On Tyranny: The Format Channel Anger Into Action, Stage Free Shows Benefitting Immigrants and Sticking It to MAGA
This Q&A with The Format – an influential indie-rock duo consisting of Nate Ruess and Sam Means that reunited last year – was conducted on Friday, September 11, as part of The Bad Penny‘s ongoing On Tyranny series. The feature focuses on how fascism damages artists artistically, emotionally and personally; provides them with space to discuss their fear, anxiety and anger toward the Trump administration; increases solidarity among like-minded artists; and lets them set an example for other musicians (young ones in particular) that it is legal and just to criticize and protest.
Of the 100-plus artists with whom I’ve spoken for this series, you guys are actually putting your money where your mouth is and doing a lot of good work. Please tell my readership what you’ve been up to and the catalyst for getting involved helping immigrants.
Nate Ruess: We’re focusing right now on direct organization and “Saturdays in the Park.” When we’re on tour and in a city on a Saturday, we find a park and set up our PA system and let everybody come and watch us play for free. We’ll invite about eight to 12 different organizations to come and set up tables at this free show, and in between us playing a few songs acoustically, we’ll invite them onstage for five minutes to explain what their organization is all about and why people might want to join or get more information. It gives everybody an opportunity, instead of just feeling good about themselves for donating, to take more direct action.
The idea was born out of us looking around and saying, “Wow, this is fucking awful. Nothing seems to be changing.” We were moved by seeing how many people showed up on the cold streets of Minnesota the day before Alex Pretti was murdered. We decided, as artists with a platform, that we could do something, get up and get moving. We’re trying to build it out to where more bands will want to do “Saturdays in the Park.” But it requires bands having to play for free, which is tough because – guess what? – the music industry is fucking bands already. We’re lucky to have had enough success that it doesn’t burden us too much to play a free show.
Sam, would you like to add anything to what Nate said?
Sam Ruess: It’s become cliché for bands to get back together after so many years. A lot of times it’s a cash grab, and that was always at the top of my mind when we talked throughout the years of getting back together. I always wanted to make sure, however, we came back into the fold. We’ve always been very authentic people, and I wanted to make sure people understood that we were doing it for the sole purpose of wanting to do it and wanting to enjoy playing together again.
So, we very organically got back together and recorded a record [January’s Boycott Heaven]. The week that our record came out is when what Nate just described was born. It was cool to find a greater purpose so quickly. We tried to [reunite] in 2020, and I really got derailed because of COVID. But then what we witnessed over the last five or six years – never mind all the horrific shit we’ve seen in our lifetime – we really felt the need to do something.
Nate: I think that’s what everybody’s feeling – it’s just that they don’t really know where to start. We didn’t really know where to, either; this was just an easy way for us to start. We’re hoping to inspire people to see that you don’t have to go to a march or a rally or be in some scary situation. Those things are important, but there are other things you can do. It’s really important to see people face to face. I think that’s one of the biggest problems that the world faces in general: So much is happening online and on our phones. You go outside, and the world’s a beautiful place. And most people are inherently good. I think most people want to live in a peaceful world and be kind to each other, even though there’s obviously a lot of really horrible people out there doing horrific shit.
So that’s the hope: bringing people together. I think it’s the only solution. We’ve done a handful of these shows, and they’ve all been incredibly peaceful. I’m sure some people have shown up just to see us play and who might not have extreme political views or be political at all. But they’ve really liked feeling welcome and interacting and volunteering. Life is hard, but you have to do something. It’s like anything: Someone wants you to go out and hang out and you’re like, “I don’t want to go.” But then, when you do it, you’re like, “This is great! I’m glad I came.” And that’s really how this has been too.
You just have to have faith that the end result will give you the satisfaction you hoped for when you made that initial move. Nate, you mentioned that you became inspired to act when you were in Minnesota. But you guys are from Arizona, right?
Nate: Yes, we’re from Arizona. Our album was released the same day, or the day after or before, Alex Priddy was murdered. We were in the middle of playing a little triumphant-type of album release show in our hometown of Phoenix when it happened. And I realized, “What am I celebrating?” We all have our own personal lives that we have to get on with, but when you’re onstage and singing some songs about a few times that your heart was broken, you start to wonder … there’s gotta be more that I can do or say if I’ve got this many people in front of me.
The hippies were probably one of the worst things that happened for the world. They don’t do shit. It’s not enough to be like, “Hey, we’re all together,” you know, or, “You eventually have to do something.” For us, I want people to come to our shows and feel like there’s like-minded people around them – but also see people who are doing more, and think to themselves, “Hey, I’m interested in Jewish Voices for Peace. Or, “I want to start a union at Starbucks.” It’s such a powerful thing, having a group of people that all stand for something and want to accomplish something together.
Our next step is to challenge some more artists to do the same thing. Bands that have toured as openers for us have also played “Saturdays in the Park,” and none of them have complained once – and they’re not even getting paid. It requires you having to swallow your ego a little bit. Joyce Manor showed up at our very first show. We hope other artists are also intuitive about the rise in fascism and all the horrible things going on in the world.
This is something that I’m very proud of. Very rarely do you have a good idea that you also have the means to pull off.
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The Format Tour Dates (which are in partnership with Rally for DC and co-sponsored by Positive Force DC)
9.18: Minneapolis @ First Avenue
9.19: Minneapolis @ First Avenue (with “Saturdays in the Park” held from 2 to 4 p.m.)
9.20: Chicago @ Riot Fest
9.22: Omaha @ Slowdown
9.24: St. Louis @ The Pageant
9.27: Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Fest
9.29: St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
10.1: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
10.2: Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
10.3: Washington, DC @ Malcolm X Park (with “Saturdays in the Park” held from 12 to 3 p.m.)
10.5: Rochester, NY @ Anthology
10.6: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
10.7: Pittsburgh @ Stage AE
10.9: New York @ Radio City Music Hall
The Format also recently put out a new song, the political screed “The Bar Is Set So Low,” which was previously available only as a Bandcamp exclusive but is now available wide. All proceeds benefit the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, Immigrant Defense Network, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Latino Memphis.
Go to The Format’s website to keep tabs on the band.
Check out The Bad Penny‘s ever-growing On Tyranny archive, which includes interviews with J. Robbins, The Locust, Angel Du$t, Ratboys, Low Cut Connie, INDECLINE, Too Much Joy, Brokedowns, Diles Que No Me Maten, Elephant Stone, Jacob the Horse, MyVeronica, Low and dozens more artists.
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