The Mae Shi, an American art punk and experimental pop band from Los Angeles, California, was formed in 2002 by Tim Byron and Ezra Buchla. Their first EP, To Hit Armor Class Zero, was released in 2003. In 2004, their debut LP, Terror Bird, was released by Kill Rock Stars' sister label 5 Rue Christine. The band embarked on a tour to promote it, performing Fat Day and Rapider Than Horsepower. In 2008, their third album, HLLLYH, was released to critical acclaim, with Pitchfork naming it the eighteenth best album of that year. The band went on an extended hiatus in 2009, with several members leaving to form other groups like Signals and Physical Forms. The original lineup reunited in 2012 for a show in Los Angeles.
