Written by Sason Bishope Parry
SANTA CLARA, Calif.
Last Tuesday, Levi’s Stadium transformed into a pulsating cathedral of sound and light as The Weeknd brought his epic After Hours Til Dawn tour to the home of the 49ers, playing to record-breaking, sold-out crowds for two exhilarating, unforgettable nights that saw over 100,000 fans pour through the gates. The atmosphere was pure electric energy, a sea of flashing lights and ecstatic faces, all there for one purpose: to witness Abel Tesfaye’s masterclass in the modern pop spectacle.
Yes, there was a memorable moment when he flubbed the city name, calling Santa Clara “Santa Clarita,” which got a mixed reaction of amused boos and laughter, but if anything, it just made the night more real. Because, beyond that tiny misstep, the show itself was mind-blowing —a relentless, two-hour assault of sound, emotion, and visual wonder that confirmed The Weeknd’s rightful place among the most significant and compelling live performers on Earth.
For over a decade, The Weeknd has been redefining what a modern male pop star can be. He’s topped charts with moody, hypnotic, 80s-influenced anthems while channelling an alluring darkness that sets him apart from the crowd. At Levi’s Stadium, he showed once again he’s more than just a hit machine; he’s a true artist who knows how to command a stadium-sized audience while delivering a genuine, raw, emotional connection.
The night began with a dramatic entrance: Tesfaye stepped onto the massive stage, cloaked in shimmering gold and black, his face hidden behind an ominous, metallic mask that perfectly played into his carefully cultivated air of mystery. That visual, that tension, it was pure Weeknd, giving the audience exactly what they came for a while hinting that they’d get even more once the layers came off.
He kept the mask on for the first few songs, building that otherworldly tension as the stadium roared through the psychedelic opener “The Abyss” and the driving power of 2016’s smash hit “Starboy.” His dancers, cloaked in flowing red robes and matching masks, mimicked his every move with a surreal, almost ritualistic energy that turned the vast venue into a swirling fever dream of sound and color.
It was clear right away that this wouldn’t be a typical pop concert. Fans knew they were in for a wild, adrenaline-fueled, two-hour rollercoaster ride, and they learned in, hungry for every moment. But what makes The Weeknd such an exceptional live artist isn’t just the grand spectacle. It’s that he knows when to drop the mask, literally and figuratively, and just be there with you. Once he revealed his face, he became the charming, vulnerable Abel,
flashing smiles and skipping across the runway during “How Do I Make You Love Me?” and sharing a genuine connection with the tens of thousands who felt every beat in their bones.
Despite the elaborate production, giant screens, lasers, roaring pyrotechnics, and a rotating, futuristic Hajime Sorayama-designed statue at center stage, the music was never overshadowed. That voice, Tesfaye’s a soaring, aching tenor and stunning falsetto, was always front and center. From the smouldering swagger of “Can’t Feel My Face” to the crushing intensity of “The Hills,” he delivered vocal performances that felt both effortlessly cool and deeply committed. In an age of autotune and pre-recorded vocals, he stood out as a genuine singer, one whose live voice might even surpass his recordings.
During “Out of Time,” he waded into the crowd, offering fans the mic for quick sing-alongs and even snapping selfies, making the stadium show feel personal, intimate, and downright human. The crowd ate it up, screaming every word, waving lights in the air, and dancing like it was their last night on Earth. The show was nothing if not cinematic: fires blasting skyward, vivid colors drenching the stage, dancers moving like wraiths, and visuals that veered from haunting noir to neon-drenched futurism. And then there was the music, hit after hit after hit, including “Wake Me Up,” “Faith,” “Heartless,” “Take My Breath,” and many more. His setlist was a greatest-hits journey through a decade of culture-defining songs that have dominated radios, clubs, and playlists worldwide.
Special guest Playboi Carti brought chaotic, youthful energy, bounding onstage for amped-up versions of “Timeless” and “Rather Lie.” At the same time, The Weeknd’s prime collaborator, Mike Dean, opened the night with an eclectic, atmospheric 30-minute instrumental set that ranged from guitar shredding to dreamy sax solos. It was a perfect table-setter for the night’s main course.
And then there was that truly special moment, after performing one of his biggest hits, “I Feel It Coming,” Abel paused, tears rolling down his face. It was raw, vulnerable, and honest. Here was one of the world’s biggest stars letting us see the man behind the icon. It reminded everyone that beneath the mask, beneath the stadium spectacle, is a human being who feels it all. That connection, that shared moment, made the night unforgettable.
Throughout the show, The Weeknd used the entire stage and catwalk with effortless command, playing up to the cameras, ensuring that even the fans in the farthest reaches of Levi’s Stadium felt like they were right there with him. The massive video screens captured every smile, every flicker of emotion, and every moment of pure joy on the faces of the 50,000+ fans who sang along with him.
By the end of the two-hour set, as the final notes of two of arguably his biggest and most streamed hits, “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears,” rang out into the cool Santa Clara night, it was clear that everyone had witnessed something special. This was not just a concert. It was an experience, a memory that will live on long after the stadium lights went out and the crowds fought their way through the post-show traffic jams.
For all the theatrics, the pyrotechnics, the epic stage design, and yes, even the little city-name goof, The Weeknd delivered one of those rare stadium shows that manages to be both larger than life and deeply personal. It was heartfelt. It was thrilling. It was pure art.
If you were there, you know you saw one for the books, a show that reminded everyone why Abel Tesfaye is not just another pop star, but one of the defining voices and performers of his generation. He set the record straight and is now the highest-grossing male solo artist in Levi Stadium’s history.
And for anyone who missed it? Let’s just say you’ll want to be sure you’re there next time. Because when The Weeknd comes to town, it’s not just a concert, it’s an event you’ll be talking about for years.
The Weeknd Massive Set List The Abyss Wake Me Up After Hours Starboy Heartless Faith Take My Breath Sacrifice How Do I Make You Love me? Can’t Feel My Face Lost in the Fire Kiss Land Often Given Up on Me I Was never There The Hills Baptized In Fear Open Hearts Cry For Me São Paulo Timeless Rather Lie Creepin’ Niagara Falls One Of The Girls Stargirl Interlude Out of Time I Feel It Coming Die For You Is There Someone Else?
Wicked Games Call Out My Name The Morning Save Your Tears Less Than Zero Blinding Lights Without A Warning Reflections Laughing High For This House of Balloons Moth To A Flame
For more info on The Weeknd, go to: www.theweeknd.com
