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The Format
Pop / Indie / Rock

		"Does Your Cat Have A Mustache?" Phoenix, Arizona United States Profile Views: 5208129 Last Login: 5/21/2008
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The Format: General Info

Member Since

7/26/2004

Band Website

theformat.com

Band Members

means/ruess/raymond/schey/buzard

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Record Label

The Vanity Label

Type of Label

Indie

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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 135114 friends.

Hello Merch

LIMBECK

Steel Train

Reubens Accomplice (recording now)

Mike Birbiglia

The Honorary Title

Ollie Wilde

Mooka Kinney

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The Format's Friends Comments

Displaying 49 of 25103 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Johan™	May 19 2008 4:44 PM i'll give you a bag of lays potato chips if you guys do one more album...
Tayla \| MIB \| [Galaxy Defender]	May 19 2008 7:26 PM you boys should swing by Tulsa or Claremore, Oklahoma sometime! I would draw you a pretty big crowd!
Rance	May 20 2008 8:03 AM st.petersburg florida now. state theater. do it.
BEN!	May 20 2008 3:32 PM Woooo your music makes me so happy
lily [FTSK]	May 20 2008 4:45 PM it would be just splendid if you would considering making an appearance in philadelphia in the near future! i just sounded like such a wierdo hahah so whats up ? :)
Leche	May 14 2008 2:19 PM I need you guys to come to the Ford Amp in Tampa, I never got to see you live..
molly	May 14 2008 6:59 PM please please please come back. i never got to see you in concert because im not enough and i cried cuz i didnt get to see you. please come to denver one last time!
Briana	May 14 2008 7:02 PM you are my absolute favorite band ever and your music means so much to me!!!
Rapha Narciso	May 16 2008 5:45 AM Hello guys ! COME TO BRAZIL !!!!!!!!! yeaaah!
♥Janessa♥	May 16 2008 2:46 PM add a save situatin to your music so i can out it on my profile
himynameischris	May 17 2008 2:38 AM Well it's been a few months. Still not over this tragedy. I miss you.
BRI	May 17 2008 11:14 AM i miss you): you're songs make me cry and help me through everything you could imagine, pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease GET BACK TOGETHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
KATIE.	May 18 2008 1:23 AM ^{I hope you guys have a summer tour. I was way to absorbed in The Honorary Title last time I saw you. This time you'll have my full attention. I hope the line up is just as good, too. :)}
MMMarisa	May 18 2008 9:06 AM please don't breakup. you can't make amazing music like this and just say fuck it.
Justin Levinson	May 18 2008 8:03 PM Glad I caught you in Vt.
Ashleigh - "Oh Bollocks!"	May 12 2008 12:42 PM Come to Hawaii. Hawaii would keep you together. Or you'd kill eachother on the plane. Worth a shot
MAD!SON	May 12 2008 9:55 PM you got me through break ups&bestfriends. and taught me how to keep my mind off of assholes. this is why i need you back. :(
Cindy Sabrina	May 13 2008 5:55 AM I'm still looking for Inches and Nails (Love Love) to be added. I LOVE THE SONG! I want it on my page so bad! I can't stop singing it!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
a stranger with a door key	May 13 2008 9:47 AM Does this mean no more tour dates? Do we get one last hoorah?
Mary Kathryn	May 13 2008 10:59 AM i know the reason you've been down, and there's just no reason.
skyla.	May 13 2008 11:57 AM I love you guys (:
sααrαhhh←	May 13 2008 3:42 PM i really love your music :)<333333
sheldon	May 13 2008 7:07 PM i just dont know what im going to do without you guys. its a true shame :[ we will all miss you dearly. maybe someday have a reunion...? :]
Angie	May 13 2008 9:34 PM i miss you =(
Breakfast with the Mayor (NEW SONG UP!)	May 14 2008 12:49 AM you guys are awesome. if you guys don't record another album, so much talent would be wasted... best of luck to you guys -dennis
sara	May 14 2008 6:05 AM I can't believe this. Worst news ever.
Rachel	May 9 2008 12:00 PM don't give up on us, we need you :/
Austin[6/24/08]	May 9 2008 2:13 PM Nate...can you please check the "Dear Nate" section of The Format's website...cause i'm such a nerd and keep posting questions even though you probably won't respond...pretty please Get back together please, Austin
Lulu DQ	May 9 2008 5:48 PM hey u guys r awsome u should definatly add snails so we can make it our song
Genna	May 9 2008 8:53 PM It was the saddest day of my life when I found out you are breaking up. You're my favorite. Marry me, Nate. I never got to see you perform! I'll do anything to get you guys back together!!!!
☮Nina☮	May 10 2008 10:33 AM hey. you guys should come out to el paso/las cruces!
Helaman Powell	May 10 2008 1:33 PM heeyyyy I love your style of music! YOU SHOULD COME TO FLORIDAAAA
angela!	May 10 2008 4:18 PM i love you guys. your music, is my favorite.
Lauren Spencer