FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMAT
2. THURSDAY NIGHT PARTIES AT THE STONE PONY
3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This Week at The Stone Pony: Tea Leaf Green (Friday), Pete Yorn (Saturday), The Format (Sunday), Peeping Tom featuring Mike Patton (Monday)

New on The Stone Pony Calendar: Days Awake (Sept. 1), Buckethead (Sept. 27), Steel Pulse (Sept. 29)

Visit The Stone Pony on MySpace.com at: http://www.myspace.com/ponyrock

THE FORMAT BRING THEIR DOG PROBLEMS TO THE BEACH

Their new album, "Dog Problems," has made its debut at #77 on Billboard's Top 200 (Soundscan).  They've signed a deal to have the album released in Japan in October and are in the midst of a major tour that will take them across the United States and over to the United Kingdom during the next few months, after making a stop at the ocean to play the Pony on Sunday, August 13.  But hearing the album and seeing The Format's success doesn't tell the whole story of a band who took three years and as many major labels to get to this point.  Like other bands who build their reputation by hitting the road and playing hundreds of shows, The Format, based in Peoria, AZ, are back to doing what they do best.  Legions of fans who have discovered the band online since their Elektra debut, "Interventions and Lullabies," dropped in 2003 have been waiting both to hear new music and have a chance to see it performed live in their hometowns. With their latest album being released on their own label, The Vanity Label, The Format should now be back on track in both their career and musical development.  The Pony Newsletter interviewed Nate Ruess, the band's lead vocalist and primary songwriter - along with multi-instrumentalist Sam Mears - about finally releasing "Dog Problems" and how indie life is treating them after a series of bad major label relationships.

The Stone Pony: Let me start off by asking about the band's very cool website, which is really a unique design. Who came up with the video game look and feel and would you like to give any credit to the people involved with putting it together?

Nate Ruess: Sam saw a website of a flying man and decided it would be awesome if our website had a flying dog.  I think it turned out amazing.  All the real credit goes to the people at www.prod4ever.com.  All of their websites are amazing.

The Stone Pony: Usually, we interview bands on indie labels and ask them if their goal is to sign with a major. In your case, your debut album was released by Elektra, and your current second release is being done independently. Does the band feel more comfortable now; that "Dog Problems" is being released in a way that fits in better with where the band is today and how you've managed to become successful?

NR: Yeah, the label was never the reason for our success.  If anything they were holding us down not letting us do things, telling us we toured too much.  This way we can only blame ourselves.  That feels good.

The Stone Pony: "Dog Problems" was almost released by Atlantic Records, but you've ended up securing your release from Atlantic and creating your own label, The Vanity Label. How do you explain the paradox that major labels seemed intent on signing the band, yet had almost no interest in the band's music once you were actually signed? Having had these strange major label experiences over the past few years, do you think you understand what exactly is wrong with the music business and what the majors don't "get"?

NR: Major labels will sign virtually anything and they get upset when it doesn't get huge right off the bat.  Back in the '70s there was a lot more emphasis on development.  Bands had the opportunity to grow.  I feel like major labels are now selling an image as opposed to music. They want young kids to write and play songs for young kids.  It's depressing to think that the last thing they want is the band to get old and essentially good.

The Stone Pony: Do you think that "Dog Problems" ended up being a better album since you're releasing it yourself rather than on a major? In the end, do you think that all bands would be better off finding major companies just to handle the distribution of the album, and handling all of the creative and marketing aspects of releasing a CD on their own?

NR: There is no way Atlantic would have allowed "Dog Problems" to be made under the circumstances we were able to make it under.  Free of any input from them.  People telling us whether it's "high octane" or not.  I don't even know what "high octane" means.  We were able to make it successful on our own terms because of the way things are changing with the Internet and whatnot.  I'd like to think everything is shifting for the better.

The Stone Pony: How does digital music distribution fit into all of this? Your Myspace page has well over a million views and you sold the album online before it was available. Is the Internet an essential part of breaking a band today, or do you feel it's still secondary to actually touring and getting the music out in front of people? Do think that fans feel more connected to their bands today than they might have just five or ten years ago?

NR: I'm not sure.  The Internet has helped a ton.  We're allowing people to decide for themselves whether they want it.  We're not cramming it into their ears.  But, with that being said, digital recording is becoming so easy and so cheap that I think almost anyone can sound great in a studio.  Being able to pull it off live is a different thing.

The Stone Pony: "Dog Problems" was recorded in Los Angeles over two months of marathon sessions. Do you enjoy being in the studio going through the process of recording and are you someone who likes the technical aspects of making music?

NR: The recording process is my favorite thing.  I love having the ability to change things, make things grow and take different shapes.  It's great to experiment.  I wish we had six months to record.

The Stone Pony: Talk about your songwriting process a little bit. Do you tend to write songs in a structured way where you sit and work on an idea from beginning to end, or do flashes of inspiration hit you that you just develop over time? Do you ever find yourself going over song ideas in your head while you're playing basketball?

NR: All of the above.  It can come at the weirdest times, or Sam and I might set a night aside where we try to write together.

The Stone Pony: "Dog Problems" was officially released on July 14 at a sold-out show at the Celebrity Theatre. How was that experience and it is a relief to finally have the new album out there and fans can listen to it? Now that the album is finally done, do you look forward to doing it all over again for a third album, or are you content to just tour and promote this album for a while?

NR: To finally officially release something that took three years and three labels to make is an amazing feeling, especially when you're so proud of what you've done.  I'm ready to do it again.

The Stone Pony: You mentioned in an East Valley Tribune interview that you'd like The Vanity Label to get to the point where you'd be able to sign other bands. Are there bands from your local music scene that you'd like to get on board, or bands from elsewhere around the country? Do you have any thoughts on when you might sign other acts and do you expect to be personally involved in that aspect of the business?

NR: I'd like to sign and produce music for The Vanity Label.  The business end of the label is still getting off the ground so it's nice that I have yet to find anything worthwhile.  I hope it happens soon enough.

The Stone Pony: What's next for the band over the next few months? Are you planning any videos for the album and have you decided which songs you'll push as singles? Are there any other projects or special shows that you'd like fans to watch out for?

NR: We're gonna be on tour for the next year non-stop.  We filmed a video for "The Compromise".  It should be done in the next few weeks.  After that I think we're going for "Time Bomb" and, hopefully around Xmas, we can film "Dog Problems" in concert with a full orchestra.  I'd like to do a DVD.

The Format's official website can be found at www.theformat.com.  Their latest CD, "Dog Problems," is available online and at music retailers such as Jack's Music in Red Bank, NJ.