Overview: The Weeknd delivers one particular of the most elaborate live shows at any time

The Weeknd was most definitely up to the obstacle.

In fact, he designed it look just about uncomplicated.

The R&B-pop superstar appeared as organic and as snug taking part in a large soccer stadium as the Rolling Stones or U2 — which is really a lot the reverse of what you’d assume from somebody who has just created the leap up from arenas and embarked on his first stadium tour.

From the minute the lights went down, the multiplatinum-offering Canadian vocalist — whose authentic identify is Abel Tesfaye — was capable to captivate the 51,896 followers in attendance with a blend of strike tunes, sheer persona and charisma, vocal capacity and one of the most elaborate stage productions this critic has ever witnessed.

The enormous primary phase set was modeled just after the town of Toronto — the star’s hometown — providing up a multi-story depiction of the city’s skyline, full with the landmark CN Tower. On the opposite aspect of the soccer field was a secondary stage erected under a big moon. The two stages were being connected by a extensive elevated walkway that ran, like 49er Deebo Samuel on a big move participate in, very a lot across the entire program of the area.

The Weeknd is supporting two albums — 2020’s “After Hours” and this year’s “Dawn FM” — which is how you conclude up with the combo Following Several hours til Dawn Tour identify. Of system, it wasn’t meant to be this way. The singer was at first intended to start an arena tour in 2020, again just before “Dawn FM” most likely wasn’t substantially more than a gleam in his eye.

By now, we all know what happened up coming — mainly because it took place to fundamentally each and every artist with a highway demonstrate in the will work in 2020 — as the COVID-19 pandemic made it essential to postpone the tour dates. In the Weeknd’s situation, the trek was postponed numerous times. In the meantime, the singer was ready to report and launch still yet another strike album, watch “Blinding Lights” grow to be a single of the most productive singles of all time and see his by now towering level of fame expand even taller many thanks to his Super Bowl LV halftime effectiveness in 2021.

Is it any wonder that promoters made a decision to scrap the arena tour notion and go for stadiums as a substitute?

The marketed-out Levi’s date is proof that the move to the larger properties is no professional extend. And the Weeknd would use his time onstage in Santa Clara to present that its no creative stretch either.

The singer was in fantastic vocal form during the 29-music show, which kicked off at 9:15 p.m. as a sun was shown mounting in excess of the mini-Toronto on the major phase. As the new day dawned, the Weeknd appeared sporting a mask — element “Phantom of the Opera” and portion “Mardi Gras” — and proceeded to croon his way by “Alone Again,” just one of six tunes provided up from “After Hours” on this night.

He was accompanied onstage by 22 people today, donning pink robes and splitting their time involving executing great synchronized dance routines and (a lot more regularly) just standing almost motionless on the extensive walkway and phases

The pyrotechnics and other associated specific results went into overdrive throughout “The Hills” — a single of three choices played from 2015’s “Beauty Behind the Madness” — as flames besieged the Toronto phase established and a cloud of darkish, smelly smoke was pushed out into the viewers, supplying this critic 1 much more cause to really feel grateful for carrying an N-95 mask to the show.

The laser-and-light-weight display was very spectacular, especially the lights that shot skyward from the sides of the walkway and mixed to generate a luminous column that towered numerous tales previously mentioned the stadium.

Here’s a glimpse at the set listing, in accordance to my notes and facts from setlist.fm:

By itself All over again

Gasoline

Sacrifice

How Do I Make You Really like Me?

Cannot Sense My Facial area

Consider My Breath

Hurricane

The Hills

Typically

Crew Like

Starboy

Heartless

Very low Lifetime

Or Nah

Kiss Land

Occasion Monster

Religion

Just after Hrs

Out of Time

I Come to feel It Coming

Die for You

Is There An individual Else?

I Was By no means There

Wicked Video games

Phone Out My Identify

The Morning

Preserve Your Tears

Less Than Zero

Blinding Lights