Fans waited a long time to finally see The Weeknd perform live as part of his current After Hours Til Dawn Tour, a time which spanned two new album releases and delays due to the pandemic. On Sunday, July 24, Abel Tesfaye hit the stage before a sold-out crowd at Soldier Field on what happened to be the 11th anniversary of his first-ever show, a fact that made the nigh a little more special for everyone present at the stadium.
After Mike Dean warmed up the first fans to fill the venue, Kaytranada then hit the stage to set the vibes right with his soulful, slinky sounds. Something that was so dope to see was the number of people that came out early enough to catch his set as well, which appeared to be about 80+% of ticketholders for the night dancing along song by song. Mixed in with performances of some fan-favorites like “Be Your Girl,” “10%,” and “Lite Spots,” he also showed love to the local scene by playing a bit of Chance The Rapper and Knox Fortune’s classic combination on “All Night.”
I can’t even begin to imagine how it must be to play before a crowd like that with little else but a laptop and associated gear, so you have to give it up to the Montreal artist for getting people moving.
Soon after Kaytranada left the stage, the screens turned on to show a trailer for Tesfaye’s upcoming HBO production, The idol. Some people had shot up assuming The Weeknd was coming out but once they realized, they still showed their approval for what they just witnessed.
Finally, once the sun had set an inflatable moon started rising as a signal that the show was soon commencing, and that moment on Soldier Field felt electric. The beginning was all from the main stage which was designed to look like a metropolis after meeting its dystopian fate with some buildings resembling Chicagos’ own. The dancers were dressed in all-red cloaks not unlike something you’d see on The Handmaid’s Tale, waking around and performing some choreography.
From the moment Tesfaye appeared on stage wearing a mask that was not too different to the one from the Phantom of the Opera, the stadium was under his spell. Whether he was engaging in theatrics on the main stage, running up and down the catwalk, or engaging with fans around him, The Weeknd had a looseness and swagger that can only be achieved after spending years on top. The fans loved him for this.
You’re quickly reminded that the Canadian superstar has an extensive catalog stacked with bangers that are bound to be someone’s favorite of them all. Tracks from across his many eras like “Save Your Tears,” “Starboy,” “The Hills,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “How Do I Make You Love Me?” and “Wicked Games” kept everyone on their feet and singing along.
At one point The Weeknd took some time to savor the moment, saying into the mic:
“It’s been a long time coming, Chicago. Wooee!… 11 years ago I played my first show in Toronto in front of 600 people. 11 years later we’re playing Soldier Field!”
Because the moon kept swinging he remarked “they don’t call it the Windy City for nothing,” which he clearly followed up to say, “it could be a thunderstorm and we would still play in Chicago.”
Some of the other dope moments of the night included when he performed “Die For You” and people were ugly-scream singing, the massive sing along that was “Call Out My Name” with no lights but the moon and cell phones that literally sent vibrations across my body, and seeing The Weeknd hit the dab after delivering the pre-chorus for “Less Than Zero” as the light-up wristbands went off impressively in the background.
However, there was no greater moment at this sold-out show than the whole of set-closer “Blinding Lights.” The stadium erupted with joy. The yells and cheers, the wristbands lighting up every inch of that stadium, and this energy that only world-shaking hit songs can generate from music lovers. It honestly was one of the most impressive sights I’ve witnessed in my long time covering shows.
This concert was a spectacle. Though it didn’t rely too much on the theatrics, neither in its stage production or choreo, it still felt like one of the best live shows a fan can witness this summer. The crowd was packed with fans that bought their merch early, others that dressed to impress, and the cosplayers rocking his signature look for After Hours. I even saw a baby no older than 5 months being carried in one of those front packs bouncing happily and rocking headphones as we left the field floor– that’s the kind of fan love you admire.
Photo Credit: Oscar Oliva Jr / Pursuit Of Dopeness
