Colombian band Bomba Estéreo shook thousands of asses last year following the U.S. release of its stand-out debut Blow Up on L.A.’s Nacional Records. The typical indie hype cycle began: The Bogotá group gigged for Levi’s and Fader magazine at South by Southwest, recorded an NPR session, and garnered plenty of half-baked comparisons to M.I.A. and Santigold, on account of the band’s rapping, crazily dressed vocalist, Liliana Saumet. But the electro-cumbia-hip-hop ensemble isn’t all explosives and “Fuego,” the pounding, DJ-baiting (and great) single on the group’s LP. Anchored by Saumet and bassist Simon Mejia, Bomba Estéreo also offers subtle rewards on slow-burning tracks such as “La Boquilla” and “Aguasala.” To see them live is to get the whole picture, as they show that bombs have a way of both making noise and leaving an impact.

Bomba Estéreo performs with Ocho de Bastos at 8:00 p.m. at Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $15 in advance, $20 day of show.