In 2012, Emily Hakes and Eric Osman started the Philadelphia-based independent label Lame-O Records. A two short years later Lame-O has bands like Johnny Foreigner, Ma Jolie, Steady Hands, The Hundred Acre Woods, The Weaks and Three Man Cannon on its roster. Pulling from this pool of young talent and the surrounding state, Lame-O has compiled a six-way split entitled Strength In Weakness. The album includes songs by all Pennsylvania-area acts. From West Chester’s Spraynard to Philadelphia’s Marietta, bands from all over the PA (and one by way of Maryland) contributed a track. Proceeds from the album sales will benefit the Philadelphia area chapter United Cerebral Palsy.

Strength In Weakness is available for purchase from the label’s website as of today. For this eye-catching limited pressing, Lameo released 100 Black/Clear Half and Half, 150 Transparent Sea Blue and 250 Grimace Purple vinyl records; however, when the record was made available for pre-order early last month all 500 copies of the pressing sold out immediately. If you did not get your hands on one or if you prefer digital media, the album can be downloaded from Lame-O’s Bandcamp.

One of the most anticipated songs on the album is  “Alpha Kappa Fall Of Troy The Movie Part Deux” by Modern Baseball. Brendan Lukens, Jacob Ewald, Ian Farmer and Sean Huber, members of the Brunswick/Frederick, Maryland band, attended Chestnut Hill College and Drexel University in Philadelphia, which explains their connection to the PA label. “Alpha Kappa Fall Of Troy The Movie Part Deux” is the latest from the band since their widely successful album You’re Gonna Miss It All, which was released off of Run For Cover Records in 2014. Lameo released the band’s debut full-length Sports in 2012.

The two teamed up again for Strength In Weakness, releasing behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process via the label’s YouTube. In the Modern Baseball segment, the band’s guitarist/vocalist Jacob Ewald explains, “The reason I kind of know about cerebral palsy is because our friend James who runs Modern Vinyl has that. We care a lot about him. He was one of the first people, who didn’t hate our band on the internet. That was really neat and we have a pretty cool relationship with him. It’s really awesome to be involved with something that supports research in that area…I’m really glad that I can be involved in such a cool project and lend a #helpinghand.”

Ewald also touched on the label itself, which Modern Baseball still calls home, adding, “Lame-O Records is doing a lot of cool stuff right now. They’re putting out a bunch of great bands. It’s such a cool little team that they have going on. It’s a very down to earth, person-to-person operation. They really, really care about all their bands and don’t worry about how many millions and gillions of records they’re gonna sell, although they are infinitely destined for greatness.”

Lameo also recorded similar videos with the other bands that contributed to Strength In Weakness. The rest of the album includes “Haulin’ Oats” by Spraynard, “Call Me Away” by The Weaks, “Old Joe” by Marietta, “Too Late To Die Young” by Beach Slang and the Hurry’s TSwiftian “Shake It Off.”

-Zoe Marquedant