The Weeknd Brings Long Awaited ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ Tour to Bay Area

The Weeknd

Levi’s Stadium

Santa Clara, CA

August 27th, 2022

Photos and Review by Alexander Andrade

After fans waited what felt like years, The Weeknd finally made his way back on tour to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA this past weekend. The Weeknd, real name Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is supporting two albums — 2020’s “After Hours” and 2022 “Dawn FM” — which is how you end up with the name After Hours Til Dawn. Its been about 5 years since we’ve last seen Abel on stage performing live in front of an audience. The last tour was back in 2017 in support of the ‘Starboy’ album. It definitely did not help when the pandemic started, postponing his After Hour arena tour twice. The Weeknd then announced via instagram that he will be doing a stadium tour to allow more fans to attend and to give a better experience. I would also like to point out that Doja Cat was originally going to tag along for supporting act, however, had to drop out this tour a few months prior to undergo tonsil surgery. For her replacement, Abel Tesfaye chose to bring out Mike Dean and Snoh Aalegra to open. His final show concludes in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium this week.

To kickoff the evening, Mike Dean was brought on to stage around 6:30 and jammed out with the keyboard and guitar. Fun fact about Mike Dean that not a lot of people know about, he actually worked with the famous American singer and fashion star Selena Quintanilla. Believe it or not, that was his first ever recording experience. Followed by the next act was Snoh Aalegra, a Swedish singer, who performed in a silver rhinestoned two-piece with her hair in a long ponytail. She entertained her fans with “I Want You Around,” “Neon Peach” and “Whoa.” She also sang her version of Bobby Caldwell classic “Do 4 Love” with more of a slow tempo and soulful telling her fans to stand up with their phone flash on and dance on beat with her. Once Snoh Aalegra finished her set and asked the audience “Before I go, I have one question.” “Who is ready for The Weeknd!?“ The volume went from zero to 100 real quick. Snoh Aalegra’s set ended around 8:10pm, as fans continued to pour into the stadium and others went for drinks and merchandise, everyone’s excitement could be felt as they patiently waited for The Weeknd to start.

Around 9pm fans eagerly began screaming and cheering for Abel. Before he went on, a large moon inflated as it suspended above the square stage. At approximately 9:20 PM, many red figures marched onto the two larger stages and suddenly, Abel appeared atop one of the buildings within the city backdrop and the audience roared in excitement. He wore a all black trench coat, appearing out of the fog like some kind of masked Phantom of the Opera character and kicked off the show with “Alone Again,” from the album After Hours. As Abel was wrapping up the intro, he slowly took off the mask giving the audience a nice big smile getting ready to give them what they came to see and started singing ‘Sacrifice’ remix featuring Swedish House.

No amount of it was enough for the audience. Fans of all ages could be seen up and down the stadium’s seating as they attempted to balance dancing to the music and using their phones to record as much of their favorite pop star as possible. Onstage with him were 22 people dressed in red robes who alternated between performing cool choreographed dance routines and just standing still on the long walkway and stages. Throughout the entire 29 song setlist, the moon mentioned early changed to different colors from red, white, and blue depending on the song playing.

The laser and light show was amazing, especially the lights that shot up from the walkway’s edges and came together to form a nice column that rose many storeys above the stadium. Flames filled the stage set during “The Hills,” one of three songs from 2015’s “Beauty Behind the Madness,” and a cloud of foul-smelling smoke was pushed out into the crowd. The audience went complete head over toes when Abel yelled “I only call you when it’s half-past 5,” at the start of “The Hills,” as flames came bursting from the stage.

Before the show started, fans were giving a wristband that had a connection later on with the event. The crowd’s wristbands came to life when Abel performed ‘I Feel It Coming’

After finishing, Abel told the audience “You guys have been showing me love for so long,” . “From the beginning, from the first tour.” He promised to come to the Bay Area on every tour until he dies before performing “Die For You.”

The Weeknd opened the show’s closing act with the melancholy song “Call Out My Name.” The stadium lit up a hopeful teal as “Save Your Tears” started. The next song was “Less Than Zero,” with the bands glowing blue as spotlights encircled the audience. The hooded robe women again walked behind the skyline for the finale and walked towards Abel, who stood under the moon, leading the exciting crowd through “Blinding Lights.”

Once the final song ended, the hooded robe performers walked back down the catwalk to the buildings and that’s when Abel followed. As walking back to stage, he stopped by the skyline, turned to the crowd, put his hands in the air, blew kisses to the audience, smacked the floor three times and gave out a smile before leaving into the buildings. Just like that, the show was over.

Overall, you can’t say Abel Tesfaye did not pour his heart out on this tour especially after having to postpone twice. He is hands down one of the greatest artist in the world right now. I’m already looking forward for next time!

Set list:

Alone Again

Gasoline

Sacrifice

How Do I Make You Love Me?

Can’t Feel My Face

Take My Breath

Hurricane

The Hills

Often

Crew Love

Starboy