The Format is an American indie rock band, formed by vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. Their style has been considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music. The Format chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit single. Formed in 2002, the band released two studio albums before announcing a hiatus on February 4, 2008. On February 4, 2020, they announced a return from their hiatus for a tour of special shows that were later cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2025, the band reunited for a second time and announced their third studio album, Boycott Heaven, which was released on January 23, 2026.
Contents
History
Before forming The Format in February 2002, Means and Ruess, who had been friends since grade school, formed the band Nevergonnascore and released the EP "The Byron Sessions" which had generated some record label interest but not a deal.
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, recorded and produced by R. Walt Vincent and released in October 2003, was very successful around the Phoenix area. 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.
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, Electric Light Orchestra and The Beach Boys, and decided to collaborate with Redd Kross founder Steven Shane McDonald whom they brought on as record producer. 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. 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. 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 from Nederland, Texas.
Following the release of Dog Problems, The Format gained more attention, receiving high marks from various publications, even topping some Best of 2006 lists. During this year, 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, were featured on Last Call with Carson Daly twice, co-headlined with Guster on their Campus Consciousness tour, and toured with Reubens Accomplice, Piebald, Limbeck, Steel Train, and The Honorary Title.
Band members
Principal members
Sam Means – keyboards, piano, Mellotron, guitar, banjo, xylophone, saxophone, percussion, backing vocals
Nate Ruess – lead vocals, percussion, occasional synthesizer, guitar
Current touring musicians
Don Raymond, Jr. – bass guitar
Mark Buzard – guitar, keyboards, auxiliary percussion, backing vocals
Will Noon – drums
Collaborators and contributors
In alphabetical order by surname
Deborah Avery – clarinet, saxophone
Peggy Baldwin – cello
Adam Boyd – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Matt Chamberlain – drums
Larry Colbert – cello
Joel Derouin – violin
Josh Freese – drums
Matthew Funes – violin
Scott Higgins – guiro, sleigh bells
J'Anna Jacoby – cello
Rami Jaffee – accordion
Randy Jones – tuba
Josh Klinghoffer – guitar
Johana Krejci – violin
Paul Loredo – French horn
Roger Manning, Jr. – keyboards, harpsichord
Jean Marianelli – French horn
Rory Mazella – clarinet, saxophone
Sean McCall – drums, percussion
Steven McDonald – bass guitar, backing vocals, production
Mike McGuffey – trumpet
Jim McMillan – trombone
Discography
Studio albums
Interventions + Lullabies (2003)
Dog Problems (2006)
Boycott Heaven (2026)
Compilations
Live at the Mesa Amphitheater (Limited Release live album, 2004)
B-Sides & Rarities (The Vanity Label, 2007)
Live at the Mayan Theatre (The Vanity Label, recorded 2007, released 2020)
EPs
EP (self-released, 2002)
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)
Kenneth Room Sessions (The Vanity Label, 2016)
DVD
Live at the Mayan Theatre (The Vanity Label, 2007)
Other songs
"Swans" was written especially for the film Moving McAllister.
Listen To Bob Dylan: A Tribute (Drive-Thru, 2005) - "Simple Twist of Fate"
Acoustic Live & Rare 2006 & Last Character Standing, Vol. V (The Edge 103.9 fm) - "The Compromise (Acoustic)"
A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas (Immortal Records, Vol 2: December 5, 2006) - "Holly Jolly Christmas"