HIGH LEVERAGE

HIGH LEVERAGE is a new Philadelphia record-shop project in the Kensington/Fishtown orbit, built around used punk, hardcore, and indie rock records with a strong collector streak. Even before officially opening, the goal is clear: a community-minded shop that reflects the city and the music that matters most to its owner.

Interview with HIGH LEVERAGE

HIGH LEVERAGE is a striking name for a record shop - where does it come from, and how did the store start in Philly's Kensington/Fishtown area?

The name is a reference to the baseball term, a nod to the intensity of some of those moments in the sport where the game's outcome is on the line. The store has been a project of mine since moving to Philadelphia last year. I was looking for a place in the city where there was a retail opportunity that made sense, and we were lucky enough to find a great space through our friends in Fireball Printing.

The HIGH LEVERAGE storefront in Philadelphia.

What does the shop specialize in - what would a regular tell a newcomer you're known for?

I would mention used punk, hardcore, and indie rock records as the main lanes for a newcomer. I genuinely would like to have all types of records for all types of listeners, but there will always be a heavy skew towards things that I personally listen to or have in heavy rotation. I also think it's important to have something to contribute sonically to a city with such a rich, diverse history and palette of music. Which is a great transition to your next question.

Punk and hardcore records from the HIGH LEVERAGE lanes.

Philadelphia has a deep, layered music history; who comes through your door, and how's the local scene right now?

While we haven't officially opened yet, my goal for the space is to be a store for all facets of the local community and scene. It's a city that took really good care of me during my early years of record collecting and attending gigs and a debt that I'd like to do my best to repay and build on.

The local scene feels as alive as ever and it's been great spending more time participating and contributing to it since we've moved back. Whether it's been meeting other record stores or collectors at some of the shows we've tabled, or being able to see acts in spaces that I've loved for years like Philamoca, I think there is something for everyone right now.

What should a first-time visitor head straight for?

My goal is that any visitor could go to any part of the store and find something unique, compelling, and even challenging to them. I don't plan to have a robust organizational system that creates a lot of distinct areas in the store. It's not a big place!

What's the most valuable or surprising record that's come through the shop?

I've been able to bring in some rarer records from bands like Saetia and Indian Summer to the store. Even though many of those 90's screamo records have been reissued, the originals still pop up and get people really excited. Some of those are time capsules for a very specific time in punk music.

Do you buy records from the public, and how do you approach valuing a collection?

Yes, we do. It's something that we try to do as fairly as possible. Most typically, we approach valuation by understanding the size, condition, and rarity of the collection. We are able to pay more aggressively for small to medium sized collections of fairly well conditioned, rare records than we are for large collections of common records.

I will also say that we are very focused on quality over quantity. We are not currently or ever planning to be a large, over-stocked store by any means.

HIGH LEVERAGE bins at a buying, selling, and trading table.

Roughly what does a common record fetch versus something you're excited to buy?

For a common record, we may pass entirely or only be able to offer 40-60% of value. For something that we are able to pay aggressively on due to rarity or other factors, we often are able to competitively offer up to 80% of value.

Do you buy 45s and 78s, or is it LP-focused?

Not 78s, but heavy focus on LPs and 7"s/45s. For the genres that we prioritize, it is often the non-LPs that really drive collectors to shows and stores.

Outdoor bins with the same punk, hardcore, and indie focus.

Should sellers clean records before bringing them, and what condition problems hurt value most?

Generally speaking, media issues like skips or scratches will degrade collector value the fastest. People want to be able to enjoy the music. After that, aggressively tearing or ripping to the jacket will hurt value. From there, it really would be more minor aesthetic issues to the jacket, like ringwear or corner bumps. And then, lastly would be missing inserts or other secondary pieces of the record release.

This is all my personal opinion.

What do people most often get wrong about what their records are worth?

If I had to summarize it as one thing, it would be that big name artists are often inversely related with actual value. Scarcity is often a bigger driver of value than musical prowess, for better or for worse.

Last updated: 2026-08-13

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