Washington D.C., pop-punk band the Max Levine Ensemble was formed in 2000 by singer/guitarist David Combs, bassist Ben Epstein, and drummer Nick Popovici. Named after Combs' high school friend Max Levine, who first turned him on to both punk music and radical politics, the trio turned in a pair of homemade CD-R releases in 2001 and 2002 that were later reissued on Fight the Octopus Records. Their quirky sound blended playful lyrics that were socially and politically aware with rousing, melodic pop-punk. Their third LP and first proper label release, How to Build an Intergalact...