TAAHLIAH: The Ultimate Angels @ SWG3, Glasgow, 18 Feb

The night is set into motion by local DJ Miss Cabbage who stuns the early birds, lurking in the shadows behind the desk and slinging back Red Bulls in time with the metallic percussion. Her fun, dynamic remix of Britney Spears’ Toxic gets the crowd screaming like heathens and draws them closer to the barrier with every chorus. A psychedelic screen emblazoned with the phrase ‘TRANSGENDER SUPREMACY’ swirls hypnotically on the wall to the right of the stage as Miss Cabbage closes her short yet seamless set, raising her fishnet-covered arms and basking in the glory.

Brighton artist Akiko Haruna takes over the desk soon after and keeps the energy alive. They immediately captivate the now more-than-tipsy audience with their intricate blend of pulsating bass, filter-sweep synths, robotic raindrops and ambitious tempo changes. The charming vocal hook of 'I’m a big boy and I like cars' from 2021 single Big Boys catches on like wildfire and the room descends into a unique, euphoric chaos. The crowd is a celestial sea of pink synthetic wigs, leather harnesses, plastic baby doll heads and sweaty mullets – a heavenly host of angels impatiently awaiting the main event.

Haruna blows kisses and disappears backstage as a white podium is brought out and placed centre stage. The tension is palpable. Drunken chatter swells in the darkness until, like a luminous halo, the fluorescent pink TAAHLIAH logo lights up at the back of the stage and sends the angels into a frenzy. Hostess Lourdes, who you may know from the sensational podcast The Dolls Discuss that she co-hosts with TAAHLIAH, takes to the stage in a remarkable gown which combines traditional bridal glamour with clashing Scottish football colours. “OKAY!” she screams down the microphone, lapping up the whoops and hollers from the crowd. “She does not need any introduction, but I’m going to give her one,” she continues. “Give it up for one of the best people to walk the face of the earth. We welcome you, the angels, to heaven.”

Image: TAAHLIAH: The Ultimate Angels (Live) @ SWG3, Glasgow, 18 Feb by Dale Harvey

The walls and pillars shake as TAAHLIAH appears in a sleek, white dress and veil, sipping on a glass of wine, glamorous as ever. She takes her place at the altar, eyes fixed firmly on the mixing desk as she starts with an ethereal, amorphous soundscape. Even a casual fan would pick up on the staples of the TAAHLIAH soundfont that she expertly litters throughout this track, teasing what’s to come. She stands unmoving and focused on her craft until the intro of Brave, which sees her loosening up and blessing the crowd with a contagious, radiant smile. She welcomes fellow artist and collaborator Tsatsamis to the stage to provide some live vocals for their song Fall Into Place, an absolute treat which keeps the set fresh and exciting.

Lourdes and another dancer, Oliza, appear at each side of TAAHLIAH as she lifts her veil and delivers gunshot-like bursts through the speakers. Guttural screams soar over cutesy arpeggiated synths, building to a crescendo that you can feel thumping in your chest. Everything happens in a blur, devil horns and angel wings illuminated in quick flashes and coloured spotlights. All of TAAHLIAH’s closest friends are on stage for Never Lose which, judging by the crowd’s incessant enthusiasm, is the highlight of the night.

A neon green bubble gun purrs somewhere near the barrier as a piercing wolf whistle cuts through the last notes of Bourgeoise. TAAHLIAH ends as gracefully as she started with a kiss, a bow and a wave. The crowd erupts with praise, singing the chant ‘Ooh-ah-TAAHLIAH, Ooh-ah-TAAHLIAH!’ in perfect unison. Lourdes reappears with the microphone to close off the show and asks perhaps the most pertinent question of the night… “IS ANYBODY DRUNK?”