Sam Means and Nate Ruess left their previous bands Nevergonnascore and This Past Year and formed the indie-pop duo, The Format, in February 2000.
[11] The A Side and title track, "Blue Jeans", is a Lana Del Rey cover,[12] featuring Anthony Green of Circa Survive on lead vocals, with Sizzy Rocket singing back up.
[14][15][16][17][18] The album reunited Means with his The Format bandmates Don Raymond, Marko Buzzard, Mike Schey, and John O'Riley, along with Dog Problems producer Steven McDonald and arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr.[19] The Format reunited for a surprise show on February 3, 2020, performing in Hello Merch's event space.
According to Hello Merch's website, "[the company] started in 2008 as an outlet for bands, musicians, creative artists and businesses to manufacture and sell merchandise anywhere, without giving up their rights.
[24] The company had worked with many local organizations in creating merchandise such as the Phoenix Suns,[25] the Crescent Ballroom,[26] and the ZONA music festival.