Biography
Originating from Los Angeles, the noise rock group known as the Mae Shi consists of Ezra Buchla, Brad Breeck, along with Tim Byron and Jeff Byron. The individuals in the band had known each other for years prior to forming the Mae Shi, as Buchla and Jeff Byron had been acquainted since their high school period. Drawing from sources that encompass no wave acts and classical figures such as the Ex and Erik Satie, the ensemble sought to incorporate diverse sonic elements and methods into their output. Having performed initial concerts in the beginning of 2003, the Mae Shi put out their introductory EP during the subsequent summer, distributing copies to recipients who provided mixtapes or CDs in return. As they commenced capturing material for their debut full-length record from the autumn onward through the winter of 2004, the collective drew motivation from the sequencing and variability inherent in mixes and playlists, in addition to the ambitious and eclectic studio approaches found on hip-hop releases. This yielded Terrorbird in 2004, titled after an ancient predatory bird incapable of flight that stood nine feet tall from two million years ago, resulting in an expansive, digitally manipulated production created for roughly 130 dollars. More than a year afterward, the Mae Shi put forth Heartbeeps on the same imprint as Terrorbird, namely 5 Rue Christine, and undertook extensive touring throughout Europe and the United States during the summer and autumn. In April 2006, they put out their initial DVD titled Lock the Skull, Load the Gun, merging a documentary of their travels with music videos crafted by acquaintances and supporters. Buchla and Fogel departed later in the year to establish Gowns, at which point singer and guitarist Jonathan Gray became part of the lineup. This configuration of the band put forward the restricted-release CDRs III and IIII in 2007 amid performances alongside Yea Big + Kid Static. By December of that year, alterations occurred once more: although Breeck chose not to participate in touring, he stayed involved; Marcus Savino took on the role of touring drummer for the Mae Shi, and Bill Gray assumed touring bass duties in place of Tim Byron. Nevertheless, come the 2008 South By Southwest Music Festival, where the group performed on 18 occasions, Jacob Cooper from Bark Bark Bark had taken Savino’s position. HLLLYH, the band’s third album which received critical praise, came out later in 2008. Throughout the Mae Shi’s 2009 tour of Europe, Byron returned to the United States to address issues with substance abuse, leaving Bill Gray, Jon Gray, and Jacob Cooper to handle the shows in his absence—a situation that recurred at the Pitchfork Music Festival that year, as the Grays along with Cooper, having started the band Signals, presented Mae Shi songs absent Byron’s approval. Although Byron expressed intentions to persist using the Mae Shi moniker, the group had effectively concluded its run, leading Breeck to create Skull Tape while Byron established Physical Forms in partnership with the rapper Busdriver.
Albums
