The Fake Fictions

The members of the Fake Fictions are as capable of sweet melodies, handclap percussion and appealingly awkward boy-girl vocals as the next indie-pop band. Listen closely, however, and you can hear power-pop swagger, Embarrassments-esque nerd-rock and Nuggets-style garage-rock in the mix. And when the Chicago trio lets loose with spirited "whoa-oh-ohs," the effect is closer to punk catharsis than pop sing-along. Guitarist Nick Ammerman and bassist Sarah Johnson are due to be married in a few months, but like the similarly coupled band Yo La Tengo, the pair is less likely to sing love songs than to lament "Impossible You" or give weary thanks that "You don't write me off when I act half my age." The Fake Fictions' Saturday night show is in support of Raw Yang, its fine new CD.