FUN FUZZBOX

There have already been at least a dozen concerts in town this year more important, more significant, more moving and more powerful than the local debut of Fuzzbox at the Roxy on Friday. But it’s unlikely that there has been one that was more fun.

A detractor might write off the four English lasses’ exuberant one-hour show as merely a mix of summer camp (punnily twisted a cappella versions of “High Hopes,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “Tutti Frutti” and “Leader of the Pack”) and just plain camp (the frilly, silly clothes and tongue-in-cheek self-congratulatory stage patter). But that would overlook such truly memorable, accomplished and intelligent songs as “Love Is the Slug,” “What’s the Point?” and the anti-sexploitation “X X Sex.”

The four musicians showed more spirit than skill as they switched between bass, drums, sax, violin and guitar (they are assisted on the tour by a keyboardist), but so what? In an age of rock marked by seriousness of purpose on one hand and stifling professionalism on the other, this good clean neo-punk exhibit was a breath of fresh air.