The queue snaked all the way onto Byres Road as anticipation grew, an eclectic mix of fans basking in the golden evening sun of Glasgow’s trendy West End. The setting is Òran Mór’s downstairs venue, housed in a converted church—dark but far from dingy, small enough for intimacy, yet large enough to host a big, bold sound.
Taking to the stage first was Los Angeles-based Maiah Manser, making her Scottish debut. Described as noir pop – (no… Me neither!) she stood alone behind a stack of synths, a solitary figure in an otherwise empty space. Purple floodlights pierced through the smoke, creating a moody, ethereal atmosphere that matched her haunting vocals.
Imagine, if you will, Kate Bush and Enya had a child named Sinéad O’Connor, and they gifted her a synthesizer—that’s where Maiah Manser lives vocally. Hauntingly beautiful with subtle Celtic overtones, her upper register was nothing short of extraordinary. Some tracks even veered into drum and bass territory, bringing a touch of Kosheenness (forgive the invented term, it feels right), blending perfectly with her otherworldly voice.
A highly impressive first outing in Scotland, her siren call is bound to lure audiences back.
Then came Allie X—Alexandra to her friends—an avant-garde pop powerhouse from Canada, now based in Los Angeles. Born in 1985 but exuding the energy of a teenager, she emerged from the shadows like a goth-glam apparition: think early Lady Gaga colliding with ‘80s Madonna. Clad in sunglasses in a venue already starved of light, one had to wonder how she could see at all.
Flanked by a guitarist and bassist, the set kicked off with the punchy “Bitch,” setting the tone for what was to come. She proudly told the Glasgow crowd this was the first show of the tour to sell out—a fact no one in the packed venue could dispute.
Allie X is a proud advocate for LGBT+ rights, and her crowd reflected that. A beautifully diverse sea of humanity—different ages, colours, creeds, and sexualities—came together under one roof, reminding us that unity through music is still alive and thriving.
Vocally, Allie X is a force. Her soaring soprano could give Mariah Carey a run for her money, delivering powerhouse notes from a surprisingly slight frame. Her stage presence is electric, with quirks that channel Björk, matched by infectious energy and relentless momentum.
Among the set’s surprises was a piano ballad about eczema—yes, eczema—Then there was “Off With Her Tits,” a wild anthem that alone justified the price of entry. (Which, incidentally, was very reasonable—a rare delight in today’s financial climate.)
Over roughly 16 tracks, she barely paused for breath, and neither did we. By the end, Glasgow had well and truly become the “Super Duper Party People” of the night’s episode of Allie X, and there wasn’t a single unsatisfied face in the crowd.
Yes… that was a damned good night.
Review and Photographs by John Brown Photography
