two. Tickets here. This Is Not Croydon ..read more

SoCal ska-pop-punks Half Past Two have announced a new album, Talk Is Killing Me, due April 19 via Bad Time Records (pre-order). The album was produced and mixed by We Are The Union’s Reade Wolcott, who also contributed guitar, percussion, keys, vocals, and co-writing. It’s their first time album for Bad Time, following the band’s inclusion on the 2020 comp Ska Against Racism that Bad Time co-released. Here’s what Bad Time label head (and Kill Lincoln vocalist) Mike Sosinski says about the new album: I will admit something to you right now dear email reader… I was not always a Half Past Two f ..read more