Mahjongg

**Mahjongg** was a Chicago-based experimental dance-punk collective that thrived in the late 2000s with their frenetic, genre-blurring sound. Known for layering Afrobeat rhythms, glitchy electronics, and off-kilter pop hooks, the band carved out a niche with releases like *Kontpab* (2008) and *Raydoncong* (2008), which showcased their knack for chaotic yet danceable grooves. Their music often felt like a collage of global influences and DIY energy, anchored by cryptic song titles and a playful, almost surrealist approach to both sound and visuals.

Active during the height of bloghouse and indie-electronic crossovers, Mahjongg’s live shows were sweaty, unpredictable affairs, matching their recorded output’s rhythmic intensity. While they never broke into the mainstream, tracks like *Machinegong* and *The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger* remain cult favorites for fans of left-field dance music. The band’s lineup shifted over time, but their commitment to rhythmic experimentation and genre defiance left a lasting imprint on their era’s underground scene.