Last night, US alt-pop superstar Ashnikko made a thrilling return to the O2 Academy Glasgow for her “SMOOCHIES” Tour. Fans eagerly began queuing outside around 12 p.m., showcasing their finest custom outfits and setting the stage for an unforgettable night.
With vocal powerhouse Amelia Moore joining as support, fans were more than ready to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of “Smoochies,” as evidenced by their stunning ensembles! Now, the only question is: did it live up to the high expectations set by her beloved 2023 “WEEDKILLER” tour? Let’s dive into the discussion!
Amelia Moore
Joining Ashnikko was the rising alt-pop/R&B artist Amelia Moore, a remarkable vocalist. She opened her set with “Fuck, Marry, Kill” from her 2024 EP, “he’s just not that into you”, captivating the Glasgow audience from the very first verse. Her flawless vocals drew everyone in, especially during the powerful chorus. Next, Amelia performed “Push Up Bra,” energizing the crowd with her confident stage presence. The rest of her show featured a mix of unreleased tracks, a few short cover samples, and songs from her 2024 EP as well as her 2022 EP, “teaching a robot to love”.
One of the most memorable moments of the first half of her set was her stripped-back piano rendition of “crybaby,” which showcased her tremendous vocal range. Near the end of the song, she delivered impressive riffs reminiscent of Ariana Grande, culminating in a stunning whistle tone that left the audience in awe. This is one of my favorite songs from her catalogue, and she took it to the next level, thrilling the audience with a frenzy of cheers and applause.
Another standout moment of her set was undoubtedly the performance of her viral song “See Through,” which has been one of the top tracks on my Spotify “On Repeat” playlist since its debut. She showcased her vocal talent and engaged the audience, creating an enjoyable experience for everyone.
The chorus features a series of intricate riffs, but the real magic happens when Amelia pauses the music and holds a powerful note for about 8 seconds, building anticipation and prompting the crowd to cheer. She repeats this impressive moment several more times, demonstrating even better control and range with each repetition, further captivating the audience. This buildup occurs three or four times, heightening the excitement until the final high note, which highlights her remarkable talent and reminds us why she is such a standout artist. I genuinely believe she is one of the best vocalists in the industry and deserves more recognition. With Amelia opening for Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun tour in the United States, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes a global star.
Ashnikko
Then it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for. As the clock struck 9:10 PM, the lights went out, and the intro started playing. Her 10-minute delay felt like part of the show, accompanied by a voice over the speakers mumbling about getting everything ready for a walk. While searching for her lip gloss, she discovered a tiny door at the bottom of her purse that led to Smoochie World, the stage. This introduction was one of the most impressive I had seen in a long time, with Ashnikko crawling through the tiny door as the lights flickered and a heavy guitar track played in the background, before launching into her first song, “Sticky Fingers.” Starting alone on stage, Ash quickly captured the audience’s attention. From the very first note, the crowd screamed every word back at her.
Midway through the song, her dancers, Molly Hincks and Dewi Dihal, joined her onstage for the first time. Ashnikko’s stage presence has always been incredible, but they really stepped it up for this tour. The choreography was flawless; all three of them were perfectly in sync, matching the beat of the songs.
After the song ended, she took a few minutes to address the crowd. She referenced the recent cancellation of several shows due to her struggle with the flu, which she humorously called “the Influenza.” She mentioned that some of the tracks might be harder to sing since her voice wasn’t at 100%, and she kindly asked the audience to be extra supportive and help her out if needed. It was heartwarming to see her perseverance. Many were uncertain whether the rest of the tour would continue.
She then asked the crowd if they had brought their trinkets and who had traded with whom. At that moment, the audience began showcasing their amazing outfits and displaying the items they had brought. Some fans even handed items to her onstage for her to show off. This was the first sign this show would be super interactive, and I was loving all the cool headpieces and other items the fans must have spent hours, if not days, creating.
After the song ended, she took a few minutes to address the crowd. She referenced the recent cancellation of several shows due to her struggle with the flu, which she humorously referred to as “the Influenza.” She mentioned that some of the tracks might be harder to sing since her voice wasn’t at 100%, and she kindly asked the audience to be extra supportive and help her out if needed. It was heartwarming to see her perseverance, as many were uncertain whether the rest of the tour would continue given how ill she had been. She then asked the crowd if they had brought their trinkets and who had traded with whom. At that moment, the audience began showcasing their amazing outfits and displaying the items they had brought. Some fans even handed items to her onstage to show off.
Next up was one of her most well-known tunes, “Working Bitch,” in which the dancers displayed a large white frame, providing a dramatic visual that quickly drew the audience’s attention. Ashnikko performed in the middle like a puppet on strings, demonstrating her distinct style and innovative artistry.
One thing to know about Ash is that they are quite animated when performing, infusing every movement with passion and creativity, so I thought this was an excellent idea! The idea of becoming a puppet allowed her to delve into concepts of control and liberation, engaging the audience on a deeper level. It was flawlessly executed, with each dancer enhancing Ash’s performance and smoothly bringing the concept to life. If I may say so myself, the entire performance was more than simply a spectacle; it was an experience that had everyone humming with enthusiasm. Even stuck in the middle of a frame, she remained super in character.
Next up was “Microplastics,” one of the first performances of the night that heavily featured choreography. Standout moments included Ashnikko kneeling in front of a fan while performing dramatic hair flips, as well as striking suggestive yet impressive poses alongside her dancers. This track reminds me a lot of Britney Spears’ “Blackout” album and is actually one of my favorites. It has a vibe similar to “Break The Ice,” with the bass turned up to the max.
Following “Microplastics” were “She’s So Pretty” and “Lip Smacker,” two fan favourites from her album, “Smoochies.” The latter in particular, featuring perfectly executed choreography, with every movement performed in complete synchronization. I was honestly surprised at how on-point everything was; it felt as if Ashnikko and her dancers were duplicates. Each movement, even down to the hand positions and facial expressions, was flawless.
Ashnikko then proceeded to ask the crowd who had been a fan the longest which sparked a bit of a debate between fans, with some, a bit like myself mentioning they had been listening to their music for as long as 8 years. This made for the perfect segue into the next little section of the show, a wee mashup of some of Ashnikko’s older tracks, “Toxic”, and “Invitation”. This was quickly followed by a short interlude before jumping into one of the most anticipated songs of the night, “Chichinya”, in which the dancers resembled Ashnikko’s pet dogs. This may have been the first song to get the crowd jumping, but it sure wasnt the last!
Next, Ashnikko shared a poem with the crowd, starting with the line “Fat pussy like Santa,” which immediately elicited loud cheers from the fans as they recognized she was about to perform “Manners.” This song has been featured on every setlist so far, and Ashnikko consistently gets the audience to wave during the chorus.
After a brief break, she launched into one of her biggest hits, “STUPID,” which sent the crowd into a frenzy as they jumped and screamed along to one of the most viral songs from Musical.ly back in the day. This track has also appeared on every setlist, but she decided to spice things up by transforming the second half into a rave, debuting a club remix that Glasgow absolutely adored. We Scots really know how to party, and the energy in the room was unmatched. We made sure the saying “No Scotland, No Party” truly came to life.
The second half of the concert was noticeably more intense than the first. Ashnikko performed some of her most bass-heavy tracks, including “Tantrum,” “The Halloweenie Mashup,” “Chokehold Cherry Python,” and “WEEDKILLER.” I was particularly surprised by the Halloweenie Mashup during this tour, as it featured a lengthy dance break with aggressive choreography. The bass during this segment was much stronger than in the earlier part of the performance, but we expected this since the songs from WEEDKILLER had been incredibly loud when we saw them live on the previous tour. You could say this was the “rock” section of the show, with noticeably more grit added to the production, and backing tracks filled with intense electric guitar riffs.
Given the language and topics discussed in the album, we expected that this concert wouldn’t be strictly PG. However, Ashnikko definitely left her mark with her bold and unapologetic references to sexual acts, seamlessly integrating various positions into the choreography. Some may argue that her language was excessive and crossed a line that made some audience members uncomfortable. Nevertheless, Ashnikko’s uninhibited self-expression showcased her fearless attitude, and I loved every moment of it. She even spoke candidly about her own desires, revealing how “horny” she felt. This openness highlighted her willingness to challenge taboos surrounding women’s sexuality, encouraging the audience to embrace their instincts without fear or hesitation.
The last section was super loud and intense, and the next was no different. The next 5 or 6 songs were the hyperpop section, featuring tracks such as “I Want My Boyfriends To Kiss”, “Full Frontal” and my personal favourite, “Wet Like (Featuring COBRAH). The party really was in O2 Academy Glasgow last night, I haven’t seen a crowd like that in months!
Then came the most anticipated moment of the whole show. For this tour, Ashnikko came up with the idea to crown a “Smoochie Girl” at every show as a little tradition. This girl is then brought onstage and is crowned in front of the whole crowd whilst meeting Ash. With the amount of cool outfits at this show, everybody was eager to know who had won for Glasgow, but nobody was expecting what was about to happen.
Ash introduced a special guest, and to everyone’s surprise, it was the Scottish TikTok sensation Whatsername01! She had gone viral a few months earlier for a TikTok video where she recited the lyrics to “Sticky Fingers” in her Ayrshire accent. Ash clearly loved the video so much that she decided to crown her the Smoochie Girl ahead of time. Ashnikko then asked her to perform the impression in front of the crowd, and they screamed the entire thing back to her — it was so loud that people around me were covering their ears! I really enjoyed this segment; Millie is a hilarious content creator, and this unexpected crossover was such a hit with the audience.
The set concluded with “Itty Bitty” and “Slumber Party.” The stage then went dark for a few seconds, giving Ashnikko just enough time to get ready for her closing song, ‘Daisy,’ which marked her third outfit change of the night. The anticipation in the air was intense as the audience wondered what her final appearance would be. When the lights came back on, the crowd burst into cheers, energising the mood. Ashnikko, now fully transformed for the last act, commanded the stage with an irrefutable energy that she alone could provide.
As the first notes of ‘Daisy’ rang out, the audience went insane, throwing every ounce of adrenaline they could muster into this thrilling moment. Fans leaped up and down in unison, creating a joyous chorus that rippled throughout the venue. Everyone in the venue seemed to be buzzing with joy and excitement and it was evident right away that this concert had been a big success. Ashnikko’s charm was contagious, and her interaction with the crowd took the experience to new heights.
In conclusion, Ashnikko’s “Smoochies” tour more than exceeded all expectations. Each song felt like a celebration of her talent, and the production elements enhanced the overall spectacle. I can confidently say that this is one of the best concerts I’ve ever attended. It has been thrilling to watch Ashnikko grow over the last decade. This was my fifth time seeing her live, and each experience has been better than the last. This progression is a testament to her growth as an artist and entertainer.
I highly recommend attending this tour; you will have the time of your life. Ashnikko puts on an unforgettable show, and the humour she adds between songs not only entertains but also fosters a special connection with the audience. It’s a performance filled with humour, emotion, and special moments that will stay with you long after the last note is played.
5 STARS!
T H E S O N G B I R D 