Mykki Blanco @ Islington Mill, Salford, 16 May

The DJ's beats instigate little more than gentle foot-tapping among the audience; but there is an undisclosed buzz in the room that hints at electric anticipation. Then, New York resident Michael Quattlebaum, aka Mykki Blanco, seizes the stage in all-black attire – a cropped wig, bra and leather shorts.

The metronomic tapping becomes a bass-heavy thud, and the crowd begin to jerk their bodies uncontrollably. Blanco's greeting of “Hey Manchester!” is met with matter-of-fact yelps of “Salford!”

The room belongs to Blanco: she clambers on top of amps to mark her territory, MCing a flurry of aggressive lyrics before extending an invitation to the crowd to join her onstage. YungRhymeAssassin, from the 2012 EP Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss, begins naked, without support from the DJ, and renders the audience totally at Blanco's mercy. With hyperactive thumps and crashes, the track develops into urgent synth-pop.

A swift costume swap sees Blanco don attire, complete with baseball cap and shorts, that would make her look at home in Odd Future. The change is heralded by one of her signature tracks, Wavvy, and its driving bass and artificial jangles have a powerful effect on the audience, heads bouncing in unison.

Blanco's first visit to Salford carried the intent of spreading the gospel of her fearless rap/wonky hip hop hybrid. She executes this task to blinding effect – and with relentless charisma. [Edwina Chan]