The Format 1861351 224282595 2008-07-08T03:53:58Z 98.172.188.6 /* History */ {{For|the AZ album|The Format (album)}} {{Infobox musical artist 2 |Name = '''The Format''' |Img = The Format in concert Aug 2007.JPG |Img_capt = The Format performing in 2007 at the Opera House in Toronto |Landscape = yes |Background = group_or_band |Origin = [[Peoria, Arizona|Peoria]], [[Arizona]], [[United States]] |Genre = [[Indie Rock]]<br>[[Powerpop]]<br> |Years_active = [[2001 in music|2001]]–[[2008 in music|2008]] |Label = [[The Vanity Label]] |URL = [http://www.TheFormat.com/ TheFormat.com] |Current_members = Sam Means<br />Nate Ruess<br />Mike Schey<br />Don Raymond<br />Marko Buzard<br /> }} '''The Format''' was an [[indie pop]] <!--The Format are NOT ska!-->band formed by [[Arizona]] natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. They went into a hiatus on [[February 4]], [[2008]].<ref>{{cite news| title =News Roundup: Arcade Fire, Gang of Four, Radiohead, the Format| publisher =''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''| date =2008-02-04| url =http://www.spin.com/articles/news-roundup-arcade-fire-gang-four-radiohead-format| accessdate =2008-04-10 }}</ref> Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk, and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music.<ref>{{cite news| last =Iwasaki| first =Scott| title =The Format refuses to stick to a musical format| page =W11| publisher =''[[Deseret News]]''| date =2003-11-07| }}</ref> 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. ==History== Before forming The Format in 2001,<ref name="Telegram">{{cite news| last =McLennan| first =Scott| title =The Format not just another emo band| page =E3| publisher =''[[Telegram & Gazette]]''| date =2007-04-10| }}</ref> Means and Ruess, who have been friends since grade school,<ref>{{cite news| title =Band of the day: The Format| page =| publisher =''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''| date =2006-07-14| url =http://www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2006/07/060714_theformat/| accessdate =2008-02-05 }}</ref> had been part of the band This Past Year, which had generated some record label interest but not a deal.<ref name="NewTimes1">{{cite news| last =Laudig| first =Michele| title =Format Busters| publisher =''[[Phoenix New Times]]''| date =2006-07-06| url =http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-07-06/news/format-busters/| accessdate =2008-02-05 }}</ref> Despite some critique from the mainstream music industry, the duo's first single, aptly titled "[[The First Single]]" from their five song demo, ''[[EP (The Format album)|EP]]'', became locally popular on [[Phoenix, Arizona|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, Arizona|Phoenix]] area. Despite no marketing by the 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, and the album sold over 100,000 copies in the US.<ref name="NewTimes1" /> By the end of 2004 and its intensive tour schedule, Means settled back to life in Arizona, marrying his longtime girlfriend, Anita. Ruess, in contrast, had relationship problems and was drinking alcohol excessively. Returning to the recording studio the following year helped him to recover.<ref name="NewTimes1" /> He used the stormy relationship as a basis for much of the songwriting for 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.)<ref>{{cite news| last =Nguyen| first =Ann| title =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| page =3| publisher =''[[Houston Chronicle]]''| date =2006-11-21| }}</ref> After Elektra folded, The Format released a second EP, ''[[Snails (The Format album)|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.<ref name="NewTimes1" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news| last =Ferrucci| first =Patrick| title =Label 'Problems' not a big deal for The Format| page =W23| publisher =''[[New Haven Register]]''| date =2006-10-27| }}</ref> 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.<ref name="NewTimes1" /> ''[[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,<ref name="Telegram" /> and toured with [[Reubens Accomplice]], [[Piebald]], [[Limbeck]], [[Steel Train]], and [[The Honorary Title]]. The Japanese edition of ''Dog Problems'', featuring a cover of [[Jellyfish (band)|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 putting the band on hiatus, with Nate Ruess posting the following message on the band's website: {{quote|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.<ref>[http://www.theformat.com/index2.html News post, titled "Important."] The Format's official website. Accessed [[February 4]], [[2008]].</ref>}} Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later in 2008.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} ==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''[[Interventions + Lullabies]]'' (Elektra, [[2003]]) *''[[Dog Problems]]'' (The Vanity Label, [[2006]]) ===Compilations=== <!-- *''[[Live at the Mesa Amphitheater]]'' (Limited Release live album, 2004) --> *''[[B-Sides & Rarities (The Format album)|B-Sides & Rarities]]'' (The Vanity Label, 2007) ===EPs=== *''[[EP (The Format album)|EP]]'' ([[Western Tread]], 2002) *''[[Snails (The Format album)|Snails]]'' ([[Atlantic]], 2005) *''[[Live from the Living Room: Volume One]]'' ([[The Vanity Label]], 2006) *''[[And Now I Hope You're Alright - Live in California]]'' (The Vanity Label, 2006) *''[[The Format Live: Exporting Insecurity]]'' (The Vanity Label, 2006) ===DVD=== *''[[Live at the Mayan Theatre]]'' ([[The Vanity Label]], 2007) ===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) ===Soundtracks=== *"On Your Porch" featured on [[Veronica Mars]] and was included on [[Veronica Mars#Soundtrack|''Veronica Mars'': Original Television Soundtrack]] (Nettwerk, 2005). *"The First Single" was featured in the second season of [[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]. *"Give It Up" can be heard playing faintly in the movie ''[[National Treasure]]'' while Ben and Abigail are inside [[Urban Outfitters]]. *"Inches And Falling" was used as the main soundtrack for the 2007 movie ''[[Wedding Daze]]''. *The single "The Compromise" is also featured on ''[[The Sims 2: Pets]]'', with the words being sung in [[simlish]]. *The song "Wait, Wait, Wait" appeared briefly in the background of an episode of ''[[Malcolm In The Middle]]''. *"Swans" was written especially for the film, [[Moving McAllister]] starring [[Jon Heder]] and [[Mila Kunis]] of ''That 70's Show'' fame. *"Let's Make This Moment A Crime" appeared in the soundtrack of [[Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County|Laguna Beach]] Episode 10: The First To Go. ===Various Artists compilations=== *''[[Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen]]'' ([[Schoolhouse Records]], 2003) - "[[Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.|For You]]" *''[[Listen to Bob Dylan Because He Rocks: A Tribute|Listen To Bob Dylan: A Tribute]]'' ([[Drive-Thru Records|Drive-Thru]], 2005) - "[[Simple Twist of Fate]]" *''[[Drive-Thru Records and Purevolume.com]]'' (Drive-Thru, 2005) - "Tie The Rope" *''[[Acoustic Live & Rare 2006 & Last Character Standing, Vol. V]]'' ([[KEDJ|The Edge 103.9 fm]]) - "The Compromise (Acoustic)" *''[[For the Kids Three]]'' - "Does Your Cat Have a Mustache?" ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.theformat.com/ Official Site] *[http://www.hellomerch.com/ Official Online Store] *[http://westerntread.com/ Western Tread] *{{MySpace|theformat|The Format}} *[http://www.livejournal.com/users/theformat/ The Format's LiveJournal Site] *[http://www.laist.com/archives/2006/11/30/interview_time_with_nate_of_the_format.php Interview with LAist] *[http://www.synergymag.com/section.asp?Section=330&Dept=8 Interview with Synergy Magazine] *[http://www.tubopopcorn.com/ 'Oceans' live video on Tub-O-Popcorn] *[http://freshpeel.com/2007/04/interview-with-the-format/ Interview with The Marketing Fresh Peel] *[http://www.hatesomethingbeautiful.com/?p=496 Interview from Hate Something Beautiful] (2005) {{The Format}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Format, The}} [[Category:American rock music groups]] [[Category:Arizona musical groups]]