missFlag on KCRW - Hitting the Top Charts and Performing Live
After getting regular airplay for over 3 months on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" (hosted by Nic Harcourt) and hitting
KCRW's top charts, missFlag were invited to perform a live show and interview on the show (September 17th 2007).
After the show, missFlag's performance of their song "Hidden Thieves" was added to KCRW's MySpace player, alongside performances by Coldplay, Travis, The Flaming Lips and Beck.
KCRW also wrote a
blog about missFlag:
"The Israeli band missFlag could not hide their giddiness about being on the show. When I walked in to introduce myself, they were all smiles and handshakes. They are so sweet, yet hungry – a great combination for a band trying to make it here in the U.S.
Singer Ohad Eilam tells Nic that the band met via Jerusalem's rather small music scene and bonded over a mutual love for Coldplay, an influence that is easy to identify in their music. Loving Coldplay is one thing, but there is a sincerity in their original songs that makes them stand out. Nic starting spinning their single "Hidden Thieves" months ago and I remember it caught my attention every time he played it on air.
They have something special – check out an impassioned set from these Israeli musicians
HERE.
RR"
Link:
"Hidden Thieves" KCRW performance on YouTube
Link:
"Why'd You Change" KCRW performance on YouTube
Link:
missFlag's page on KCRW.com, featuring their full performance
Link:
KCRW Blog about missFlag
Link:
KCRW's latest top chart
Link:
Photos of missFlag's performance on KCRW
The Los Angeles Times, again
missFlag were featured for a second time in the L.A Times, after getting regular airplay on KCRW:
Quote:
"This pop band from Israel is starting to make waves with the catchy song "Hidden Thieves" getting airtime on KCRW and elsewhere. It's not hard to understand, as the group's urgent, heartfelt pop has the potential for reaching a large audience. Ohad Eilam's voice and Gil Assayas' piano are the essential stitches to a fabric that incorporates diverse chord changes and tempos, but always resolving into memorable choruses."
Link:
missFlag second feature on the L.A Times website
Second Article on YNET
Less than a year after publishing a cover article about missFlag, Israel's biggest news portal 'YNET' has published a second article about missFlag describing their recent success in Los Angeles and on KCRW. Quote:
"LA rocks with Israel's missFlag"
"Israeli rock band missFlag makes necessary allies required for big international leap"
"Sometimes the difference between making good music and becoming big stars is simply a factor of getting the right people on your side. Israeli rock band missFlag seems to be making the necessary allies required for that big leap, to become the first Israeli act since Ofra Haza to break out big time on the international scene.
Of course, a little earnestness and a good heap of talent certainly help - two traits the five-piece, Jerusalem-based band possess in spades. They sing in English, and with their catchy tunes, sophisticated chord changes and high range vocals, sound something like UK's Coldplay. A Boston Globe reviewer wrote that "missFlag brings a beautifully shambling sensibility to the epic chord changes and winsome melodies."
Recently, missFlag's likable and polished sound caught the ears of influential disc jockey Nic Harcourt from KCRW radio in LA - whose Internet-distributed show 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' is a staple among more discerning rock fans.
Known for giving the first radio push to some of today's top artists like Norah Jones, Moby, Alanis Morrisette, and Massive Attack, Harcourt possesses the taste that record companies trust. And he likes missFlag, often playing their song Hidden Thieves from their debut album To Infinity on his show.
The courtship has become more serious lately and much to the band's delight, Harcourt has invited missFlag to perform live in the studio on September 17th.
"You know how amazing this is for us," missFlag lead singer Ohad Eilam told ISRAEL21c. "Just a couple of days ago Harcourt had Paul McCartney as a guest on his show!""
Link:
Second missFlag article on YNET
The Los Angeles Times
On Hidden Thieves:
"This band from Israel covers some of the same ground as Coldplay with the kind of sing-along choruses that could appeal to a large audience. Singer Ohad Eilam has an accessible sincerity and, in "Hidden Thieves," the shifting time signature helps keep what could have been a banal song interesting. When the keening guitar enters on the final chorus, providing a diversion from the center of focus (the piano) one can imagine a concert hall of swaying bodies. Their group's upcoming album is produced by Guy Erez, who has worked with the Gipsy Kings."
Link:
missFlag feature in the L.A Times (scanned image)
Link:
missFlag feature on the L.A Times website
The Boston Globe
On missFlag's E.P:
"The e-mail in box pile up makes it tempting to auto-delete, but every once in a while one of those unsolicited messages from an unknown band produces the goods. So it was with missFlag, a year-old indie-rock band from Jerusalem that will release its debut collection of gorgeous pop-rockers in October. Comparisons to Coldplay are unavoidable. Of course the timing is good: now that Keane's lead singer is in rehab we need a new New Coldplay. But missFlag brings a beautifully shambling sensibility to the epic chord changes and winsome melodies. Check out the five tracks streaming at www.missFlag.com, where you'll be able to buy the full-length CD next month."
Link:
missFlag review in the Boston Globe
"To Infinity" review by Danny Brown on Suite101.com
Danny Brown, Feature Writer for Indie Music in the online magazine "Suite101.com", has reviewed missFlag's debut album "To Infinity". Some quotes:
"In this time of MySpace and its ilk often allowing artists to advertise how popular they are by the amount of friends they have, it’s refreshing to find a band who actually justify these numbers with real fans and not just unknown names and faces. It’s especially gratifying when you realise it’s a band who actually have something worth listening to, as is proven by To Infinity, the debut release from missFlag."
"Perhaps the best example of this maturity in missFlag’s song-writing skills comes with the track Run. Opening with a simplistically strummed acoustic guitar, which leads effortlessly into the full band, it’s a bittersweet love song, with Eilam begging a destructive lover to ‘quit laughing all the time at me / though it always seems that nothing's changed’. Epic in its journey to breaking free from the lover in question, it’s a glorious mix of tempos that charts the up-and-down perils of love."
"With the release of To Infinity showing that the band have the songs to support the talent, it’s surely only the beginning of how far they can go."
Link to the full "To Infinity" review by Danny Brown on Suite101.com
Special thanks to Danny Brown for writing such a great review!
Fame Games Radio
On Hidden Thieves, which won Track of the Month:
"A terrific, vibey song, very well performed, classy delivery & the whole package seems to be there. You can take it from here anywhere you want, but always remember: rush slowly and make balanced choices along the way.
And we're always here if you need someone to bounce ideas off."
"Congratulations on winning our Track of the Month - you're only the second band ever to do that on Fame Games, and you've had some very tough competition."
"We believe you have a solid chance with this song on the international market."
"There's more than one label out there - now - looking for a band just
like you!"
"A band on your level is in a prime position to find a good record
deal - if you're ready for it mentally."
Link:
Fame Games Official Website
Yediot Acharonot/Ynet article
Yediot Acharonot (Israel's biggest newspaper) has written a cover article about missFlag's success in L.A. The same article has been posted in English on the newspaper's website (Ynet) .
"Jerusalem Cinderella takes LA by storm"
"Virtually unknown missFlag band praised by LA Times, captures attention of Universal Music"
"Two years ago, five Jerusalemite youngsters set up a band called missFlag. The band performs in English and plays music reminiscent of the popular British pop genre; however, they were not very successful in Israel. Not many have heard of the band, they are a Cinderella of sorts.
Things changed when they began putting their music on the popular MySpace website. This year, their single, Hidden Thieves, was selected by MySpace music critics to head the charts for four consecutive weeks.
Their big break came when the band went on a successful tour in Los Angeles under the auspices of the city's Israeli consulate. "Your success is the success of the State of Israel," Israel's Consul General Ehud Danuch told them in Los Angeles.
Their opening shot was at the Cat Club on Sunset Boulevard. The Club's manager told the Consul for Media and Public Affairs, Gilad Millo, that had the five youngsters not told him they were from Israel, he would have been convinced they were a British band.
Rising stars
Later on the band performed at the reputable AFI film festival. At the request of the consular office, managers of the festival agreed to let the Israeli band give a special performance to an audience comprising producers, directors, agents and actors.
The highlight of the tour came at the prestigious Temple Bar in Santa Monica. Representatives of the Universal Music recording company closed the club for several hours so that they could continue listening to the Jerusalemite band's music.
The Los Angeles Times also praised the band saying that its music appeals to a broad audience.
"We were highly honored overseas," Ohad Eilam, a missFlag band member said Tuesday, "we felt as though we were Israeli ambassadors.""
Link to English article on Ynet
Link to scanned Hebrew article from Yediot Acharonot
Same article was also posted on
Israel Insider.
VH1 Song of the Year Contest
An early acoustic recording of the song 'Run' made it as one of the top 5 in the 'rock' category in the VH1 Song of the Year songwriting contest in June 2005.
Jerusalem Post missFlag concert review
David Brinn of the "Jerusalem Post", has reviewed missFlag's show at The Syndrome, Jerusalem (April 2007). Some quotes:
"The band comes into its own performing live, with star-quality songs, stage presence and musicianship."
"These guys should be playing the Hangar in Tel Aviv, not the Syndrome. Catch them there, though, and at other small venues like it, while you can. Someday you'll be able to say you saw Missflag back when."
Link to the Jerusalem Post's review of missFlag's April 2007 show
Special thanks to David Brinn for writing the review!
WXPN recommended download
WXPN 88.5 has chosen missFlag's "Hidden Thieves" as the recommended download for July 2nd 2007. Quote:
"Each weekday, My Morning Download introduces you to some of the coolest new music on the web. We clear through the noise so you don't have to. Meet
missFlag."
"missFlag are a five piece from Jerusalem (who as far as I know sing primarily in English) that will immediately bring to mind Coldplay and Keane however manage to stand out in the pack of Coldkeane wannabes on the strength of lead singer Ohad Eilam's brilliantly soaring, angelic vocals and the band's anthemic songs on their debut album To Infinity. Big in Israel not for too much longer, my friends. Swoon away........"
Click here to read about missFlag's song "Hidden Thieves" on WXPN
Click here for an alternative link on SomeVelvetBlog.com
Ha-Ir 2 page article
Well-known Israeli Newspaper "Ha-Ir" has posted a 2 page article about missFlag, which appeared in both the Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv editions of the paper:
Link to scanned missFlag article from "Ha-Ir"
"Music 24" missFlag article
The website of "Music 24" (the Israeli music TV channel) has posted an article about missFlag:
Click here to read the article about missFlag on "Music 24"
Jerusalem Post
The English language newspaper published in Jerusalem, "The Jerusalem Post", has reviewed missFlag's debut album "To Infinity":
Link to missFlag's album review on "The Jerusalem Post"
Jewish Journal
"The Jewish Journal", a newspaper published in the US, has written an article about missFlag's first visit to LA:
Link to missFlag article on "The Jewish Journal"
Israeli Consulate in New York (show recommendation)
A recommendation to see missFlag's show in NYC during their March 2007 US Tour has been written in the blog of New York's Israeli Consulate. Quote:
"Do you live in the great city of Manhattan? NO? Well, perhaps you’ll be visiting on March 23rd? If that’s the case, you’ll be among the lucky humans who will have the chance to see Israeli band missFlag live in concert at the Lion’s Den in Nolita."
Link to missFlag show recommendation in the blog of New York's Israeli Consulate
Kol Ha-Zman (second article)
Israeli Newspaper "Kol Ha-Zman" has written about missFlag's debut album, "To Infinity":
Link to scanned missFlag article from "Kol Ha-Zman"
Kol Ha-Zman
Israeli Newspaper "Kol Ha-Zman" has interviewed missFlag:
Link to scanned missFlag interview from "Kol Ha-Zman"
Israel's Embassy in Singapore
An article about missFlag has been written on the website of Israel's Embassy in Singapore:
"You will remember missFlag as that first riff promises mosquito-'bite' quality - you simply can't get them out of your head."
Link to missFlag article on the website of Israel's Embassy in Singapore
Austin American-Statesman picks missFlag's show for Best Bets
The "Austin American-Statesman" newspaper has picked missFlag's show at "Antone's" in Austin, Texas as the Best Bet for March 28, 2007:
Click here to read about missFlag in the "Austin American-Statesman"
Schallgrenzen picks Hidden Thieves as Song of the Week
German music website
Schallgrenzen has chosen missFlag's song "Hidden Thieves" to be Song of the Week during May 2007.
"The Alestle" (SIUE paper) article
An article about missFlag's show at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (during their March 2007 US tour) was written in "The Alestle":
Click here to read The Alestle's article about missFlag
missFlag interview on 91.7FM KVRX (Austin TX)
During their second US tour missFlag were interviewed for the University of Texas radio show "Galim B'Texas".
Click here to listen to missFlag's interview on 91.7FM KVRX
Special thanks to Jeff Gronich for the interview!
Yediot America
Journalist Ori Oren has written a review of missFlag's March 2007 New York City show, for the Hebrew newspaper "Yediot America" (published in the US).
You can read the article in Ori Oren's blog or as a scanned image from the newspaper:
Link to the review of missFlag's NYC show in Ori Oren's blog
Link to the scanned review of missFlag's NYC show from "Yediot America"
NRG
Big Israeli newspaper NRG (Maariv) has picked "Hidden Thieves" as one of the best singles of the week during December 2006.
Link to NRG "Singular" featuring missFlag
NRG has also posted a short "interview" (with real wacky questions) of missFlag's band members in February 2007.
Link to missFlag interview on NRG
Link to missFlag interview scanned from Maariv
OneThingIKnow.net MP3 of the Week
OneThingIKnow.net has picked missFlag's "Hidden Thieves" as MP3 of the Week. Quote:
"Two of my favorite pop groups of the last few years are Keane and Coldplay. I may very well have to add this Israeli band to this short list. If you want to see what I mean, all you have to do is to go to WXPN’s “My Morning Download” page here and download a free copy of their song “Hidden Thieves.” I think the song is infectious (in a good way), and I love Ohad Eilam’s lead vocals."
Click here to read about missFlag's "Hidden Thieves" on OneThingIKnow.net
Jewlicious.com article about missFlag's 2007 Israeli Summer Tour
Jewlicious.com has posted an article about missFlag's 2007 Israeli Summer Tour. Quote:
"Made up entirely of native Israelis, missFlag performs exclusively in English and are working hard to promote themselves outside the confines of the Holy Land. One of their major motivations in this respect is their desire to promote an image of Israelis and Jerusalem that reflects reality - one that’s not all wars and conflict, but mostly fun and good times mixed with a fervent desire for love and peace."
"I’ve seen them live and they are most excellent."
Click here to read about missFlag's 2007 Israeli Summer Tour on Jewlicious.com
ROI120 2007 missFlag show
As part of the The 2007 ROI120 Convention (Global Summit for Jewish Innovators) in which Assaf Krauss (missFlag's drummer) was a participant, missFlag performed a show for the ROI120 Community. Read all about it here:
Click here to read about missFlag's show for the ROI120 Community
Israel's Embassy in Warsaw
An article about missFlag has been written on the website of Israel's Embassy in Warsaw:
Link to missFlag article on the website of Israel's Embassy in Warsaw
Judapest.org writes about missFlag's 2007 Israeli Summer Tour
Judapest.org has posted a short article about missFlag's Israeli Summer Tour of 2007:
Click here to read about missFlag's 2007 Israeli Summer Tour on Judapest.org
Japanese article about missFlag on "MitchBox"
Japanese website "MitchBox" has written about missFlag:
Click here to read the article about missFlag on "MitchBox"
LA Based Israeli newspaper
A Hebrew language newspaper published in LA, called "Anachnu Be-America" has featured an article about missFlag's first tour to the US.
Link to scanned missFlag article from "Anachnu Be-America"
The Music Magazine
First issue of a new music magazine called "The Music Magazine" features a review of missFlag's single "Hidden Thieves":
"Stunning debut single from Indie rockers missFlag."
"One thing's for certain, this young quintet have big things ahead of them."
Link to "The Music Magazine" website, where you can download all issues of the magazine for free.
missFlag show review on Scoop.co.il
Israeli website Scoop.co.il has posted a review (in Hebrew) of missFlag's show at the Syndrome, Jerusalem, in November 2006:
Link:
Click here to read missFlag's show review on Scoop.co.il
Local.co.il
Israeli news portal website "Local.co.il" has written about missFlag:
Link to missFlag article on "Local.co.il"
Aguda.org.il
The Israeli Hebrew University's Student Association website has featured missFlag:
Link to missFlag feature on "Aguda.org.il"
Israel Valley article
The French news website "Israel Valley" has written a short article on missFlag's success in L.A.
Link:
missFlag article on Israel Valley
Layla
An article/interview of missFlag and a feature of missFlag's single "Hidden Thieves" have been written in the well-known Israeli music website "Layla":
Link to missFlag article/interview on "Layla"
Link to missFlag "Hidden Thieves" feature on "Layla"
Mooma article/interview
The biggest Israeli online music directory portal "Mooma" has featured missFlag in an article/interview:
Link to missFlag article/interview on "Mooma"
Walla
Well-known Israeli news website "Walla" has posted an article (in Hebrew) about missFlag's upcoming US tour:
Link to missFlag article on Walla
Kol Ha-Ir (second article)
Israeli Newspaper "Kol Ha-Ir Jerusalem" has written a second article about missFlag:
Link to second scanned missFlag article from "Kol Ha-Ir"
Kol Ha-Ir
Israeli Newspaper "Kol Ha-Ir Jerusalem" has written about missFlag:
Link to scanned missFlag article from "Kol Ha-Ir"
Achbar Ha-Ir Jerusalem (second article)
Israeli Newspaper "Achbar Ha-Ir Jerusalem" has written once again about missFlag:
Link to second scanned missFlag article from "Achbar Ha-Ir Jerusalem"
Achbar Ha-Ir Jerusalem
Israeli Newspaper "Achbar Ha-Ir Jerusalem" has written about missFlag:
Link to scanned missFlag article from "Achbar Ha-Ir Jerusalem"
Achbar Ha-Ir Haifa
Israeli Newspaper "Achbar Ha-Ir Haifa" has written about missFlag's show in Haifa that took place on the 20th of January 2007, at "The Beat":
Link to scanned missFlag article from "Achbar Ha-Ir Haifa"
MIGnews.com
Russian paper "MIGnews.com has written about missFlag:
Link to missFlag article on MIGnews.com
Botinok.co.il
Russian/Israeli website "Botinok.co.il" has written about missFlag:
Link to missFlag article on "Botinok.co.il"
"Music 24" Kochav-Nolad article
An article about Kochav-Nolad (Israel's "American Idol") on the "Music 24" website describes missFlag's recent appearances on Israeli TV:
Click here to read the article describing missFlag's TV appearances on "Music 24"
Jerusalem events website Bo2.co.il
Jerusalem events website "Bo2.co.il" has featured missFlag:
Link to missFlag feature on "Bo2.co.il"
Schallgrenzen review of "To Infinity"
The German music website "Schallgrenzen", which has greatly praised missFlag's EP when it was released in January 2006, has now written about missFlag's debut album "To Infinity":
Link to missFlag's album review on "Schallgrenzen"
Jerusalem Post
The English language newspaper published in Jerusalem, "The Jerusalem Post", has reviewed missFlag's debut album "To Infinity":
Link to missFlag's album review on "The Jerusalem Post"
Israeli Consulate in New York
An article about missFlag has been written in the blog of New York's Israeli Consulate:
Link to missFlag article in the blog of New York's Israeli Consulate
missFlag song recommendations on "Music of the Moment"
"Music of the Moment" has recommended two of missFlag's songs for download:
Click here to read the missFlag song recommendations on "Music of the Moment"
Schallgrenzen review
The German music website "Schallgrenzen" has written a short review of missFlag's EP.
Link:
missFlag review on Schallgrenzen
