It is time in our track sequence to pivot from the subtle and gauzy to the strident and righteous, in the form of Danbert Nobacon and his Axis of Dissent. “To Be or Not to Be” is the second track from Nobacon’s Stardust to Darwinstuff to be featured on a volume of Ball of Wax; it speaks so clearly and directly to our theme here on volume 53 that I’m delighted he shared it with us. “To Be or Not to Be” is a take-no-prisoners assessment of our planet’s current fragile state of affairs and laying out of the terms of what needs to happen to reverse – or, let’s be honest, slow – our disastrous course: Nothing less than the dismantling of our current corporate-led, profit-over-all system – aka Capitalismos, in Danbert’s musical mythology. In addition to being a nice bit of red meat for eco-warriors, “To Be or Not to Be” is a highly enjoyable bit of four-chord folk rock, rife with guitar, banjo, fiddle, musical saw, and sweet vocal hooks and harmony.
Danbert and some number of the Axis of Dissent will perform at this Friday’s Ball of Wax 53 release show. There is something incredibly cathartic about singing “Die, Capitalismos, Die” with a club full of likeminded individuals. Don’t miss it!