The emo-pop kids of Ace Troubleshooter emerged in early 2000 and introduced a power sound all their own. Childhood friends Isaac Deaton, John Warne, Josh Abbott, and Ben Dewey looked up to bands like Rancid, Green Day, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Weezer. Their self-titled debut album appeared in October 2000 and Ace Troubleshooter went on to play over 200 shows in support of the record. They played alongside the likes of MxPx, Five Iron Frenzy, and Thousand Foot Crutch, and gained a small following. Two years later, Ace Troubleshooter released The Madness of the Crowds, their first for Tooth & Nail.