After nearly two decades, The Format, a band hailing from Phoenix, has made a triumphant return with the release of their latest album, “Boycott Heaven.” For many, this album marks their first encounter with the band, but for Phoenix natives like Josh Chesler, the resurgence of The Format resonates on a deeper level.
JOSH CHESLER: In the years between the last two albums by The Format, I completed high school, earned a college degree, got married, purchased a condo, worked several jobs, and saw my skateboarding skills decline.
Listening to “Boycott Heaven” reinforces the idea that while the world around us evolves, some things remain constant.
Reflecting on the release of “Dog Problems” during the summer following my sophomore year, life has undoubtedly transformed since then. However, the essence of that era lingers close. The band members, Sam Means and Nate Ruess, have not attempted to recreate their past work with “Boycott Heaven,” but instead have evolved in a way that maintains their foundational success.
This concept might seem profound for a poppy indie rock album crafted by seasoned songwriters, yet it encapsulates the millennial journey quite aptly.
As teens in Phoenix during the 2000s, we witnessed The Format’s rise from a local favorite to sharing stages with renowned acts like Taking Back Sunday and the All-American Rejects. Similar to how Jimmy Eat World and the Gin Blossoms inspired earlier generations, Sam and Nate showed us that success on a national stage was within reach for Valley natives.
The abrupt end of The Format was akin to the 2008 financial crisis, both hitting Arizona millennials as we ventured into adulthood. While Ruess achieved commercial success with fun. and Means thrived with Hello Merch, many fans were left reminiscing about when The Format was “our” band.
Their planned return in 2020 was thwarted by the pandemic, much like how many millennials faced challenges in adulthood. Instead, we found solace in reissues of nostalgic albums until The Format’s announcement of “Boycott Heaven” last fall.
While “Boycott Heaven” might not explicitly represent Arizona millennials facing middle age, it could symbolize the potential for growth and triumph in our later years, mirroring the band’s own journey.
Josh Chesler is a writer and musician now based in Southern California.
