The Disraelis

Issue date: 6/11/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment


Thursday June 7



The Disraelis - The Silver Dollar, 9 p.m.

At this show, local Brit-psych-inspired trio The Disraelis confirmed their status as one of my favourite Toronto bands. Each song channeled dark waves of Joy Division and New Order but with a simple drums-bass-guitar setup-no synths in sight. Also present (mainly in the rhythm section) were dreamy flashes of shoegazers My Bloody Valentine and Ride, while guitarist Colin Belfast showed more affinity with the chiming melodies of Johnny Marr, Bernard Sumner and early U2. On stage, bassist and vocalist Cameron hid behind a pair of Ray Ban shades and sneered when he hit a few wrong notes, while drummer Dave Barnes rocked out with his head down and added an energetic presence to the otherwise static stage. But The Disraelis aren't about antics or stage moves, they're about playing canyon-filling riffs that ring in your ears for days after the show.-JB

Rating: VVVV
- Jordan Bimm and Ben Spurr of Varsity Online

Disraelis @ The Silver Dollar
Friday June 08, 2007 @ 12:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff


Band: Disraelis
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Venue: The Silver Dollar
Date: June 7, 2007
Reporter: John Papamarko
Background/Composition The city of Toronto is going through a bit of a psychedelic resurgence these days and the Disraelis are active participants within this new/old scene. It almost makes one pine for the good old days when Yorkville was infested with hippies instead of yuppies. Their blend of Psych and New Wave have made fans out of local promoter Dan Burke and DJ-turned-label-founder Davy Love and after tonight's show, they've earned quite a few more.


Grade: 91

Comment:We should all be proud of the Disraelis. Not only did they play their own show, but singer Cameron also lent a hand to friends The Easy Targets when they had issues with their equipment. Cameron fiddled and banged and eventually helped solve the problem. This sense of community spirit will only help the Disraelis in any future endeavors.

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.


Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication

Eye Contact: N Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Pronounciation: G If the Disraelis have one fault, it's their lack of interaction with the crowd. Lead vocalist and bassist Cam wore sunglasses on stage and looked extremely bored. This detachment from the audience is not healthy, but he did partially redeem himself with a pretty badass sneer whilst rocking out. This gap left a little extra work for the other two Disraelis, but drummer Dave Barnes picked up the slack pretty well. He commanded visual attention with manic headshakes, as if he were saying, "No, no, don't stop a-rockin.'"
Stage Presence: G
Stage Banter: S
Image: G
Appearance: G
Use Of Stage: G



Musical Analysis

Level Of Participation: G Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Problem Solving: G Guitarist Colin Belfast was a joy to watch and he might want to look into enrolling in the enriched guitar class in the fall. His complex soaring guitar arrangements contributed greatly to the band's appeal and rich sound. The Disraelis were very tight musically, but could stand to be a bit better prepared. I suggest in the future making up a setlist beforehand, instead of conferring around the drums after every song.
Teamwork: E
Work Habits: G
Organization: S
Audience Participation: S
Sound: G
Composition: E
Songs: E



Other Skills And Areas Of Interest

Charisma: S Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Problem Solving: G The Disraelis scored so well this year because they seem to be the total package. All three members sported unique shoe choices, and seem to have things covered on the style front. But I have to caution them against falling into the skinny jeans and T-shirt trap, there is so much potential here, I'd hate to see it foiled by poor choices in the shirt department. I feel that the band should take initiative this summer, maybe study abroad in the U.K.? At the very least, I'd say go to your local record store and study Joy Division, Icicle Works and The National, which are all obvious influences.
Teamwork: G
Sexiness: G
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: E
Nods To Disposible Fashion: G
Cool Equipment: G
Level Of Inebriation: G
Actual Ability: E


- By: ChartAttack.com Staff