The Format’s acoustic stop at The Bottleneck in Lawrence felt like the perfect match of band and venue. Fresh off the release of Boycott Heaven, their first new album in nearly two decades, Nate Ruess and Sam Means proved they aren’t simply revisiting the past—they’re writing a new chapter.
Limbeck opened the evening with an engaging acoustic set and shared that they had recorded music in nearby Eudora, making their return to the area feel a little like coming home before The Format even took the stage.
From the moment Ruess and Means walked out, the show felt more like a conversation with longtime fans than a traditional concert. Nate said he was excited to be back in Lawrence and reflected on the city’s place in indie rock history, crediting The Get Up Kids with putting Lawrence on the map musically—a comment that drew a loud response from the hometown crowd.
Ruess’s voice remains as distinctive as ever. The soaring melodies and unmistakable vocals that first defined The Format later carried him to mainstream success as the frontman of Fun., but the audience at The Bottleneck was clearly there for where it all began. Every lyric was met by a room full of fans who have followed the band since its early days, making the evening feel like a homecoming for The Format’s original audience.
The acoustic arrangements stripped the songs down without sacrificing any emotion. Favorites like “The Compromise,” “Dog Problems,” “On Your Porch,” “Give It Up,” “Snails,” “I’m Actual,” “Inches and Falling,” and “She Doesn’t Get It” reminded the crowd why The Format’s albums from more than 20 years ago continue to resonate. At the same time, songs from this year’s Boycott Heaven fit seamlessly into the set, proving the band’s newest material belongs alongside the classics.
The crowd wasn’t ready for the night to end. After what seemed to be the planned finale, fans began shouting requests, and instead of sticking to the setlist, Ruess and Means decided to play a couple more songs than they had planned. Crowd favorites “Time Bomb” and “Tie the Rope” turned the encore into a genuine conversation between band and audience.
Ruess joked that he has never been much for talking between songs, but he repeatedly expressed his gratitude for the packed house and the enthusiastic support from the Lawrence crowd. The Format sounded remarkably comfortable together, with effortless harmonies and an undeniable chemistry that made it easy to forget nearly two decades had passed between albums. In a city with such deep musical roots, it felt like the perfect place to celebrate both The Format’s history and its future.
