The Weeknd and Playboi Carti Start A New Part Of The Tour
In the sweltering Arizona heat, The Weeknd and Playboi Carti launched the latest leg of their After Hours Til Dawn Tour on Friday night (May 9). The two transformed Glendale’s State Farm Stadium into a dystopian pop spectacle for the ages.
Under the cavernous roof of the sold-out venue, 60,000 fans witnessed a marathon, four-hour show that felt more like a cinematic event. The evening began with a mood-setting set from synth wizard Mike Dean, whose atmospheric soundscapes cast a spell over the crowd.
The night belonged, of course, to The Weeknd. Now more than 15 years into a genre-defying career, Abel Tesfaye continues to push the limits of pop stardom. “The first night’s always the best night,” he declared midway through the set. His sentiment immediately met with deafening screams from the sea of fans.
True to form, Tesfaye brought with him an arsenal of visual theatrics. Returning elements from his previous tour—burning high-rises, a towering golden Sorayama-inspired android. Also, a catwalk stage stretching the full length of the football field made the performance feel immersive and apocalyptic. Pulsing neon lasers lit the sky. At the same time, LED bracelets worn by fans blinked in sync. Thus, they created a galaxy of movement under a glowing X suspended above the stage.
The Weeknd and Playboi Carti Collabing on Tour
The Weeknd’s voice, as always, was flawless. At first, it was airy and haunted in “Save Your Tears.” Then raw and desperate in “Wicked Games,” and stadium-filling on the triumphant “Blinding Lights.” But the synergy with his tourmate, Playboi Carti, added an unpredictable jolt to the evening.
Carti stormed the stage with the chaotic energy of a punk frontman, his face obscured in shadow. Alongside his Auto-Tuned screams ricocheting across the stadium. So, whether he delivered cuts from “Whole Lotta Red” or newer unreleased material, his performance felt like an art-house fever dream. His fanbase, a mix of rap die-hards and Gen-Z goths, matched his energy bar for bar.
The tour now takes a two-week intermission as The Weeknd prepares to release his ambitious film project, Hurry Up Tomorrow. Following up on his February album of the same name. His promotional run includes an appearance on The Tonight Show next Thursday (May 15). Thus, he marks his first sit-down on the iconic late-night couch.
Suppose opening night was any indication, After Hours Til Dawn isn’t just a tour. In that case, it’s a fully realized vision of The Weeknd’s surreal pop dystopia, elevated by Carti’s boundary-pushing chaos. Together, they’re offering a night that feels both timely and timeless.
