CD Burners 73: This Album Destroyed The Format and Made Them Icons w/ Brian Logan Dales
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Sep 16, 2025 Brian Logan Dales, frontman of The Summer Set, joins to discuss The Format's iconic album, Dog Problems. He reveals how the album shaped his musical identity and its dual themes of heartbreak and industry struggles. They explore its theatrical ambition and innovative sound, highlighting standout tracks and the album's impact on pop music. Brian shares his journey of crafting upbeat melodies for complex emotions and reflects on the cult fandom surrounding the band, showing why this album remains a beloved classic.
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First Concert That Changed A Career
- Brian Dales first saw The Format opening for a bigger band and felt Nate Ruess's singing was something he could emulate.
- That moment sparked Brian's desire to be a singer and shaped The Summer Set's early vocal approach.
Bootlegs And Tattoo-Shop Surprise Shows
- In Arizona The Format would play surprise acoustic sets in tattoo shops and fans recorded bootlegs on phones.
- Those intimate, ephemeral shows created a scavenger-hunt fandom that prefigured modern superfandom.
Double Breakup Fuelled Creativity
- Dog Problems functions as a double breakup album: with a romantic partner and with the record label.
- That dual narrative freed The Format to self-release and create a maximalist, theatrical pop record.