The Format

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

The Format is a rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. Their style can be considered a mixture of both indie and alternative with throwbacks to pop music throughout the ages. This makes it difficult to place them in any one particular genre due to their use of various stylistic influences. Their diverse mix of sounds and exploration of different musical combinations set them apart from most indie bands. Though Means and Ruess are the foremost members of the band they currently tour and record with Mike Schey, Mark Buzard, Don Raymond and for the dvd taping & summer 2007 tour, The Honorary Title's current drummer and The Format alumni 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

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 and has 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. Although this record was not released in stores, it can be purchased at any of their performances, their online store and on iTunes. While preparing to record their second album, The Format were dropped by Atlantic. Upon completing the album, called Dog Problems, Nate and Sam, 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 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. Following the release of Dog Problems, The Format began gaining 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. Thus far in 2007, The Format has played a show in Tokyo, Japan, been 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. The Format's follow-up to Dog Problems is expected to be released late spring/early summer 2008. 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. Making their network television debut, the Format appeared as the musical guest on NBCs Last Call with Carson Daly on February 2, 2007. The band performed the single, "She Doesn't Get It" On June 25, 2007, celebrating the one year anniversary of Dog Problems, The Format offered the album in its entirety, including the liner notes on PDF form, for free on their official website. The offer was valid from June 25 to July 16 2007. As of July 10th, 2007, 36,000 people had downloaded the album.

Discography

Albums

• Interventions + Lullabies (Elektra, 2003)
• Live At The Mesa Ampitheatre (Limited Release live album, 2004)
• Live At The Marquee Theatre (Limited Release live album, 2004)
• Dog Problems (The Vanity Label, 2006)

EPs

• EP (Western Tread, 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 Vanity Label, 2006)
• B-Sides & Rarities (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: Original Television Soundtrack (Nettwerk, 2005).
• "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 an upcoming movie 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 Episode 10: The First To Go.

Various Artists compilations

• (Schoolhouse Records, 2003) - "For You"
• Listen To Bob Dylan: A Tribute (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 (The Edge 103.9 fm) - "The Compromise (Acoustic)"
• For the Kids Three - "Does Your Cat Have a Mustache?"

DVD

• Live At The Mayan Theatre (The Vanity Label, 2007)

External links

• Official Site
• Western Tread
• The Format at MySpace
• The Format's LiveJournal Site
• Interview with LAist
• Interview with Synergy Magazine
• 'Oceans' live video on Tub-O-Popcorn
• Interview with The Marketing Fresh Peel
• Interview from Hate Something Beautiful (2005)