The Format
The Format was an indie pop band formed in Peoria, Arizona, United States i… Read Full Bio ↴The Format was an indie pop band formed in Peoria, Arizona, United States in 2001 by Sam Means and Nate Ruess.
Throughout the band's existence, the duo toured and recorded with a revolving door of musicians, and as of 2007, the band consisted of guitarists Mike Schey and Mark Buzard, bassist Don Raymond, drummer Adam Boyd, and its principal members, singer Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. The band chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit. Despite this critique of the music industry, the band's aptly-titled first single--"The First Single" (from their five-song debut EP on Western Tread)--became popular in the Southwest music scene. This success led to The Format's signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first major label release and full-length album Interventions and Lullabies was released in October 2003. However, Elektra began to fold into a merger just as the album was rolling out its promotion, leaving the band as merely an afterthought as label restructuring began. The band toured North America for about two years while making plans for a new album and waiting out industry red tape.
The Format released a second EP on Atlantic (which had absorbed much of Elektra's roster after the label folded) titled Snails in April 2005. Although the EP was not a conventional mass release, it could be purchased at any of the band's performances, from their online merch store, and on iTunes. Not long after the release of the Snails EP, The Format was dropped from Atlantic. Due to their frustrating experiences with major labels, the band chose to record and release their second full-length album Dog Problems independently on The Vanity Label. The July 11, 2006 release of Dog Problems came two months after the band released the album for download on their website, in a move to combat an early leak.
On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will putting the band on hiatus because of creative differences. Nate Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later this year.
Nate Ruess, the band's singer and lyricist, left the following message on the band's website:
"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."
Ruess announced August 11, 2008 that he is starting a new project called fun. with Andrew Dost formerly of Anathallo and Jack Antonof of Steel Train.
The Vanity Label, an imprint of major label Nettwerk, is managed by the band.
Since the end of The Format, Sam has continued designing merchandise. He converted theformatmerch.com into hellomerch.com where he features his newest work.
On February 4, 2020, the band announced a return from their hiatus for a tour of special shows.
Throughout the band's existence, the duo toured and recorded with a revolving door of musicians, and as of 2007, the band consisted of guitarists Mike Schey and Mark Buzard, bassist Don Raymond, drummer Adam Boyd, and its principal members, singer Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. The band chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit. Despite this critique of the music industry, the band's aptly-titled first single--"The First Single" (from their five-song debut EP on Western Tread)--became popular in the Southwest music scene. This success led to The Format's signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first major label release and full-length album Interventions and Lullabies was released in October 2003. However, Elektra began to fold into a merger just as the album was rolling out its promotion, leaving the band as merely an afterthought as label restructuring began. The band toured North America for about two years while making plans for a new album and waiting out industry red tape.
The Format released a second EP on Atlantic (which had absorbed much of Elektra's roster after the label folded) titled Snails in April 2005. Although the EP was not a conventional mass release, it could be purchased at any of the band's performances, from their online merch store, and on iTunes. Not long after the release of the Snails EP, The Format was dropped from Atlantic. Due to their frustrating experiences with major labels, the band chose to record and release their second full-length album Dog Problems independently on The Vanity Label. The July 11, 2006 release of Dog Problems came two months after the band released the album for download on their website, in a move to combat an early leak.
On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will putting the band on hiatus because of creative differences. Nate Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later this year.
Nate Ruess, the band's singer and lyricist, left the following message on the band's website:
"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."
Ruess announced August 11, 2008 that he is starting a new project called fun. with Andrew Dost formerly of Anathallo and Jack Antonof of Steel Train.
The Vanity Label, an imprint of major label Nettwerk, is managed by the band.
Since the end of The Format, Sam has continued designing merchandise. He converted theformatmerch.com into hellomerch.com where he features his newest work.
On February 4, 2020, the band announced a return from their hiatus for a tour of special shows.
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The Format Lyrics
01 The First Single I can't stand to think about a heart so big…
03 One Shot Two Shots The feeling you forget is one shot, two shots We'll make…
04 Let's Make This Moment A Crime We've just got to take our time It's like nothing really…
04 Tie The Rope I'm in envy of addicts You're obsessed with stars Don't don'…
1000 Umbrellas 1000 umbrellas, a tongue Couldn't catch all the rain That …
11. Career Day Today's been a career day Futures made and fortunes lost A…
A Good Time at Your Expense I don't like your cowboy boots To me they don't tell…
A Mess to Be Made In a dream that I can't seem to shake She is,…
A Save Situation Feels like you've been asleep for days The television's on, …
Apeman I think I'm so sophisticated, 'cause I'm living my life…
At the Wake So far from me stands a man known as disease He's…
Career Day Today's been a career day Futures made and fortunes lost As …
closer it feels like youve been asleep for days the television is…
Dead End Hold on, there's a hole in my heart Everyone can…
Dear Boy You're not made For this, dear boy You're not made…
Do You Believe in Magic? Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart How…
Does Your Cat Have a Mustache I want it all Even the raindrops won't fall in my…
Dog Problems Don't you dare Speak for someone you don't know They'll feel…
Even Better Yet It's just the nicotine that's coming over me Or is it…
Faith in Fast Cars Somewhere someone Puts all of their faith in a fast car Wh…
first single I can't stand to think about a heart so big…
For You Princess cards she sends me With her regards Oh, barroom e…
Give It Up Well I made my way back down to the valley Right…
Glutton of Sympathy In the breathless hush of 4 a.m. In the dark sits…
Holly Jolly Christmas Have a holly jolly Christmas It's the best time of the…
I Can we take the next hour And talk about me Talk about…
I'm Ready I Am I'm nicotine I'm coming clean I fooled the crowd when I m…
I'm Actual Can we take the next hour And talk about me Talk about…
I'm Ready I Am I'm nicotine I'm coming clean I fooled the crowd when I m…
I'm Ready, I Am I’m nicotine I’m coming clean I fooled the crowd when I made…
If Work Permits So the wind that blows across your room carried cheap perfum…
Inches And Failing I love Love I love being in love I don't…
Inches and Falling I love Love I love being in love I don't care what…
Janet I lost my memory In a cab back in the city It's…
Let We've just got to take our time It's like nothing really…
Let's Make This Moment a Crime We've just got to take our time It's like nothing really…
Lets Make This Moment a Crime We've just got to take our time It's like nothing really…
Matches Ashes to ashes Some dust on the dash I've got my cigarettes …
Oceans Ah you've got flaws That you won't admit Yet you tell me…
On Your Porch I was on your porch The smoke sank into my…
One Shot Two Shots The feeling you forget is one shot, two shots We'll make…
One Shot, Two Shots the feeling you forget. it's one shot, two shots, we'll…
Pick Me Up And you You're gonna walk backwards Through the room Does t…
Seven Digit Pin Code They found my body near the river Now all the people…
She Doesn All the girls pose the same for pictures All the boys…
She Doesn't Get It All the girls pose the same for pictures All the boys…
She Doesnt Get It All the girls pose the same for pictures All the boys…
Simple Twist Of Fate They sat together in the park As the evening sky grew…
Snails Nico, take it slow Show me that you care And love's not…
Sore Thumb Forgive me you cut out again It seems so easy just…
Swans At the least come join me Within the belly of the…
The Compromise You You think it's cool to be crazy I say…
The First I can't stand to think about a heart so big…
The Lottery Song You could do the laundry I'll come by on Monday You give…
Threes Eliza's in the elevator Finding words that rhyme with "sunn…
Tie The Rope I'm in envy of addicts You're obsessed with stars Don't don'…
Time Bomb Oh no, was it worth it? Starting now I'm starting over I'm…
Tune Out It's your bed so please choose a side I'll take the…
Wait The chords we play, ways left to communicate. The roads…
Wait, Wait, Wait the chords we play, ways left to communicate these roads…
You I can't stand to think about a heart so big…
your new name Stayed awake for fifteen hours, waiting on your reply so…