The Format, led by Nate Ruess and Sam Means, return with their long-awaited third album Boycott Heaven, out January 23, 2026, via their own label The Vanity Label. The album was produced by Grammy-winning producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, The Killers) and features O’Brien on bass alongside renowned drummer Matt Chamberlain (David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple). Pre-order Boycott Heaven here
The first single “Holy Roller” hase been released, a rousing anthem that captures the urgency and energy at the heart of Boycott Heaven. The band will debut the track Monday night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Listen to “Holy Roller below and watch the video directed by Vanessa Pla.
After nearly two decades apart, during which Ruess launched a solo career, formed the chart-topping fun., and collaborated with P!nk, Young Thug, and Paramore’s Hayley Williams, while Means also continued to perform and built the highly successful Hello Merch in their Phoenix hometown, the two reunited to make an album that revives the alt-rock, grunge, and pop-punk sounds they first bonded over as Arizona teenagers. Now infused with the maturity and perspective gained from years on their own paths. Boycott Heaven is filled with existential protest songs, power chord-driven rockers, love letters to family and friendship, and a persistent belief in the possibility of something better.
The Format have been on the road for very special sold-out full-band performances this Fall, including a hometown show on September 27th in Phoenix, AZ at the historic Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fair. More than just a concert, the Phoenix stop was a festival-style event with an outdoor side stage curated by The Format, featuring intimate, stripped-down performances from some of the city’s most exciting rising artists including Sydney Sprague, Astrologer, JPW & Dad Weed. AZcentral praised, “The Format’s long-awaited return was everything Arizona had been waiting for and even more…From the very first line of “Tie the Rope,” it was obvious that both the crowd and band were ready to erupt after the 18-year wait. Ruess’s signature timbre sounded as if he hadn’t missed a day, and yet he was nearly drowned out by the audience by the time the opening track reached the chorus.”
The band then headed to NYC for two sold out nights at New York City’s Beacon Theatre September 30th and October 1st with Ben Kweller as support. The mini-tour wraps this week in Los Angeles on October 10th at the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery, joined by none other than Phantom Planet.
THE FORMAT – 2025 TOUR DATES:
Saturday, September 27 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum @ the Arizona State Fair – Phoenix, AZ (sold out)
Tuesday, September 30 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY (with Ben Kweller-sold out)
Wednesday, October 1- Beacon Theatre – New York, NY (with Ben Kweller-sold out)
Friday, October 10 – Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Los Angeles, CA (with Phantom Planet-sold out)
