The Format Returns With Boycott Heaven

Nate Ruess and Sam Means met through the Weezer fan club in the mid-1990s. Means said he focused on teaching himself how to build websites in 1996. Their first music project was the short-lived Nevergonnascore, which later became The Format.

The Format's first song, The First Single, was frequently played on rock radio stations in their hometown in 2002 and led to a deal with Elektra Records. The Format broke up in 2008, after which Ruess formed fun. with Jack Antonoff.

Means and Ruess attempted to reunite in 2020, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Five years later, they restarted The Format. The band released Boycott Heaven on January 23, with Holy Roller and No Gold at the Top among the album's songs.

The Format's song The Bar Is Set So Low was not included on the album. The Saturdays in the Park series organizes free outdoor gatherings for fans. Means said about $10,000 from the first major wave of income from The Bar Is Set So Low was donated. Ruess said he listened to Rage Against the Machine and The Proclaimers while writing the song's lyrics.