Export Amigo

Along with billions of barrels of black gold and the occasional successful stab at beauty pageants, Venezuela has a rather vibrant music scene that has flown under the radar for far too long. At the modern forefront, slowly gaining momentum and venturing into the mainstream, are Los Amigos Invisibles — blending 40 years of criollo pop sensibilities with digital know-how into a raunchy dance-floor catalyst and four well-received full-lengths. Their last, The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1, has gotten plenty of airplay through Latin rock outlets due to the six-man band's sophisticated blend of house rhythms, Latin percussion, and sex-rock overtones. Unabashed and undeterred, even as Hugo Chavez sticks his hand where it don't belong, Los Amigos push a compilation album of Venezuela's best that they produced themselves, Chill Out Venezuela Vol. 1. Time to wake up and smell el funk.

Los Amigos Invisibles perform at 10 p.m. Saturday, December 10, at Metropolis, 950 NE Second Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $20. Call 305-415-0000.