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# Randy Williams: New DVD releases include Platoon and Peaceful Warrior
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/caribbean-beats-set-to-rock-pier/
- Published: 2007-07-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T02:16:26.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Pier, #archive-import

*Concert-goers best bring their dancing shoes to the show*

*By EMILY SKEHAN Special to the Daily Press*

SM PIER The city by the sea might sound more like Little Havana or Puerto Rico tonight, with Twilight revelers encouraged to samba, salsa and sway away at the weekly Dance Series concert. Plena Libre and Spam Allstars are set to rock out with high-energy tropical dance tunes and Latin hip-hop spins.

Whether it’s by beating a pandereta or scratching some vinyl, dance lovers should find plenty of motivation.

The night’s headliner, Plena Libre, is a 13-member band that shakes up traditional island folk with contemporary dance beats. The first part of the group’s name, Plena, is a genre of Puerto Rican folk music that stems from African slave culture on the island in the early 20th century. The plena is a narrative song that documents the hardships of everyday life of early Puerto Rican communities to the beat of panderetas, a percussion-like tropical instrument.

Plena Libre puts a new spin on these folk roots with jazzy horns, sizzling salsa beats and up-tempo pambiche patterns.

The band, which burst onto the music scene in Puerto Rico more than a decade ago, are three-time Grammy nominees who have become local favorites on their native island. Known as “Plena ambassadors,” the 13 members of Plena Libre, headed by Gary Nunez, focus on danceable native sound — plena and bomba — blended with Brazilian samba, Latin jazz and African beats.

“They’re not only a great band in terms of their musicianship,” said Cindy Byram, Plena Libre’s publicist, “they’re also very down to earth guys. If you’re used to seeing Latin dance bands from NYC or Miami, they’re nothing like that.

> “They just want to grab their audience by their feet and make sure they have a great time.” — They have no pretension

The pier should prove a great location for the band, according to Byram.

“They love nothing more than big outdoor venues,” she said. “They love that party atmosphere, especially in the summer, when people are relaxed and looking to go out and get loose.”

Some words of advice for tonights concert: “Wear comfortable shoes” said Byram. The Twilight Concert will groove on with the electronic descarga that is the Spam Allstars. Headed by Miami-based DJ Le Spam, the group fuses improvisational electronic turntable maneuvers with funk, hip-hop, dub and Latin.

Le Spam, who turns the stereotype of trendy nightclub DJs on its head with his worldly style and old-school approach, teamed with the Spam Allstars in 1998\. The group became a local fixture in the Little Havana scene, avoiding posh Miami clubs.

“We’re really looking forward to the show,” said Le Spam, who added that the band will probably stop for breakfast at Jinky’s Cafe when they land in Los Angeles at 10 a.m. today. “We’ve played in Santa Monica several times, but this will be our first time playing the pier. I’m sure the surroundings are going to inspire us to do something unique.”

The group will be playing some tunes off of their “electrodomesticos” album.

The concert, staged on the west lot of the Santa Monica Pier, begins at 7:30 p.m. The entrance to the pier is at the intersection of Colorado and Ocean avenues, and parking is available at 2030 Barnard Way. However, spaces are limited and attendees are encouraged to walk, bike or take public transit. A free bike valet will be provided.

For more information on the Twilight Series, visit www.twilightdance.org, or call (310) 458-8900.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 12, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071207.pdf?ref=smdp.com)