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The Format
Pop / Indie / Rock

		Are you having fun? Phoenix, Arizona United States Profile Views: 6370996 Last Login: 10/13/2009
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Contacting The Format

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. .

Influences

*Right Click Save As

Sounds Like

	Time Bomb
	She Doesn't Get It
	Oceans
	The Compromise

follow theformat at http://twitter.com

Record Label

The Vanity Label

Type of Label

Indie

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

Download a new song of Sam's now (view more)

The Format's Sam Means Scores Film Soundtrack (view more)

Format Ringtones coming Monday 8.17 + Nate's new record streaming on myspace! (view more)

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

Nate and fun to tour with Manchester Orchestra in April (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 130036 friends.

fun.

Hello Merch

Steel Train

Mooka Kinney

Destry

Reubens Accomplice (mixing)

LIMBECK

Mike Birbiglia

View All of The Format's Friends

The Format's Friends Comments

Displaying 25 of 23585 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Laura Wright	Oct 13 2009 4:59 PM happy FALL! come to DALLAS
The AEMR Project	Oct 13 2009 4:59 PM You sound great !!!,were those record labels that turned you down a bunch of morons ?
Glorius Tomatoes (Official)	Oct 13 2009 4:59 PM you guys are great songwriters
Matt	Oct 13 2009 4:59 PM It doesn't matter to me that you guys broke up. You guys will always be a band to me, my favorite band. Your music means so much to me and I just am very grateful for it. I will never forget The Format.
madeline.	Oct 13 2009 4:59 PM I LOVE YOU...enough said.
Crystalburger.	Oct 13 2009 4:59 PM I still love you everyday.
sharni,	Oct 13 2009 4:58 PM hello THERE. today, I've been listening to your music for about an hour. and for some reason ... I'm in a extremely happy mood not quite sure why. I'm just gonna throw that out there; see what you do with it and shit. HAVE A LOVELY WEEEEEK. :D
Valeria	Oct 13 2009 4:58 PM I enjoyed very much on your space, I emosión with each song, the lyrics, the melodies, everything! A pleasure thank you very much, valeria.
Mary	Oct 13 2009 4:57 PM Hey guys! You are great) You've got soo positive music and really positive lyrics)) I love your band!
Hillary	Oct 13 2009 4:57 PM does your cat have a mustache?
Intolerance Records	Oct 13 2009 4:57 PM Feel the sting. http://www.IntoleranceRecords.com/
christian madril	Sep 22 2009 8:22 PM YOUR STILL MY FAVORITE BAND!! your azs finest!!
Sara	Sep 22 2009 8:21 PM You guys are soooo good! I love your lyrics! I was trying to think of who you guys are a mix of, but then i realized...you guys are soooo original! Completely your own, and that (now days at least) is very rare. Good job guys!!!
caitlin;	Sep 22 2009 8:21 PM you guys are fucking great. its so unfortunate that you aren't "together" anymore :l
Silvia	Sep 22 2009 8:20 PM I love you....and thats it.
Im a parallel parker.	Sep 22 2009 8:19 PM Ummm. I think you guys should get back together... and play a show in the midwest. Pretty please?!! And ps. your website (theformat.com) is delightful. the end.
.:brandi:.	Sep 1 2009 2:36 PM wow i love u guys so much! thanks to mark hoppus! i love blink 182 and i was listening to marks podcasts wen u were on and i fell in love! ♥
Lips	Sep 1 2009 2:36 PM oh my goodness i have fallen in love with a new band YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!! and then when i find out you guys are from pheniox sp very very cool. wow you guys are amazing and like no other band i have ever heard. I love it!!! I'm sorry i get very excited when i fall in love with a new band lol. Love ya =)
booby Online Now!	Sep 1 2009 2:36 PM i love your tunes. <33333 xoxo
victoria ☮	Sep 1 2009 2:35 PM on your porch is my absolute favorite!
Timmy	Sep 1 2009 2:35 PM u guys need to get back together its been a long ass time i listen to some of fun songs and they just dont have the same upbeat great music as the format plase get back together
Caxton	Sep 1 2009 2:35 PM Awesome band!
m.a.e.g.e.n Online Now!	Sep 1 2009 2:35 PM I like the EP version of "Snails" better than the album version. :]
JuLio™	Sep 1 2009 2:35 PM You guys are the best out there.... keep it going
xCorey	Sep 1 2009 2:34 PM you guys are like a modern day Queen and thats a great thing because Queen was amazing

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