WOODENTOPS DEBUT

There were a lot of high hopes surrounding the Woodentops’ local debut Friday at the Roxy--with good reason, it turns out. In the early show, the English quintet delivered a 55-minute set that was by turns breezy and enchanting, then tough and frenetic.

This musical Sybil Syndrome became apparent within three numbers, when the band performed “Good Thing,” a sunny, Aztec Camera-ish tune--before tearing into “Love Train,” an aggressive, harder-edged song punctuated by Simon Mawby’s guitar freakout.

Except for a few overwrought stretches, the Woodentops’ stylistic meandering worked well, with rhythms, textures and vocals careening off each other to delightful effect. Uniformly solid and melodic songwriting helped focus the set, as did singer Rolo McGinty, who projected a strong, engaging personality. Nifty show, nifty band.