Grammy-nominated Latin alterna-rock group Aterciopelados will perform at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave.

Los Aterciopelados, which translates to "the velvety ones," formed in Bogota in 1990.

The band has released five albums since its formation.

Each of the albums has tried to explore new musical realms, such as trip-hop and experimental rock.

Bassist/composer Hector Buitrago and vocalist/guitarist Andrea Echeverri are the main soul of the group.

The group also consists of a backing band, which fluctuates.

The band's music style combines rock with a variety of Latin American musical traditions including mariachi, bolero, tropical, and flamenco.

In a press release Echeverri said about the group's music, "At first what we were doing was very elementary, but since we've played out a lot, learned to compose, and made a few records, even though we haven't had any formal training in music, we've learned how to develop. We've done it in a very instinctive way but I also think it's very valid."

The group is extremely popular in Latin America.

Its songs are played on MTV Latin America and the band has made an MTV Unplugged performance.

Aterciopelados has been trying to break the American mainstream for some time now.

But Aterciopelados does not want to compromise its culture just to achieve fame.

All of its songs are still sung in its native tongue, as the group pushes for the popularity of "rock en espanol," or Spanish Rock.

With a recent performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a favorable review of its new album Gozo Poderoso in Time Magazine, Aterciopelados' goal of greater success is within reach.

Tickets for Tuesday's Aterciopelados' all-ages show at Crowbar can be purchased for $15 in advance or $18 on the day of the show.