The Weeknd began his After Hours Til Dawn stadium tour last night (May 9) in front of 60,000 fans at State Farm Stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, during which he debuted portions of seven songs from his latest album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and welcomed opening act Playboi Carti for two others in the middle of the set.
The show began with the Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, surrounded by 30 red cloaked-dancers on a set adorned with an enormous gold statue of what appeared to be a female robot made by Japanese artist Hajime Sorayam and both gold rings and ruins. The 37-song performance began with material from Hurry Up Tomorrow and its 2020 predecessor, After Hours, before incorporating older hits such as “Starboy,” “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills”
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Among the Hurry Up Tomorrow songs performed for the first time were “Opening Night,” “Baptized in Fear” and “Niagara Falls.” Carti joined the proceedings for the new album’s “Timeless” and a version of his own “RATHER LIE,” while the evening was rounded out with covers of Metro Boomin’ “Creepin” and the David Lynch-associated “In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song).”
During his own opening set, Carti played 11 songs from his latest LP, MUSIC, as well as the oldie “Magnolia,” which hadn’t been performed at a proper concert since 2019. Producer/artist Mike Dean started the show by airing his brand new instrumental album, 425, in its entirety. Throughout, Dean played everything from synthesizers to an effects-drenched electric guitar to saxophone.
The After Hours Til Dawn trek resumes May 24 in Detroit and runs through Sept. 3 in San Antonio, Tx. The accompanying film version of Hurry Up Tomorrow, starring the Weeknd, Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, hits theaters May 16.
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