Nate Ruess

Future $hock: The Cult, Ozzy, Rob Zombie, and more

The Format

How The Loveblisters Got Their Buzz Back

Video of the Band Fun, Featuring The Format's Nate Ruess

When The Format suddenly broke up last year, it left a lot of people in Phoenix surprised, because they'd been one of the most influential bands to come out of this town in years.Now Nate Ruess from The Format has a new band simply called Fun. Well this video of Fun playing a new song titled "All t ... More >>

Just Announced: Former Formatter's New Band Fun Coming to Tempe

The Format's breakup left a huge hole in the local music scene last year. Just when the duo seemed poised to put Phoenix on the map when they split up, but hopefully Nate Ruess's New York-based band Fun can alleviate some of that pain. They've booked a Valley show with Manchester Orchestra, Audreye ... More >>

Format Busters

Songwriting duo Nate Ruess and Sam Means had enough of major-label drama, so now they're calling the shots

Adjusting to Format

The Phoenix duo chronicles its scary serendipity on a sublime debut album

Big Deal

The Format burst from nascent Valley obscurity to major-label glory. Here's how.

Former Format Frontman's New Band, Fun, Starts Touring Tomorrow

That Format-size hole in the heart of Phoenix music fans is about to get a little healing. Fun, the new NYC-based project by The Format's Nate Ruess, with ex-Anathallo multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost and Steel Train's Jack Antonoff, will embark on a 34-date tour with Manchester Orchestra tomorrow ... More >>

The Format Founder Just Wants to Have Some “fun.”

That Format-size hole in the heart of Phoenix music fans is about to get a little healing. Fun, the new NYC-based project by The Format's Nate Ruess, with ex-Anathallo multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost and Steel Train's Jack Antonoff, will embark on a 34-date tour with Manchester Orchestra tomorrow ... More >>

No Doubt, Fun., Pool Parties and Taylor Swift Over the (Memorial Day) Weekend

Girl Power: Females Flock to Cricket Wireless Pavilion for No Doubt and Paramore Right now my ears are ringing something fierce after enduring a non-stop auditory assault of thousands of tweens and teenyboppers girls screaming in absolute elation during No Doubt and Paramore's show at Cricket Wirel ... More >>

fun. Releases New Song, Sets Second Tour

Victor Palaganofun. at their first Phoenix show.With their album, Aim And Ignite, set for release on August 25, Brooklyn-based indie rock outfit fun., the vehicle for former Format member Nate Ruess, has a new song called "Walking The Dog" out. Yes, Nate is still, apparently, a little obsessed with ... More >>

Miniature Tigers To Tour With Fun,

fun.'s second tour won't come to Phoenix, but there is a little local flavor to be had when the new project by former Format mamber Nate Ruess hits the road later this month. Phoenix indie act Miniature Tigers, who recently opened for Ben Folds on his East Coast tour, has been tabbed to open (date ... More >>

fun.

Aim and Ignite
(Nettwerk)

fun. Will Play Phoenix Show... At Zia Records

​fun. is playing a Phoenix-area show on their tour after all -- an in-store signing and performance at Zia Records in Chandler. Touring in support of their upcoming record, Aim and Ignite, which we reviewed in last week's paper, the new project by former Format member Nate Ruess will stop by the s ... More >>

Mini T's Add More Dates to Fall Tour

Phoenix(ish) band Miniature Tigers have added more dates to their fall tour. The Charlie Brand-fronted outfit rumored to be moving to New York will be touring with fun., fronted by Phoenix expat Nate Ruess, as well as Say Anything, New Zealand's Ruby Suns and the Dodos.Full list of tour dates, inclu ... More >>

fun.

Phoenix(ish) band Miniature Tigers have added more dates to their fall tour. The Charlie Brand-fronted outfit rumored to be moving to New York will be touring with fun., fronted by Phoenix expat Nate Ruess, as well as Say Anything, New Zealand's Ruby Suns and the Dodos.Full list of tour dates, inclu ... More >>

Jimmy Eat World Play Not-So-Secret Modified Show With Short, But Sweet Set

Luke HolwerdaJim Adkins singing at Modified Arts.​Christmas came early for the couple hundred die-hard Jimmy Eat World fans who came out to catch the Mesa rock band Wednesday at the intimate Modified Arts for a mere $5 cover. The lucky Jimmy fans in attendance - at one of Modified's last ... More >>

Sam Means' Santa Isabel Soundtrack on Sale For $1.99 at iTunes

​iTunes is selling Sam Means' excellent solo debut, the soundtrack for indie flick The Sinking of Santa Isabel, for only $1.99 through the end of the month.The former Format co-frontman (along with Nate Ruess, who now fronts fun.) did the record for a filmmaker friend and it's mostly instrume ... More >>

Interview: Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin

Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin​He may be a star now, but back in the day, Andrew McMahon had to haul his piano into the basement of the former Nile Theatre in Mesa just like the rest of them."I've definitely got a lot of good memories from Phoenix," McMahon says, remembering the Valley as one ... More >>

Review: fun. and Jack's Mannequin at Marquee Theatre

Nicki Escudero Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin​It was clear who the star of the show was Saturday night at the Jack's Mannequin concert at Marquee Theatre--Nate Ruess, formerly of local band The Format, currently with New York City-based fun. (possibly the worst band name ever.) Fun. ... More >>

Strong Beer, Bassnectar, Jack's Mannequin, Chinese Cultural Festival, and the Losers' Ball Over the Weekend

​Strong Beer Festival at Margaret T. Hance Park The only evidence that we have of even attending the Strong Beer Festival on Saturday, February 13 at Margaret T. Hance park are these photos. Based on them, we can assume that there were many varieties of deliciously decadent brews all very, ver ... More >>

Steel Train Rocks Rhythm Room

​While some Phoenicians have been long-time fans of New Jersey indie rock band Steel Train because they discovered the group on their own, many know the group's studly singer Jack Antonoff for his work with former Valley musician Nate Ruess, who has since moved to New York and formed the pop band ... More >>

Ladylike

​While some Phoenicians have been long-time fans of New Jersey indie rock band Steel Train because they discovered the group on their own, many know the group's studly singer Jack Antonoff for his work with former Valley musician Nate Ruess, who has since moved to New York and formed the pop band ... More >>

Fueled by Ramen Artists: Where Are They Now?

Nicki EscuderoCobra Starship​Nicki EscuderoThe Cab​It's hard to believe amid all the Fall Out Boy radio hits, award-winning Panic! at the Disco videos and female-fronted bands that came about because they were inspired by Paramore (who perform tonight at the Dodge Theatre), one of record label F ... More >>

Lovelorn Lotharios

Nicki EscuderoCobra Starship​Nicki EscuderoThe Cab​It's hard to believe amid all the Fall Out Boy radio hits, award-winning Panic! at the Disco videos and female-fronted bands that came about because they were inspired by Paramore (who perform tonight at the Dodge Theatre), one of record label F ... More >>

Jimmy Eat World at Marquee Theatre on 10/30/10

Maria VassettJimmy Eat World performing in costume at Marquee Theatre.​Arizonans often don't have much to root for. Most of the time our state is an afterthought, or the butt of jokes about immigration policy and home foreclosures. For many years, the Cardinals, the Sun Devils, and the Wildcat ... More >>

Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie Talks Fun Collaboration, New Tour

Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith​Panic! at the Disco is back. Yeah, the band may be only a pair now since guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker left in 2009, but their new album, Vices & Virtues, is their best yet. Singer Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith lef ... More >>

Former Format Singer Nate Ruess Wants to Have fun. in Arizona

Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith​Panic! at the Disco is back. Yeah, the band may be only a pair now since guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker left in 2009, but their new album, Vices & Virtues, is their best yet. Singer Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith lef ... More >>

Panic! at the Disco at Marquee Theatre, 6/17/11 (VIDEO)

Kholood EidPanic! at the Disco at Marquee TheatrePanic! at the Disco June 17, 2011 Marquee Theatre Brendon Urie sure seems happy these days.At last night's Panic! at the Disco show at Marquee Theatre, the frontman seemed more comfortable than ever, hitting high notes his fans haven't been used to, s ... More >>

Catch the New Lydia at Martini Ranch November 4, Plus Four Other Local Bands We'd Like to See Back Together

Leighton Antelman of Lydia​Back in May, Lydia announced that they'd be coming back from hiatus... sort of. The Gilbert-formed band is returning as a shell of itself, with co-founder Leighton Antelman leading the effort. He and drummer Craig Taylor decided to bring the band back after nearly e ... More >>