The Max Levine Ensemble
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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 have a rotating band roster that changes from tour to tour depending upon who can 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.
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[edit] History
The band was formed in 2000 when David Combs met a friend in high school named Max Levine. 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. [1] They played their first show at a high school band show case in December of 2000. [2] 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. [3] The band has toured all over the Eastern part of 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. [4] The split 7" with Operation: Cliff Clavin was co-released by 60 different labels as a benefit for the Bloomington Bicycle Project. [5] In 2005 a split 7" with The Spirit Animals was released.
The band has recently released their fourth full length album "OK Smartypants" on CD available from Plan-It-X Records and audio cassette available from $ Big Record Label $. [6]
[edit] Members
[edit] Currently Active Members
- David Combs (aka Spoonboy)- Guitar, Vocals
- Ben Epstein (aka Bepstein)- Bass, Vocals, Guitar (formerly)
- Nick Popovici - Drums, Bass (formerly)
[edit] Currently Inactive Members
- Danny Konnowski - Touring Bassist
- Alex Mazer - Trumpet, Vocals
- Mat Lewis - Drums, Vocals
- Adam Soffrin - Drums
- Ari "Rejy" Jacobovits - Bass
- DJ Michael Barticus - Turntable
- Mr. Himmelsbach - Keyboard, Harmonica
- Benjy Himmelfarb - Bass
- Matt Tobey - Drums, Guitar
- Max Levine - "Frontman extrordinaire"
[edit] 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
The Three Dollar Gallon Compilation CD Crafty Records
OK Smartypants CD Plan-it-X Records
OK Smartypants TAPE $ Big Record Label $
[edit] References
- ^ This is referenced in the following Washington Post Express interview: http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2006/07/qa_max_levine_ensemble_1.php
- ^ http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:vSYxIH4hKxUJ:www.lionstale.org/dec00/f-jdstival.html+max+levine+ensemble+lion%27s+tale&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a
- ^ On Hugh's record label Ruffian Records' website, he lists the Max Levine Ensemble as a band he's recorded: http://www.ruffianrecords.com/News.html
- ^ PIX FEST 2005
- ^ Plan-It-X Records: Catalog
- ^ This is according to a former news article from the band's homepage: http://tmle.terrorware.com
[edit] See also
- Spoonboy David Combs' solo project
- Plan It X Records
