The Format Are Back: See Their 2020 Reunion Dates And Listen To Live At The Mayan Theatre Now

Have you heard "She Doesn't Get It," the wry, good 2006 song by short-lived however fiercely beloved) Arizona indie-rock musical group The Format? For years, I would sing along to its first line "All the girl post the same four photos / all of the males have the same women hair" and smile so self-assuredly thinking about how it was so true during the time of Myspace and early Facebook. Then, each year or two ago, someone blew my mind: It's actually "All the females pose the same for pictures," which is somehow an even more era-defining line than what my brain heard. Good song.


The singer who delivered that line, by the way, was Nate Ruess — perhaps best referred to as one-third of Fun., the also short-lived however rather successful pop supergroup he sang in with Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost. Before "We Are Young" seemingly conquered the world, Ruess noticed the correct complement in his Format partner Sam Means, whose expertly ornate pop craftsmanship paired completely with Ruess's soaring emotionality. That blend helped their two albums — Interventions + Lullabies and Dog Problems — achieve such a dedicated following. It's why the The Format's 12 years on hiatus have been such a bummer. Up until today.


Yes, The Format are back. They technically returned Monday night (February 3) in Phoenix for a surprise acoustic efficiency that fan-captured footage reveals also doubled as a cathartic sing-along. In case you stay in New York City, Chicago, or Phoenix, you'll have the ability to accompany them this year on a special run of reunion shows kicking off in March.


The musical group hits Bowery Ballroom in New York on March 20 and 21 before heading to Chicago's Lincoln Hall on March 27 and 28. They'll find a nice homecoming at The Van Buren theater in Phoenix on April 3. Tickets for all go on sale on Friday, February 7 at noon venue local time. Nevertheless before that, a Wednesday pre-sale (with the code: FORMAT) will be up at The Format's official merch site at noon local time.


Although in the event you can't wait that long, Nate and Sam have got you covered — Live at the Mayan Theatre is obtainable to stream now. Though it's an old show recorded in 2007 and first released on DVD way back then, it's officially out right now through the streaming platforms and on vinyl, kicking off the reunion by taking a moment to celebrate their highest peak.


"About each year ago, I was driving and I was listening on random, and Interventions came on," Ruess instructed them crowd at the show last night in Arizona, per AZ Central. "And I was listening to it and I was like, 'I should probably skip this.' And I listened and I thought, 'Holy [expletive], this kicks ass. This is fully rad." While he texted Means about how good the initial album is, he got an eas reply: "I know."


Live at the Mayan Theatre is an excellent show. They play "She Doesn't Get It," a crown jewel from Dog Problems, four songs in. Watch that efficiency above and just attempt to tell me you don't hear that beginning line the way I (mis)heard it for over a decade.