Friday Five: Suburbo, Kat Steih, Virga, Carson C Lee, Dr. Pete Larson and His Cytotoxic Nyatiti Band

MUSIC FRIDAY FIVE

Cover art for the Friday Five releases on March 26, 2021

Friday Five is where we highlight music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This week features indie-rock by Suburbo, Kat Steih, and Virga, ambient hip-hop by Carson C Lee, and African psych-rock jams by Dr. Pete Larson and His Cytotoxic Nyatiti Band.

 

Suburbo, You Won't Feel a Thing and "Crawlin' With It"
If you've shopped at Encore Records in the past few years, you've likely seen or talked to Michael Burbo, the main man behind the Suburbo project, which toys with lo-fi indie-rock alongside nods to atmospheric '70s grooves. The Ann Arbor-based Burbo sings the songs he wrote, helped by two of my favorite Freds, Thomas and Beldin, along with B.L. Burns. You Won't Feel a Thing is an eight-song LP that I believe is also available on vinyl (check with Encore) and "Crawlin' With It" is a non-album single.

 

Kat Steih, "She's a Genius"
I usually associate Ann Arbor vocalist Kat Steih with a sort of folky, jazz-inflected amalgam, but her latest single is a trippy—and humorous—new-waver. The explicit version has a word that rhymes with ducker plucker as a key component to the verses.

 

Virga, Vague Splash
Ann Arbor label Selfish Agenda came out of a five-year hibernation to put out this five-song EP of reverb-blanketed indie-rock by Ypsi's Virga. Also available on cassette.

 

Carson C Lee, "Cubanos" from Vinyl Moon Volume 065: Earthly Royale
Carson C Lee's "Cubanos" originally came out in October 2019, but the Ann Arbor producer's ambient hip-hop instrumental was picked up for the latest compilation album by the Vinyl Moon label.

 

Dr. Pete Larson and His Cytotoxic Nyatiti Band, Damballah
Last year's self-titled release by Ann Arbor's Dr. Pete Larson and His Cytotoxic Nyatiti Band was one of my favorite albums of the year, and this forthcoming LP of Kenyan-rooted psych-rock jams promises to rate just as highly. The full album comes out May 7; pre-order for the vinyl edition is happening now.


Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp.