The Format

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For the AZ album, see The Format (album).
The Format

The Format performing in 2007 at the Opera House in Toronto
Background information
Origin Peoria, Arizona, United States
Genre(s) Indie rock
Power pop
Years active 2001–2008
Label(s) The Vanity Label
Website TheFormat.com
Members
Sam Means
Nate Ruess
Mike Schey
Don Raymond
Marko Buzard

The Format was an indie pop band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008.[1] Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music.[2] Though Means and Ruess are the foremost members of the band, they have toured and recorded with Mike Schey, Mark Buzard, Don Raymond, and—for the DVD recording and summer 2007 tour—The Honorary Title's current drummer and The Format alumnus Adam Boyd. The Format chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit.

Contents

[edit] History

Before forming The Format in 2001,[3] Means and Ruess, who have been friends since grade school,[4] had been part of the band Nevergonnascore and released the EP "The Byron Sessions" as well as the band This Past Year, which had generated some record label interest but not a deal.[5]

Despite some critique from the mainstream music industry, the duo's first single, aptly titled "The First Single" from their five song demo, EP, became locally popular on Phoenix radio station KEDJ and led to the duo signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first studio album, Interventions + Lullabies, was released in October 2003 and was very successful around the Phoenix area. Despite the lack of support and marketing from their record company (no video, no major promotions, no push for radio play outside of Phoenix), the band's fan base grew due to word of mouth, the Internet, and extensive touring. The album sold over 100,000 copies in the US.[5]

By the end of 2004, exhausted from their intense touring schedule, Means settled down in Arizona and married his longtime girlfriend, Anita. Ruess, however, was dealing with a series of relationship problems and drinking to excess. Their return to the recording studio the following year provided an outlet for his frustrations and, ultimately, his stormy former relationship served as a basis for many of the song on The Format's second album, Dog Problems. (The couple got dogs at one point during their on-again-off-again relationship, and when it was ultimately over, Ruess had three dogs to look after.)[6]

After Elektra folded, The Format released a second EP, Snails with sister label Atlantic Records in April 2005. As they began to work on their second full-length album, they drew on the influences of 1970s pop music, including Harry Nilsson, ELO and The Beach Boys, and decided to collaborate with Redd Kross founder Steven Shane McDonald whom they brought on as record producer.[5] But Atlantic Records executives were not impressed by the 1970s-pop-influenced demos and released The Format from its contract. Upon completing the album, Dog Problems, Ruess and Means, with help from their management company, decided to release it themselves through their newly established imprint label: The Vanity Label.[7] Two months prior to the album's release, an MP3 version was leaked to the internet. In response, The Format decided to make the album immediately available digitally for only $7.99 via the Nettwerk Music Store, which led to the sale of over 2,000 digital copies prior to the album's official release.[5] Dog Problems was released in stores on July 11, 2006. The day the album was released, an episode of MTV's My Super Sweet 16 featuring The Format aired, on which they performed at a birthday-graduation party for Priya and Divya Kothapalli.

Following the release of Dog Problems, The Format gained more national attention than ever before in the band's history. Their second release received high marks from various publications, even topping some Best of 2006 lists.

In 2006 The Format toured near constantly, supporting their own album Dog Problems as well as supporting The All American Rejects in September in the UK.

In 2007, The Format played a show in Tokyo, Japan, was featured on Last Call with Carson Daly twice, co-headlined with Guster on their Campus Consciousness tour,[3] and toured with Reubens Accomplice, Piebald, Limbeck, Steel Train, and The Honorary Title.

The Japanese edition of Dog Problems, featuring a cover of Jellyfish's "Glutton of Sympathy" as a bonus track, was released on January 24, 2007.

On June 25, 2007, celebrating the one year anniversary of Dog Problems, The Format offered the album in its entirety, including the liner notes in PDF form, for free on their official website. The offer was valid from June 25 to July 16, 2007. As of July 10, 2007, 36,000 people had downloaded the album.

On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will be putting the band on hiatus, with Nate Ruess posting the following message on the band's website:

We have just put out word that we will not be making a new Format album. Please understand this was a tough decision and we're both upset about it. While we accept there will be false speculation as to why, understand that Sam and I remain extremely close and in fact are still passing the Twin Peaks box set back and forth in an attempt to figure out who REALLY killed Laura Palmer. We also want to thank everyone with and within the Format, particularly Mike, Don, and Marko, whom without, none of this would have ever even been fully realized. We both suggest you support their musical talents and whatever they decide to do. And lastly we want to thank the fans who made this the best 5 years of our lives.[8]

When asked about the band getting back together, Ruess acknowledged that "every one of us like to remain optimistic and hopeful that it one day could happen[sic]."[9]

Ruess has formed a new band called fun. with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train. fun. will begin recording their debut album this September with producer Steven McDonald, arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr.; It will be released on August 25, 2009.[10]

Ruess currently dates Jack Antonoff's sister, Rachel. She is a Clothing designer from NYC.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Compilations

[edit] EPs

[edit] DVD

[edit] Singles

  • "The First Single" (Elektra, 2003)
  • "The Compromise" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "Time Bomb" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "Apeman" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "She Doesn't Get It" (The Vanity Label, 2006)
  • "Dog Problems" (The Vanity Label, 2006)

[edit] Soundtracks

  • "Inches And Falling" was used as the main soundtrack for the 2006 movie Wedding Daze.
  • "Let's Make This Moment A Crime" appeared in the soundtrack of Laguna Beach Episode 10: The First To Go.
  • "Tune Out" is being featured on the Hollister Co. store soundtrack ("Jukebox") as of November 4, 2008.

[edit] Various Artists compilations

[edit] References

  1. ^ "News Roundup: Arcade Fire, Gang of Four, Radiohead, the Format". Spin. 2008-02-04. http://www.spin.com/articles/news-roundup-arcade-fire-gang-four-radiohead-format. Retrieved on 2008-04-10. 
  2. ^ Iwasaki, Scott (2003-11-07). "The Format refuses to stick to a musical format". Deseret News. p. W11. 
  3. ^ a b McLennan, Scott (2007-04-10). "The Format not just another emo band". Telegram & Gazette. p. E3. 
  4. ^ "Band of the day: The Format". Spin. 2006-07-14. http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2006/07/060714_theformat/. Retrieved on 2008-02-05. 
  5. ^ a b c d Laudig, Michele (2006-07-06). "Format Busters". Phoenix New Times. http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-07-06/news/format-busters/. Retrieved on 2008-02-05. 
  6. ^ Nguyen, Ann (2006-11-21). "Bouncing back: The Format is more than just puppy chow: Duo thumbs its nose at the record industry and takes a walk with Dog Problems". Houston Chronicle. p. 3. 
  7. ^ Ferrucci, Patrick (2006-10-27). "Label 'Problems' not a big deal for The Format". New Haven Register. p. W23. 
  8. ^ News post, titled "Important." The Format's official website. Accessed February 4, 2008.
  9. ^ http://streetteams.nettwerk.com/thelivingroom/dearnate/welcome.action
  10. ^ http://www.myspace.com/fun

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Format
Nate Ruess · Sam Means · Mike Schey · Don Raymond · Marko Buzard · Sean McCall
Studio albums
EPs
Live
Compilations
Videos & DVDs
Singles
"The First Single" · "The Compromise" · "Time Bomb" · "Apeman" · "She Doesn't Get It" · "Dog Problems"
Labels
Related articles
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