It’s Friday, May 15, 2026, when I’m on a bus traveling to New York City for the first time ever to catch Ashnikko’s highly anticipated stop at Hammerstein Ballroom on her “Smoochies Tour.” Her latest album, Smoochies, has been making huge waves in the pop scene, and I’, super eager to see the album come to life on stage.
After a three-hour bus ride, I finally arrive at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, New York. Ashnikko’s opener, Royal & the Serpent, is crushing it on stage, performing her hit song for the Arcane soundtrack “Wasteland.” Unfortunately, due to a delay in my travels, I was only able to catch this final song in her set and was unable to snap any photos. Her energy as she performed “Wasteland” was ethereal, and her vocals were phenomenal. She is truly such a talented artist, and I wish I were able to catch more of her set. I highly recommend giving her a listen on Spotify here.
After much anticipation, Ashnikko finally hits the stage. Crawling through a tiny door cut into the middle of her stage design, Ashnikko begins her set with “Sticky Fingers” to a sold-out crowd of screaming fans. Complete with choreography, funky outfits, props, and more, Ashnikko’s performance was absolutely exhilarating. Throughout the show, she blazed through the entirety of her Smoochies album, with the exception of “Baby Teeth,” while also mixing in old hits such as “Slumber Party,” “Stupid,” and “Tantrum.”
It’s clear that she cares tremendously about her fans, as she not only put on a wonderfully entertaining performance but also took many breaks to talk with her fans. These short, chaotic breaks set on the topics of trinkets, toe hair, and more really gave the show such an intimate feeling. The biggest takeaway I had from the show is how much care she put into planning this tour. In my entire career, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a show that showcases so much energy, detail, and love for the fans as this night with Ashnikko at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
At the time of writing this article, Ashnikko’s North American tour has come to an end. However, she will be hitting Canadian and Australian cities soon! You can find tour dates below. Also, make sure to give Ashnikko’s latest album Smoochies a listen on Spotify here. It is such an incredible album with absolutely no-skips.
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