Ashnikko made a return to the bubblegum, sl*tty, hyperpop realm with her newest record Smoochies. Trading in the metallic world of the last record WEEDKILLER, the new album covers casual intimacy, itty bitty skirts, trinkets, and most of all– staying true to yourself and finding empowerment in your identity. Ashnikko finished the first leg of her Smoochies Tour with a sold-out show at The Fillmore.
The blue-haired icon’s “Slumber Party” collaborator, Princess Nokia, opened the night with an intense and unexpectedly nu-metal set. Joined on the stage by a guitarist & a DJ, Princess Nokia opened with her newest song “Centipede” followed by 2025’s “Drop Dead Gorgeous.” The crowd responded warmly to Princess Nokia’s set, and the excitement built for Ashnikko’s headlining moment.
Princess Nokia & Ashnikko, two artists who can balance whimsy with rage, have cultivated a fanbase that knows exactly how serious to take the performers’ on-stage antics. The venue was full of fans wearing both elaborate and over-the-top outfits. Think Marie Antoinette-chic meets club attire. Trinkets, a major touchstone for this record’s energy, are traded among the crowd and adorned in whatever way is possible on the outfits of the fans. At every show on this tour, one guest is brought on stage to be crowned the “Smoochie Girl” of that city, a reference to one of the album’s singles. The outfits these fans pull off have been astounding, and Detroit’s Smoochie Girl did not disappoint, climbing onto the stage and having the crown placed on top of a towering pink wig.
Before entering the stage, the crowd heard Ashnikko rummaging through her purse and finding… a door at the bottom? It turns out that the door opens up to a sold-out crowd in Detroit, MI. The energy felt incredible in the room as she moved through her set, performing all of the new album besides the slower ballad “Baby Teeth.” The set stayed upbeat along with the performance. Ash was joined on stage by two dancers who also served as stage crew, playing around with 2D painted waves, a giant nail polish bottle, and other miscellaneous items between the “Full Frontal Lobotomy” office and the “2 FOR 1 BOYFRIENDS” store. The artist closed the set with a trio of hits, including Smoochies first single “Itty Bitty,” the iconic “Slumber Party,” and closed with the unforgettable “Daisy.”
The Smoochies tour continues on April 28th in Texas. Tickets and dates for the rest of the tour can be found here.
