The Format was an indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie,
alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music. The Format chose their name to make fun of the music
industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008.