Bobble Tiki likes to consider himself a moderately intelligent being. Bobble Tiki has no problem admitting he’s not the biggest brain to ever bobble to and fro in island-themed attire, but he does all right. Bobble Tiki’s not stupid, which in his opinion makes him smarter than most.

Mrs. Tiki, however, is seriously smart. She’s also better at fixing stuff than Bobble Tiki, which can make for frustration around the Tiki household. Not only is Mrs. Tiki smarter than Bobble Tiki, but even when it comes to putting together furniture and doing oil changes — manly tasks that should be Bobble Tiki’s domain — Mrs. Tiki puts her husband to shame.
Bobble Tiki knows what you may be thinking. How has Bobble Tiki lived with it all these years? Doesn’t it get hard after a while to be the worthless one in a lopsided pact?

The answer is simple. Not at all.

Maybe in the very beginning Bobble Tiki felt inferior to the soon-to-be Mrs. Tiki’s intellect and handiness, but he quickly came to love it. Think about it. Whenever something requires being put together, Bobble Tiki doesn’t need to worry. Mrs. Tiki has it covered. Whenever something is really confusing and makes Bobble Tiki’s brain hurt, he can give up. Mrs. Tiki’s got it covered.

Mahjongg, an indie-sheik band on Olympia’s K Records garnering positive press for their unorthodox approach and eclectic experimentation, will be hitting the Capitol Theater Sunday, Mar. 2. Calvin Johnson is also on the bill.

If ever there was a time when Mrs. Tiki’s humongous brain seemed like it was going to come in handy, it was this week. When Bobble Tiki listened to Mahjongg, who released Kontab on Feb. 22, their latest record and first on K, he felt like he had a grasp on where these guys were coming from. Their influences are across the board, delving into afro beat as much as electronica and distortion, but their songs remain digestible and almost catchy at times. Bobble Tiki felt like he’d found a band in Mahjongg (named after an ancient Chinese game of strategy and luck) that he understood. Bobble Tiki knew they were arty, but he didn’t feel alienated.

Then he read the band’s bio.

“Originally formed in the great bounteous Midwest region of the United States “Mahjongg” began as a simple experiment between The Grid and The Sphere. To attract the brood orientation of the young mind, Mahjongg knew the only way to spread Kontpab’s message was by forming a musiK band. This ever-expanding Sect uses “irratainment” to teach the warnings and Revelations of the almighty god Kontpab. Kontpab basically warns the human race of the mass ‘funneling’ of the populace minds into The Grid,” explains Mahjongg’s bio on www.krecs.com.

“Many not briefed on the vast Kontpab religion will never fully understand Mahjongg during their ‘Warning Orbs,’ so they cut another album to set into stone what Kontpab had clearly shown them: Raydoncong 2005. Again using The Grid’s vast amalgam of mathematical tools against itself, The Sect were able to demonstrate to the brood, for instance with prime numbered polyrhythms, that not only was the path to The Sphere full of spectacle and self awakening, but pharmaceuticals, beer, and dancing as well. It was here that Mahjongg became not only teacher, but student, and this is where The Chicago Sects association with the Water Babies began.”

Bobble Tiki likes to consider himself a moderately intelligent being, but Bobble Tiki had no f***ing clue what that meant.

So he asked Mrs. Tiki.

Weary eyed and exhausted, Bobble Tiki made his way to the living room and asked Mrs. Tiki to bring up the bio on her laptop. She obliged. Then Bobble Tiki asked Mrs. Tiki to try to figure out what the hell Mahjongg was talking about while he hit the kitchen in search of Ben and Jerry’s.

A few minutes later Bobble Tiki returned.

“So, dear, any idea what these guys are talking about? What am I missing?” asked Bobble Tiki, expecting Mrs. Tiki to have cracked the code.

“I think it’s made up, dear,” she replied.

“Oh.”

So, either Mahjongg is so smart they’re even smarter than Mrs. Tiki, or Bobble Tiki isn’t as intelligent as he likes to think and got totally fooled by an obviously make-believe bio. Bobble Tiki suspects it’s the latter.

Mahjongg and Calvin Johnson will play the Capitol Theater this Sunday. While the band’s bio may make absolutely no sense, their music definitely delivers. Mahjongg gladly takes sonic roads less traveled, which can be appreciated on an artistic basis, and better yet enjoyed by those without a Ph.D. in weirdness. Mahjongg isn’t your run-of-the-mill band, that’s for sure. But despite their unique approach and artsy tendencies, Mahjongg is a band capable of widespread appeal.

As usual, Bobble Tiki doesn’t care what you do this week because he doesn’t even know you. Hope this doesn’t come as a surprise. It’s been the case for years now, and Bobble Tiki doesn’t see it changing any time soon. Unless you can tell Bobble Tiki how he managed to sit through all of this year’s Oscar musical performances without gouging his eyes out, he’s pretty sure he doesn’t want to meet you. Check out Breakfast with Bobble Tiki every Monday through Saturday at www.weeklyvolcanospew.com, and if you’re still looking for friends try appealing to someone who’s not a grass skirt clad souvenir. Just a thought.      

[Capitol Theater, Mahjongg, Calvin Johnson, Joey Casio, Sunday, March 2, 8 p.m., all ages, 206 Fifth Ave. S.E., Olympia, 360.754.5378]