The Max Levine Ensemble
Encyclopedia
The Max Levine Ensemble is a DIY punk band from the Washington, DC metropolitan area. They play punk rock
with various pop
influences, and often have politically conscious lyrics. They used to have a rotating band roster that changed from tour to tour depending upon who could go. Though at one point they played regularly with 5-7 members, they generally play now as a three piece power trio
consisting of David Combs, Ben Epstein, and Nick Popovici.
. Max introduced David to various punk rock
bands such as Propagandhi
, Fugazi, and the Clash
, as well as turning him on to radical politics
. Combs had been playing in a ska
band, and when Max asked him to cover punk rock songs in his ska band he thought it was inappropriate for the genre. Instead he invited several of his friends to start a new band that would play full sets of cover songs to be requested by Max Levine. They played their first show at a high school band show case in December 2000. The set consisted of 5 cover songs and 2 originals. From then on the band focused on original material, but kept the name The Max Levine Ensemble in homage to their friend.
Since then the band grew and developed, incorporating various influences into their pop punk
sound. They self released two full length CDrs in 2001 and 2002 that were later released together on Fight The Octopus records as "Chach, Cops, and Donuts." In 2003 they released their third full length, "How to Build an Intergalactic Time Machine" recorded with Hugh McElroy of the Black Eyes
. The band tours the United States. Notably they joined up with Operation: Cliff Clavin
for their reunion tour and a split 7" in 2004, and toured as part of the Plan-It-X Records bus tour in 2005. The split 7" with Operation: Cliff Clavin was co-released by 60 different labels as a benefit for the Bloomington Bicycle Project. In 2005 a split 7" with The Spirit Animals was released.
In January 2008, the band released their fourth full length album "OK Smartypants" on CD from Plan-It-X Records, audio cassette from $ Big Record Label $, and on LP from No Breaks Records.
In July 2008, the band was maligned by Ben Weasel
the Screeching Weasel
frontman on his radio show, "Weasel Radio." In 2009 the band took their revenge by releasing a "split" 7" that appeared falsely to be a collaboration with Ben Weasel, featuring clips from the radio show on the B side and songs like "Ben Weasel Thinks We Suck" on the A side.
In December 2009, synchronous to a five week US-tour, the band self-released a cassette tape EP entitled "Them Steadily Depressing, Low Down Mind Messing, Post Modern Recession Blues." Later in 2010 the EP was re-released on 7" by Asian Man Records
.
...Goes to Jail for Stealing a Donut from a Cop CDr Self-Released
How to Build an Intergalactic Time Travel Machine CD Fight the Octopus Records
Chach, Cops and Donuts Discography CD Fight the Octopus Records
Split w/The Spirit Animals 7" Crafty Records
Split w/Operation: Cliff Clavin 7" Plan-It-X Records
Live with Fugazi at Fort Reno DVD Dischord Records
OK Smartypants CD Plan-it-X Records
OK Smartypants TAPE $ Big Record Label $
OK Smartypants LP No Breaks Records
Ben Weasel 7" Fuck You is a Seven Letter Word Records
Them Steadily Depressing, Low Down Mind Messing, Post Modern Recession Blues TAPE Fuck You is a Seven Letter Word Records
Them Steadily Depressing, Low Down Mind Messing, Post Modern Recession Blues 7" Asian Man Records
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
with various pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
influences, and often have politically conscious lyrics. They used to have a rotating band roster that changed from tour to tour depending upon who could go. Though at one point they played regularly with 5-7 members, they generally play now as a three piece power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
consisting of David Combs, Ben Epstein, and Nick Popovici.
History
The band was formed in 2000 when David Combs met Max Levine while attending highschool at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day SchoolCharles E. Smith Jewish Day School
The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, often referred to as CESJDS or JDS, is a private, pluralistic Jewish K-12 school in Rockville, Maryland....
. Max introduced David to various punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands such as Propagandhi
Propagandhi
Propagandhi is a Canadian punk band formed in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba in 1986 by Chris Hannah and Jord Samolesky. The band is currently located in Winnipeg, Manitoba....
, Fugazi, and the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, as well as turning him on to radical politics
Radicalization
Radicalization is the process in which an individual changes from passiveness or activism to become more revolutionary, militant or extremist. Radicalization is often associated with youth, adversity, alienation, social exclusion, poverty, or the perception of injustice to self or others.-...
. Combs had been playing in a ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band, and when Max asked him to cover punk rock songs in his ska band he thought it was inappropriate for the genre. Instead he invited several of his friends to start a new band that would play full sets of cover songs to be requested by Max Levine. They played their first show at a high school band show case in December 2000. The set consisted of 5 cover songs and 2 originals. From then on the band focused on original material, but kept the name The Max Levine Ensemble in homage to their friend.
Since then the band grew and developed, incorporating various influences into their pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
sound. They self released two full length CDrs in 2001 and 2002 that were later released together on Fight The Octopus records as "Chach, Cops, and Donuts." In 2003 they released their third full length, "How to Build an Intergalactic Time Machine" recorded with Hugh McElroy of the Black Eyes
Black Eyes
Black Eyes was a post-hardcore band from Washington, D.C. that existed from August 2001 to March 2004, disbanding two months prior to the release of its second album, Cough...
. The band tours the United States. Notably they joined up with Operation: Cliff Clavin
Operation: Cliff Clavin
Operation: Cliff Clavin was one of Chris Johnston's first bands and one of the earliest bands on Plan-It-X Records. They were an influential DIY political pop-punk band that toured the United States consistently and had one international tour...
for their reunion tour and a split 7" in 2004, and toured as part of the Plan-It-X Records bus tour in 2005. The split 7" with Operation: Cliff Clavin was co-released by 60 different labels as a benefit for the Bloomington Bicycle Project. In 2005 a split 7" with The Spirit Animals was released.
In January 2008, the band released their fourth full length album "OK Smartypants" on CD from Plan-It-X Records, audio cassette from $ Big Record Label $, and on LP from No Breaks Records.
In July 2008, the band was maligned by Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel
Ben Weasel is a punk rock musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of bands Screeching Weasel and The Riverdales...
the Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel
Screeching Weasel is an American punk rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel and John Jughead.Since their formation, Screeching Weasel have broken up and reformed numerous times with numerous line-up changes. Ben Weasel has been the only constant...
frontman on his radio show, "Weasel Radio." In 2009 the band took their revenge by releasing a "split" 7" that appeared falsely to be a collaboration with Ben Weasel, featuring clips from the radio show on the B side and songs like "Ben Weasel Thinks We Suck" on the A side.
In December 2009, synchronous to a five week US-tour, the band self-released a cassette tape EP entitled "Them Steadily Depressing, Low Down Mind Messing, Post Modern Recession Blues." Later in 2010 the EP was re-released on 7" by Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
.
Currently Active Members
- David Combs (aka Spoonboy)- Guitar, Vocals
- Ben Epstein (aka Bepstein)- Bass, Vocals, Guitar (formerly)
- Nick Popovici - Drums, Bass (formerly)
Currently Inactive Members
- Alex Mazer - Trumpet, Vocals
- Mat Lewis - Drums, Vocals
- Adam Soffrin - Drums
- Ari "Rejy" Jacobovits - Bass
- DJ Michael Barticus - Turntable
- Mr. Himmelsbach - Keyboard, Harmonica
- Matt Tobey - Drums, Guitar
- Max Levine - "Frontman extrordinaire"
Discography
Songs That Make You Wanna Jump up, Run Outside, Grab a Donut a Cop and Yell Chach Rules!!! CDr Self-Released...Goes to Jail for Stealing a Donut from a Cop CDr Self-Released
How to Build an Intergalactic Time Travel Machine CD Fight the Octopus Records
Chach, Cops and Donuts Discography CD Fight the Octopus Records
Split w/The Spirit Animals 7" Crafty Records
Split w/Operation: Cliff Clavin 7" Plan-It-X Records
Live with Fugazi at Fort Reno DVD Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
OK Smartypants CD Plan-it-X Records
OK Smartypants TAPE $ Big Record Label $
OK Smartypants LP No Breaks Records
Ben Weasel 7" Fuck You is a Seven Letter Word Records
Them Steadily Depressing, Low Down Mind Messing, Post Modern Recession Blues TAPE Fuck You is a Seven Letter Word Records
Them Steadily Depressing, Low Down Mind Messing, Post Modern Recession Blues 7" Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records
Asian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...