Lipona – Pigeonholed

The last decade has given reason for so many bands to abandon the mainstream and follow the path less taken.  Unless you’re one of the chosen few (say, Against Me! Or The Gaslight Anthem), there’s a good chance that if your band is starting out, you’ll have to make a choice between style and substance.  And while the airwaves are saturated with those drawn to the honey pot, those opting to buck trends and embrace their own uniqueness are becoming increasingly self-aware.  As the old saying goes, dark days give way to bright new dawns, and when it comes to the underground, we’re fast approaching that new day.

While I’m largely reiterating the same sentiment that my recent reviews of Bright And Early and Killola centered around, listening to melodic hardcore punkers Lipona has given me reason to revisit the outlook once again.  The Florida quartet’s recent EP, Pigeonholed, serves as yet another example of a refreshingly self-aware punk group pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo.  But they don’t just kick and scream like a child having a tantrum; rather, they develop their ideological foundation one concept, eventually calling out the fakes that monopolize the industry.

Pigeonholed opens with “The Dynamite Era” and a call to “self accountability.”  Frontman Yamil Velez starts by rattling off a string of provocative inquiries regarding personal self-awareness.  When the chorus roles around he introduces the clincher by placing the onus on the individual, and ultimately “the choices made.”  When the track nears conclusion the band gives listeners a chance to reflect upon their own mistakes by launching into a vibrant guitar solo.  After providing time for refection, Valex weighs in his thoughts, contributing a curious observation about how citizens of “a culture of rugged individualism rarely accept responsibility for their own decisions.”

By the time “Tragedy Of The Commons” and “Hawks” role around, Lipona expands their scope to societal themes of shared blame and ignorance.  Across these songs the band avoids communicating anger.  Instead, their blistering drumming and frenetic guitars channel a deep sense of pressing urgency.  The status quo is no mistake and needs to be challenged.  It’s the perfect set-up for “Shooty Hoops,” a track that might be termed Lipona’s stripped down, state of the scene address.  The deeply emotional plea wastes no time establishing a saddening outlook shared by many: “we must fulfill our greed/ruin artistic integrity for the sake of short-term marketability.”  The band points to the radio as proof of the mantra shaping popular trends, and that in the face of such hurdles, a band as honest and forthcoming as Lipona “doesn’t stand a chance.”  By stripping themselves down to their core, listeners must confront the subject matter and ponder their message.

“Reverberations” returns to Pigeonholed’s previous pace and serves as somewhat of an epilogue.  Here they admit that there’s no perfect solution to these “vicious cycles,” but that we can each do our part by looking inside and understanding who we are – beyond consumers.  Again stressing that each of our choices shapes our surrounding world, they aim at empowering their audience as agents of change.

Lipona knows that their simple five-song EP won’t change the world, but they’re hoping to do their part by touching their audience one listener at a time.  It’s an inspirational goal, and one that the band wholeheartedly embraces – even offering Pigeonholed as a free download in an effort to ensure maximum exposure.  Highly recommended for the music and the message.