The Format

The music industry has been both very good and very bad to the tongue-in-cheekily-named the Format. Core members Nate Ruess and Sam Means toured with Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday and found success with the rousing, clap-happy breakout track "The First Single" from their first full-length, Interventions and Lullabies. But their indie-pop's alt-country leanings and acoustic panache were ultimately considered a hard sell. Upon Elektra Records' demise, the Format were shuffled to Atlantic and promptly dropped upon the release of their second EP. The Peoria (Arizona) foursome are now returning to the road after a yearlong touring hiatus with a second full-length, Dog Problems, on the way.