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The Format
Pop / Indie / Rock

		Are you having fun? Phoenix, Arizona United States Profile Views: 6180685 Last Login: 6/30/2009
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MySpace URL:

www.myspace.com/theformat

The Format: General Info

Member Since

7/26/2004

Band Website

www.theformat.com

Band Members

Check out Nate's new band Fun
Be sure to check out Sam's merch store, hellomerch.com . He just finished writing/recording music with friends - Marko, Don, Patrick (Limbeck), Jeff (Reuben's Accomplice), Ian (El Oso Negro) - for a movie called "The Sinking of Santa Isabel". More info TBA ASAP. .

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Record Label

The Vanity Label

Type of Label

Indie

The Format's Latest Blog Entry [Subscribe to this Blog]

Dear You: Letter from Nate + new fun song! (view more)

Nate and fun to tour with Manchester Orchestra in April (view more)

Format Merch for Insanely Cheap (view more)

Hey! (view more)

NATE FROM THE FORMAT’S NEW BAND (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

About The Format

	"Dog Problems" ORDER NOW AT: iTunes hellomerch.com		"Interventions and Lullabies" ORDER NOW AT: iTunes hellomerch.com
	"Snails EP" ORDER NOW AT: iTunes hellomerch.com		"EP" ORDER NOW AT: iTunes hellomerch.com
	"Live: Exporting Insecurities" ORDER NOW AT: WerkShop		"And Now I Hope You're Alright - Live In California" ORDER NOW AT: iTunes

PURCHASE "THE FORMAT LIVE AT THE MAYAN THEATRE" AT HELLOMERCH.COM
The Format Live @ The Mayan - Snails

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"The Format, Live At The Mayan Theatre" - DVD Trailer

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"She Doesn't Get It" Video
Directed by Travis Kopach The Format - She Doesn't Get It

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"Dog Problems" Video
Directed by Geoff Oki, produced by Nylon Motion The Format -

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"The Compromise" Video
Directed by Bryan Lee, produced by Nylon Motion The Format

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Attention downtrodden rock bands everywhere: If you think getting dumped by your girlfriend is rough, try getting dropped by your record label. Twice. Although they're still barely in their twenties, that's exactly what happened to Sam Means and Nate Ruess, otherwise known as The Format. However, instead of letting the experience destroy them, the band has transformed the ordeal into something positive. (Hell, they threw parties both times it happened.) "It sort of mockingly turned the whole major-label side of the music business into a dance," explains Ruess about one of Dog Problems' most telling songs, "The Compromise." "There's a line, 'I can feel your feet touching mine,' which pretty much explains it all in the sense of 'if you're not willing to play the game, we'll just find someone else.' And that's quite alright with me." Although the band was inundated with major-label offers after their split with Atlantic, they decided to release under their own Vanity Label imprint, distributed by Sony/BMGa move that allowed them to make the album they wanted to make. "It was great," says Ruess, describing the process of recording Dog Problems with producer Steve McDonald (Red Kross). "I'd go into the studio, make decisions and never have to hear things like, "I don't know if that has enough octane," he continues, laughing. "I feel like on the last record, we were pressured to make an album full of singles, and this time we could just do whatever we want." It's true; six of the songs on Dog Problems have full orchestration (three of which are arranged by Jellyfish mastermind Roger Manning), and while the band may not have felt pressured to write singles, well, nearly every song on the disc could be one. However, the label issues are only part of the story behind Dog Problemsand hearing Ruess explain the album's title is the best way to understand where much of the album's emotional content came from. "The title Dog Problems comes from the fact that every time my longterm girlfriend and I got back together, we'd get a dog, thinking that it would save our relationship," Ruess explains. In fact, you can actually trace Ruess' tumultuous relationship through the songs on the album: "Matches" sets the scene and "I'm Actual" recounts the events actually going down, while songs toward the end of the disc have a sentimental and almost philosophical bent"Snails" in particular, which uses the animal as a metaphor for making the most of the time we have with our loved ones. But even if you don't know what each song is about, the medium is also the message. With its horns and complex arrangements, "Dog Problems" has the scope of an elaborate show tune; "Oceans" is so instantly recognizable that it's difficult to believe you haven't heard it before; and "She Doesn't Get It," features a guitar intro based on Bruce Springsteen's "Growin' Up," but quickly morphs into a hook-filled anthem reminiscent of the band's pop-friendly peers. Ghosts of XTC, Harry Nilsson and, of course, The Beatles haunt the rest of Dog Problems, but the album also takes profound inspiration from Brian Wilson. "The new album is definitely a pop record; that's the only way I can describe it," admits Reuss, clearly referring to a time before Britney Spears and boy bands co-opted the term to sell SUVs. However, despite all this, the most amazing part of The Format's still unfolding story is the way they've survivedno, thrivedin the face of adversity. In the past three years, the band has shared the stage with Motion City Soundtrack, Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional and kept their fans updated via "The Living Room" section of their Web site, where they've posted acoustic versions of Dog Problems songs to tide over their growing legion of listenersand somehow without MTV or radio play, their fanbase has grown exponentially. So, how does it feel with the album finally set for release? "It's so exciting," Ruess beams. "We were worried that since the record was delayed for a year, maybe people had forgotten about usbut our fanbase has tripled." He pauses, trying to articulate three years worth of work into one sentence. "I don't know how any of this has happened, but I feel like this is just the beginning."

The Format's Friend Space (Top 8)

The Format has 131207 friends.

fun.

Hello Merch

Steel Train

Mooka Kinney

Destry

Reubens Accomplice (mixing)

LIMBECK

Mike Birbiglia

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The Format's Friends Comments

Displaying 25 of 24273 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

christie,	Jun 30 2009 2:49 AM i'm digging the sound.
raaachael Online Now!	Jun 29 2009 1:27 AM You guys are/will remain the best. I miss you.
mitch	Jun 19 2009 3:29 PM i listen to your albums every time i wake up and it never seems to get old.. hope fun. turns out really well too..keep up the good music, i will keep listening.
Nachreiner;	Jun 19 2009 9:22 PM ahahaha what the hell! that was like an instant accept! haah Ha so How are you guys on this boring friday??
Aldape[LGTC]	Jun 20 2009 4:37 AM i dont see pick me up here? can u guys upload it? plzz
Jade	Jun 20 2009 5:13 PM I miss you. <3
chrissy ♡	Jun 21 2009 12:19 AM hey! i hope you guys check this once in a while. so i picked "i love love/i love being in love/and i don't care what it does to me" for my senior yearbook quote. they messed up..."i don't care what HE does to me" so ill be remembered as someone who invites sexual assault...oh well. at least i have good taste in music =]
roxanne	Jun 21 2009 6:16 AM you guys are great....come do a show in england :D
Sir Reggie	Jun 15 2009 4:14 PM wow you guys sound really good. i should prob go get your cd this week! that and i also need to get chase long beachs new one this week! im excited.
Michael Abrego	Jun 15 2009 4:27 PM thanks for the add i was high when i heard ure song SHE DOESNT GET IT .. it was awesome =D
Jenerally x Speaking	Jun 15 2009 10:59 PM love your music. had to say it.
a.f.d	Jun 16 2009 2:37 AM Come back to me. The best times in my life were spent at your shows. I miss you guys.
madeline.	Jun 11 2009 2:15 AM interventions and lullabies=the best music put on this earth. i love you guys so much. you're the reason why i keep going. <3
MegaRon	Jun 11 2009 3:01 AM Awesome music!! The greatest bands always come from sunny states...must to the UV rays!!!
Sierra! <3	Jun 13 2009 5:46 PM Man. I miss you guys.
manda	Jun 14 2009 2:14 AM You guys are amaazing Too bad you're not playing on the east coast anywhere):
PRIMA	Jun 15 2009 2:36 AM Please come to Minneapolis!!
Tits Magee	Jun 6 2009 8:27 PM I miss The Format...only cool thing in Arizona
Archeology (New Song up NOW!!)	Jun 8 2009 5:07 PM Hey Hey! Just dropping in to see whats new with you guys! We just got back from the dessert where we did some recording. Hope to hear from you or see you soon! love love love, Archeology
Kim	May 28 2009 9:18 PM Love the music xx
laur	May 28 2009 10:54 PM i know you're coming to cleveland, right?
Brooke Blunt	May 30 2009 7:46 AM If I was rich id hire you to play at my bar every weekend!
Denise Kawaii	May 31 2009 12:01 AM I love your music, especially with the windows rolled down whilst speeding down the freeway. Thank you for sharing your awesomeness with my CD player.
Chris	May 26 2009 10:57 PM yu guys are the shit. end of story. your songs make a huge impact on my day, almost everyday. pleassssse keep it up
Bethany	May 28 2009 12:23 AM <3 your music

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