submitted photo

Submitted photo by mordac.org

By Christopher Koehler

Watching a “Project Runway” marathon while under the delirious influence of a three-day fever might not be a sufficient primer to understanding fashion. Nevertheless, I’ll be attending Voltage: Fashion Amplified at First Avenue on April 16.

Forget pie charts and scatter plots in five — five! — colors designed to predict “growth opportunities with maximized client retention.” Voltage is a multimedia presentation that will elicit more yeahs than yawns: the work of 18 hot Minnesota designers will be worn by obscenely beautiful people working the catwalk to the tunes of six phenomenal local bands.

Although — and maybe this is just reality television and/or fever rotting my brain (I have to blame something for my rotten brain) — I can’t help but wonder what runway couture made out of things like newspaper or trash bags has to do with the stuff that ends up in department stores.

I read somewhere that these high-concept styles (sometimes accented by such sundry trinkets as feathers, bells, and — by God — gold lamé) are created solely to build the identity of a design house. Which, of course, means the clothes are completely impractical unless you happen to need a dress that can double as a birdcage.

And I’m all right with that. Beautiful people in wacky get-ups are immensely fun to watch (see: David Bowie’s entire career). But I’ll really be showing up for the music. Following are all-too-brief descriptions of the Fashion Amplified bands — any two of which would be worth the ticket price.

Bella Koshka: Ethereal and symphonic. A violin, beautiful voices and a good beat. MC/VL: They might owe royalties to The Beastie Boys. It’s like a best-of compilation from Def Jam’s heyday. Excellent, in other words. White Light Riot: Classic rock, but not in that tired “classic rock” way. They’re far too talented to ape Eric Clapton. The Haves Have It: A poppier Pixies fronted by a woman would be The Breeders; a darker Breeders fronted by a man would be The Pixies; this band splits the difference. Birthday Suits: Born in Tokyo, rock in Minneapolis. This duo makes terrific noise-pop. ZibraZibra: Electro jokesters having a good time. The new wave they ironically reference was from before their time. You will clap your hands.

Voltage
W April 16, 7 p.m.
First Avenue, 701 1st Ave. N.
$18 ($20 at the door)
332-1775, first-avenue.com

Reach Christopher Koehler at ckoehler@inbox.com