The Roches, a singing sister group, perform at Duncan Hall

By Gordon Furneaux

Staff Reporter

Publication Date: 03/30/2007

The singing sister group The Roches commemorate their unified return by coming to Duncan Hall on Sunday.

After a 10-year break of touring, the trio felt they had kept their loyal fans waiting long enough. A few successful shows passed by and the decision was made to begin recording for the new tour.

"Once we began writing together, there was an enormous burst of energy," said Suzzy Roche in an e-mail.

The Roches will play again.

While a lot of things have changed since they first started recording in 1979, the sisters have managed to keep their imaginitive style of songwriting through the years. Each song is built to illustrate an otherwise ordinary moment in people's lives. This feeling of "childlike" curiosity toward life is important to Suzzy.

"The range of material is very deliberate," she said. "Life is full of variety, why not explore it all?"

This is in part due to the "group effort" that was decided on for the album.

Showing that sisters actually can share, they split up the songs and each track is given its own personality and depth.

They even shared the responsibilities with outside sources. Music teacher Paranoid Larry wrote the bizarre lyrics for "No Shoes" and "Jesus Shaves," while "Long Before" has Suzzy's daughter, Lucy, showing her poetic proficiency.

Whether it's the musial mischief of "Huh," or the socially conscience "Piggy Mask," The Roches are sure to raise questions with every song.

For those who are thinking about seeing the show but are worried about playing catch up, Suzzy assures that while the years have passed you will be hearing "Roche music" at its finest.

"We are a lot better at what we do now," she said.

Both newcomer and 'Roche head' alike will have to act soon if they want to be a part of this reunion as Richard Fudge of Friends of Bob music co-op said tickets are being sold quickly.

"For the first few days they sold like hot cakes," he said in an email. "Ticket outlets went through their first batch of tickets almost immediately."

Tickets are $17 in advance and still available at local outlets Downtown Records, Von's, JL Records, and Maguire Music, or $19 at the door. The show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at Duncan Hall, 619 Ferry St., Lafayette.