Dance Club Pick: Fresh Salsa

Salsa might be hot, but it’s not particularly hip, with most of the Latin music clubs in town tending to attract an older crowd. A big exception has always been the rhythmic dance night known as ¡Descarga!, which marks its five-year anniversary this week with a scorching lineup of turntablists and live acts, not to mention a new home: The Echoplex. Formerly at Little Temple, this stylin’ dance fiesta offers resident DJs Sloe Poke, Mando Fever, Bobby Soul, Loslito, Azul and Mexican Dubwiser melding salsa, cumbia, merengue, punta and reggaeton dance beats in a fresh way that’ll appeal to fans of hip-hop, funk, pop and other non-Latin genres too. Live sets always spice up the party, and for this one global jazzsters The B-Side Players will be in the casa, along with Mentiritas (an all-star band featuring members of Ozomatli, Cava and Yeska). The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park; Sat., Jan. 12, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.; over 21; $10 before 10:30 p.m. or $12 after; www.descargaclub.com.

—Lina Lecaro