06-06-2025
The Weeknd Embraces Full-Fledged Pop Star Status During 2-Night Chicago Stand
The Weeknd's sixth and most recent album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, was released in January and was accompanied months later by a film of the same name. In the mystifying thriller, the star—born Abel Tesfaye—portrays a thinly-veiled version of himself attempting to rectify an onstage crash out that resulted in not just embarrassment but also losing his voice.
This real-life moment from 2022, which the singer ultimately attributed to self-imposed pressure and stress, clearly haunted the 'Blinding Lights' singer. However, this didn't deter The Weeknd from introducing the latest iteration of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour at Chicago's Soldier Field for two consecutive nights on May 30 and 31.
Multi-instrumentalist and frequent Weeknd collaborator Mike Dean was the first opener for both evenings, followed by Atlanta-born rapper Playboi Carti. For the May 31 show, the emcee brought his signature high energy for songs like Future's 'Type Shit' and 'LIKE WEEZY.' However, when Carti introduced the one and only Travis Scott as his special guest, the crowd livened up even more for rousing renditions of 'goosebumps,' 'CRUSH' and 'FE!N.'
It wasn't long before The Weeknd took the stage amidst a backdrop of a ruinous cityscape and gold robot statue designed by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. His dancers, clad in red hooded robes, appeared immediately for his very first song of the night, 'The Abyss' from Hurry Up Tomorrow. The vocalist stunned in a black hooded robe and a shiny chrome mask with illuminated eyes, which he would soon reveal to the delight of the audience.
The Weeknd would go on to captivate by playing nearly 40 songs. 'Starboy' felt like a fever dream while 'Heartless' was riddled with jagged guitar riffs that gave it a treacherous edge. 'Can't Feel My Face,' one of the songs that catapulted the Toronto native into superstardom, was purely electrifying, and 'Often' sounded just as sumptuous as it did on 2015's Beauty Behind The Madness.
The fiery nature of 'The Hills' was one of the most captivating instances from his set. Even though his cover of Metro Boomin's 'Creepin'' felt brief, the hits that followed were colossal. During 'Out Of Time,' he ventured his way into the crowd to sing along with fans–and was tightly hugged by one who was mesmerized by his presence. 'I Feel It Coming' and 'Die For You' were major sing-along moments, but when The Weeknd dipped into old-school classics onlookers were reminded of the depth of his catalog.
More specifically, tracks from his 2011 debut mixtape House of Balloons were delivered with the urgency and conviction of that same mysterious musician with a penchant for lyrical tawdriness. 'Wicked Games,' 'The Morning,' 'High For This,' and 'House of Balloons' sounded less glacial and more heartfelt at this point in his career. The Weeknd didn't perform any songs with Playboi Carti on night two at Soldier Field, and he wasn't much for words throughout the performance. However, he did repeatedly thank Chicago for supporting him over the last 15 years. If there was any fear of coming up short onstage, the singer didn't show it.
Instead, he did what he does best: let his transcendental vocals move the people who have believed in him the most.
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