POP MUSIC REVIEW : Roches Showcase New Songs at Roxy

It’s been a few years between albums for the New York folk trio the Roches, so the sold-out show Thursday at the Roxy was something of an event for the sisters’ coterie of faithful fans. And though the Roches have maintained a low profile in recent years, they certainly haven’t been idle as they demonstrated through the course of their generous set. They’ve written a batch of fine new songs (most of which can be heard on the new album, “Speak,”), have worked up interpretations of interesting new cover tunes (the Four Seasons’ “Dawn,” is a particularly weird choice) and shopped for some funky new clothes (the Roches are masters of bag-lady chic).

Other than that, they haven’t tampered with the basic recipe that originally won them a following. They still sing like angels, are brilliantly talented when it comes to arrangements and inventive harmonies (a sour harmony, for instance, illustrates a lyric about quarreling lovers) and their world view is essentially the same as always. Skeptical, but not quite ready to throw in the towel, the Roches are a bittersweet blend of pessimism, irony and hope.

On stage, the trio employs wry humor to undercut the keen intelligence and gravity of the themes the music addresses. The Roches are relentless clowns, and on Thursday, their between-song schtick was occasionally a little too coy and cute for comfort. Youngest sister Suzzy Roche in particular is a shameless ham, but you’re willing to forgive her anything when she gets back to singing. A show-stopping a cappella version of the “Hallelujah Chorus,” along with flawless renditions of early material including “Hammond Song” and “One Season” were but a few of the highlights in this touching show.