Making Movies, a Latin alternative rock trio out of Kansas City, will make the I-70 trek and play Cicero’s Tuesday.

Led by Enrique Chi, the band is touring the region (and Miami) in support of their debut EP, “Tierra Firme.” They will also be here on June 21 for the Hispanic Festival in Florissant’s Knights of Columbus Park.

The songs on the release conjure the Police and Latin electronic rock trailblazers Cafe Tacuba.

In a twist, if you buy the EP you’ll get two versions of each song: One in Spanish, one in English. I found the Spanish versions to be more engaging, despite the language barrier.

Chi, who was born in Panama and has lived in Kansas City for 16 years, helps run Curb Appeal Records. I caught up with him at the indie label a few weeks back.

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RC: Who are your influences?

EC: Santana – He was one of the first to do this. Then there’s everything from Radiohead to Bright Eyes to the Police. I also listened to a lot of salsa music growing up. Ruben Blades, from Panama, is the Bob Dylan of salsa — very poetic and political.

RC: Are any other band members Latino?

EC: They’re American but they studied percussion and know these rhythms now. I would hand them CD after CD as homework, saying, “You have to listen to this!” That being said, our Spanish-speaking radio stations and newspapers have really embraced us, which has been great.

RC: What themes do you take up in your lyrics?

Now that I’m an adult, I’m interested in finding out why my culture is the way it is. The idea for the record was to tell the story of the conquest in Panama. The lyrics aren’t dry historical facts, but they’re inspired by what happened to the native cultures when the Europeans came.

Making Movies with Math You and Dinosaurs in Outer Space

Tuesday, May 20

Cicero’s, 6691 Delmar

9 pm, $5 ($8 under 21)