On Saturday, July 30, The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) finally arrived at FedEx Field outside Washington D.C. for a sold-out crowd. The two-hour performance came after numerous cancellations, the second one preceded with a promise that The Weeknd was committed to delivering something “bigger and better.”
The 32-year-old singer has been on six previous tours for more than six top-performing projects. The “After Hours til Dawn Tour” included some of The Weeknd’s greatest hits, with an emphasis on newest albums Dawn FM and After Hours.
The tour comes shortly after (debatably) the height of the singer’s career – when “Blinding Lights” earned him both the title of Spotify’s second most streamed song of all time and the Super Bowl 2021 halftime show.
To date, The Weeknd has sold out eight stadium shows for the “After Hours til Dawn Tour”.
Stadium shows are rare and special experiences by the biggest names in music. A stadium tour is (one of) the ultimate achievements in an artist’s career.
The Weeknd embraced his stardom with the “After Hours til Dawn” tour. With production, transitions, dancers and a two-hour long setlist, Tesfaye’s attention to detail shined through and created an experience that exceeded the characteristics of just any concert.
WASHINGTON DC what a concert last night! my people showed out as usual! 🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹 pic.twitter.com/LD7qLuq5yk
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) July 31, 2022
The Setlist
Full setlist of the #AfterHoursTilDawnTour 🏟🌅 pic.twitter.com/35ZoQxRqGX
— After Hours Til Dawn Tour Updates (@AHDawnTour) July 15, 2022
The 29-song, two hour setlist seemed to be loosely divided into three sections. If true, this format may serve as an illusion to a larger project, as The Weeknd has mentioned that Dawn FM is part of a new trilogy of albums.
The show began with tracks predominantly from his newest party-driven record. Part one was a whirlwind of energy and excitement, and allowed the audience to hear some of the first live performances of Dawn FM.
“Part two” began with Tesfaye’s verse on Kanye West’s “Hurricane”, serving as a transition into an older and darker era of his discography. This section included everything from 2012’s “Crew Love” and original “Kiss Land” to newer and flashier “Party Monster” and “Heartless”. The Weeknd has been known to use religious allegories, and this part of the show can be seen as “purgatory” with an ominous feeling being introduced via music and other aesthetics.
However, “part three” is undoubtedly the darkest – the most raw, emotional side of his discography. It begins with After Hours favorites “Faith” and “After Hours”, where the atmosphere in the stadium transforms into something from an episode of Stranger Things. This section is reminiscent of The Weeknd’s older characters, such as the iconic red-suit era of After Hours, and fans were visibly emotionally during this section of songs in particular.
Watching all three parts come together felt like a cinematic experience. The very end of the concert tied into the “dawn” side of the show’s theme, with semi-viral “Less Than Zero” and “Blinding Lights”, of course, as the last songs. Ending on an upbeat note evoked a burst of energy from the crowd similar to when The Weeknd came out on stage, creating a full-circle experience.
The Dancers, Lighting and Aesthetic
“After Hours til Dawn” has become known for its lighting and other aesthetic touches. Upon entry to the stadium, each guest received a light-up wristband that made the stadium glow in different patterns for a few songs.
The Weeknd created his own world through these details to compliment the storyline of his setlist. The stadium glowed in many different colors to match each song’s mood. The set design included a huge moon and castle-like structure as a backdrop. Each detail was carefully planned – from timed lighting, to each red-cloaked dancer’s movements.
The Weeknd is the king of transitions. pic.twitter.com/vY3qTyvyy2
— Olivia 🌅 (@Olixviaa) July 27, 2022
These details made the show come to life, engulfing you in The Weeknd’s post-apocalyptic universe, and allowing one to step into the mind of a creative genius.
The Weeknd, himself
Not only did Abel’s performance deliver, but the artist also shows a high level of care for his fans that often exceeds other artists’ at his same level of fame. Tesfaye worked hard to hype up the crowd, and the energy was palpable. After each show, social media is often flooded with videos of fans interacting with him mid-concert, as well as his own reposts of fan videos.
If it wasn’t apparent earlier in the show, the more solemn songs showcased how vocally talented the singer is. “Call Out My Name” was an emotional crowd favorite where Tesfaye showcased the full range of his ability.
Additionally, The Weeknd partnered with The World Food Program (WFP) as a UN Goodwill Ambassador to launch the XO Humanitarian Fund. Through this program, one dollar of every ticket is donated to the fund along with a $500,000 USD donation.
According to the WFP site, the money raised will be used “to assist communities on the edge of starvation in countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen, and now Ukraine, with a focus on Ethiopia in recognition of Tesfaye’s ties with the country.”
Rating: 10/10
For a ticket over one hundred dollars in a 200s section, this show was worth every penny. Fans heard music from every album and witnessed a storyline unfold. Every detail came together to create a truly unforgettable experience.
Keep up with The Weeknd’s tour on Twitter and Instagram.
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