Stepping into the halls of the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall for Ashnikko's Smoochies Tour, you were greeted with a sea of fans in fashionably chaotic stylings as far as the eye could see. Ashnikko is known for her exuberant Tokyo-inspired street fashion that mixes cyber-fairy aesthetics, dystopian warrior, and Harajuku fashion. Her fans crafted outfits inspired by previous tours and their own takes on outfits that Ashnikko could possibly wear herself. Ashnikko inspires her fans to dress big and loud, and be proud of who they are. So, there was no way this concert was going to be any less than spectacular.

Opening the night was an artist known as Googly Eyes. As she floated on stage in a floor-length skirt and loose-fitting sparkling top, we knew we were in for something magical. Googly Eyes moved and sang like a whimsical faerie, gliding across the stage. Her voice resonated around the Shrine Expo Hall. Even as the opener for the Smoochies Tour, she performed with the grandeur of a Greek Goddess being worshipped by her followers on Mount Olympus. Fans could not help but be captivated by her charm, as seeing Googly Eyes at this early stage of her career is how I imagine it felt to see Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine or Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac in their early days. Googly Eyes will be creating new fans and a name for herself opening for this tour, and I look forward to what the future holds for this artist.

Up next was Princess Nokia, who was bringing a harder rap edge to the Smoochies Tour. Mixing genres by having a guitarist playing metal and backed by a DJ spinning the beat, Princess Nokia mixed singing and rapping throughout her set. With a blistering, in-your-face sound, while greens, blues, purples, and heavy strobing lights flickered across the stage, it felt like we were at a heavy metal concert. In between songs, though, Princess Nokia's more girly side would come out. Playing up the bashful cutesiness for her fans and exclaiming how happy she was to be on the "Gayest tour of the year!" - which made the crowd roar with excitement. Princess Nokia carries herself with a strong, confident energy that won't take any nonsense from anyone, which the crowd ate up and made us feel more confident in who we are and our place in society. Princess Nokia's set wasn't just about music - it was about finding the confidence in yourself to stand up for yourself, as well as being cute and goofy when you want.

It was then time for the headliner who inspired so many of the outfits for the night. Ashnikko's voice could be heard over the PA as she fumbled around backstage making sure her outfit was set, finding her props, and trying to figure out how to get on stage. It was then that an Alice in Wonderland-esque tiny door illuminated as Ashnikko crawled through into the public eye with a look of bewilderment and wonder, setting the tone for how weird and whimsical this show would get.

Opening the show with her song "Working Bitch," Ashnikko was there to entertain. With a novelty tiny hat, exaggerated makeup, two gigantic hair clips threaded through her shirt, while flashing her pinstripe bra and spanks, this was a person who came to make a statement that no matter how alternative you may be, there is always your kind of people out in the world that you can find. That's what this show meant to everyone, as the outrageous outfits bonded everyone in the crowd - we knew we were with our kind.

During the show, Ashnikko crafted a cacophony of different visual performances. From dancing solo across the stage, strutting her stuff like the boss she knew she was, to bringing out dancers and choreography that both delighted the eyes and pushed boundaries. Dancing in a doorway with a sultry sensation. Bringing out a chair and giving us a burlesque-style chair dance. And even creating theatre moments with stage props and dressing that took us to Broadway. No matter what Ashnikko was doing on stage, we were captivated and could not peel our eyes away.

As this was the Smoochies Tour, most of the set comprised songs from her latest album Smoochies, but fans were delighted with other favorites like "Chokehold Cherry Python," "Possession of a Weapon," "WEEDKILLER," "You Make Me Sick!," "Tantrum," "Manners," "STUPID," and "Toxic/Invitation." Princess Nokia joined on stage for the penultimate song "Slumber Party," before Ashnikko finished the night with "Daisy." This was a two-hour nonstop performance of theatrical brilliance, musical ecstasy, and shouts of cheers and love from the counterculture.

I've seen pictures from an Ashnikko show, and I've even heard the music on Spotify, but nothing can compare to being in the crowd for one of her shows. I felt out of place wearing a normal band t-shirt and jeans when everyone else put so much effort into their outfits. But nonetheless, everyone was so welcoming and kind at this show. Whether this was your first Ashnikko show and you didn't know what to expect, or if this was your tenth-plus and you were a seasoned concertgoer, this was a place where you could just be free to be your true self. This was only the second day of the tour, and it runs through May with some more dates in October. If you want a truly unique concert event where people are just lost in the moment, you can't go wrong checking out an Ashnikko show.