Formed in 2002 in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, indie pop and rock duo The Format, made up of vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means, are one of those rare bands who became significantly more popular after disbanding than they ever really were back in their initial, short-lived but extremely fruitful six year existence. Fusing elements of contemporary indie pop and indie rock with punk, alternative, folk, and retro pop, the duo’s initial EP, simply titled EP, and first single, aptly called “The First Single,” immediately scored the band- friends since childhood- some regional buzz, and landed them a major label record deal ahead of the following year’s debut album, Interventions + Lullabies. Tangentially associated with the popular pop punk scene of the time- though their sound never quite fit it- the pair would go on to perform hundreds of shows over the next few years and command a passionate underground following, though never quite broke into the mainstream, and ended up parting ways with their label after 2005 EP Snails, and independently releasing their sophomore album and now cult-classic, Dog Problems, in 2006.
Though critically acclaimed, the The Format’s second album still felt criminally under-appreciated at the time, and after further touring (the band’s last proper run took place in 2007), the duo opted to split in ’08, moving on to other projects. Means put out some solo work, has continued to produce, write, and record, and was part of an excellent indie folk band, Destry, around the start of the 2010s. But if there’s one Format member you’re most likely to be familiar with, it’s Ruess, who found unexpectedly massive fame, chart-topping hits, and Grammy wins with indie supergroup fun., which he fronted from 2008 until their split in 2015. Ruess put out a solo album as well a decade ago, but since then has been more behind the scenes as a songwriter and family man.
As the years have passed, Sam and Nate’s subsequent artistic endeavors have attracted new fans, and 2000s nostalgia has peaked, interest in The Format has only seemed to grow, leading, over the years, to occasional speculation that the pair might someday reunite. It almost happened in 2020, when, at the start of the year, the band made a surprise appearance at a re-release screening of their 2007 concert film Live At The Mayan, and subsequently announced shows in Chicago, New York, and Phoenix. Ultimately, after multiple pandemic-related postponements, the dates were devastatingly scrapped, and The Format went dark once more. We’d begun to give up hope when, earlier this year, the band sprung back to life to announce performances in New York, LA, and Phoenix, which took place in recent weeks, along with the surprise drop of a new single, “Holy Roller,” earlier this month, and news that they’ll release their first album in 20 years, Boycott Heaven, on Jan. 23.
That album news had us cautiously optimistic that a proper reunion tour would follow, and, thankfully, we were not only right in that assumption, but the just-announced run of North American spring dates includes a stop in Nashville, April 3, 2026 at The Ryman Auditorium with Ben Kweller and Adult Mom! This marks The Format’s first show in Music City in a full 20 years, and largest ever (they only played spots like Rocketown, Exit/In, and The End back in the day), and, given all of the interest they’ve drummed up in their absence, is sure to be one of next year’s hottest tickets. The on sale begins next Friday, Oct. 24 at noon right here, with various pre-sales beginning Wednesday, Oct. 22 (sign up here). Hear the band’s new single, and check out a full list of dates below!
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3/26 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner ^*
3/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall #*
3/30 – Toronto, ON @ History #*
3/31 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre #*
4/2 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed #*
4/3 – Nashville, TN @ The Ryman Auditorium #*
4/4 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern #*
4/7 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues #&
4/8 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at The Moody Theater #&
4/10 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom $&
4/11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union $&
4/13 – Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre $&
4/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Castro Theatre $&
4/19 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA $&
^ with Piebald
# with Ben Kweller
$ with Phantom Planet
* with Adult Mom (acoustic)
& with Limbeck (acoustic)