missFlag

Jerusalem-based alt-rockers missFlag might have never found an audience outside of their native Israel if they hadn't stuck a chord with KCRW DJ Nic Harcourt in 2007. Formed in 2005 and comprised of vocalist Ohad Eliam, guitarist Assa Bukelman, keyboardist Gil Assayas, bassist Shai Saadia, and drummer Assaf Krauss, the group modeled themselves after moody, reverb-slicked British acts like Coldplay and Snow Patrol. Perhaps in virtue of their familiar, accessible sound, not to mention the fact that they sang in English, the group found some success promoting themselves via MySpace. They eventually caught the attention of KCRW's Harcourt in early 2007 with the single "Hidden Thieves"; the song made its way into the station's playlist, and Harcourt went on to invite the band to perform live in the KCRW studio in the fall of that year. Harcourt wasn't the only one interested in the Israeli rockers; missFlag was courted by EMI and Columbia that year in the midst of completing their first North American tour. A physical album had yet to materialize by the end of that year, though several songs, including "To Infinity" and "Let It Show," were available for download on the band's website and on iTunes.