Sam Means

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

The Format

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

Exploring Bob

Bob Hoag may orbit the moon, but he may just launch your band into the stratosphere

Stinkweeds Offers a Killer Comp of Local Music for Record Store Day

The unique CD artwork for Phoenix: We Love It Just in case you weren't already enticed into participating in tomorrow's Record Store Day after reading Steve Jansen's and Michael Lopez's scribblings on the nationwide event (which celebrates the independent spirit of mom-and-pop music emporiums), we ... More >>

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

The unique CD artwork for Phoenix: We Love It Just in case you weren't already enticed into participating in tomorrow's Record Store Day after reading Steve Jansen's and Michael Lopez's scribblings on the nationwide event (which celebrates the independent spirit of mom-and-pop music emporiums), we ... More >>

fun.

The unique CD artwork for Phoenix: We Love It Just in case you weren't already enticed into participating in tomorrow's Record Store Day after reading Steve Jansen's and Michael Lopez's scribblings on the nationwide event (which celebrates the independent spirit of mom-and-pop music emporiums), we ... More >>

Goodbye, Modified Arts: Phoenix Scenesters Share Their Memories of the Downtown Music Venue

The unique CD artwork for Phoenix: We Love It Just in case you weren't already enticed into participating in tomorrow's Record Store Day after reading Steve Jansen's and Michael Lopez's scribblings on the nationwide event (which celebrates the independent spirit of mom-and-pop music emporiums), we ... 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 >>

Year in Music: Our List of the 10 Best Albums of 2009 Sadly Features No Local Music

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 >>

Kinch Offers Free Album Download, $10 CD Version, $100 Song in Your Honor

​Kinch has always been an ambitious band. Still, I was almost taken aback by the Phoenix piano-pop outfit's latest project, a remix/b-sides collection called Ziptape.Not only is the music awesome -- a live acoustic version of the rare track "Oh Boy" (one of my favorite songs the band has done) is ... More >>

Calexico, Miniature Tigers Play Free SB 1070 Show for Voters ($30 for People Who Will Not Promise to Vote)

​Are you interested in seeing Calexico, Miniature Tigers, Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta, Big Son (featuring Sam Means of The Format and Jeff and Chris of Reubens Accomplice), Sand Rubies, Kinch, and more for free?Yes?Are you sure?OK, you can, and all you have to do is pledge to vote on November 2. T ... More >>

Artists for Action

​Are you interested in seeing Calexico, Miniature Tigers, Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta, Big Son (featuring Sam Means of The Format and Jeff and Chris of Reubens Accomplice), Sand Rubies, Kinch, and more for free?Yes?Are you sure?OK, you can, and all you have to do is pledge to vote on November 2. T ... More >>

Artists for Action Voter Registration Concert and Rally at Marquee Theatre Last Night

​Artists For Action featuring Calexico w/ Miniature Tigers, Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta, Big Son featuring Sam Means of The Format and Jeff and Chris of Reubens Accomplice, Sand Rubies, Salvador Duran, Kinch, and more...August 27, 2010Marquee Theatre About 1,500 people showed up at the Marquee T ... More >>

Sam Means' "Yeah Yeah" Used in AT&T Commercial

Sam Means, one half of defunct duo The Format, put out a great record last year. Despite my admonishment to pick it up when it was only $1.99 on iTunes, you may well not have heard the record since it since it was the soundtrack to an indie flick called The Sinking of Santa Isabel and a lot of it w ... More >>

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 2/3 Issue

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Why did Coachella sell out so fast? Why does Keller Williams love Yo Gabba Gabba! so much? Is that song in the n ... More >>

How Phoenix Almost Lost J.D. Stooks, Our Quintessential Hipster Singer-Songwriter

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Why did Coachella sell out so fast? Why does Keller Williams love Yo Gabba Gabba! so much? Is that song in the n ... More >>

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

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. Why did Coachella sell out so fast? Why does Keller Williams love Yo Gabba Gabba! so much? Is that song in the n ... More >>

The Zombies at Celebrity Theatre, 9/30/11

Jason P. WoodburyColin Blunstone of The Zombies ​The Zombies Celebrity Theatre Friday, September 30, 2011 50 years is a long time. There's no getting around it -- The Zombies, lead by original members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, have been at it for a five decades; much longer than the origi ... More >>

Tumblr of the Week: F**k Yeah, The Format

http://fuckyeahtheformat.tumblr.com/​As much as ASU's radio station The Blaze 1330AM still overplays the hell out of "The First Single," The Format is still a lovable band that will always be in our hearts.One blogger has made it his or her mission to keep The Format's spirit alive since the group ... More >>

We "Drinkify" the Phoenix Bands Featured in Nylon Magazine

You listen to Sam Means with a Red Stripe. Apparently. ​It's always awesome when our fair burg gets some national attention, and this month, Nylon Magazine profiled Phoenix's music scene in its "America Issue." Writer Madeline Giles centered the spot light on a couple of deserving Phoenix musica ... More >>