For Night 2 of The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour at Rogers Centre, Abel Tesfaye turned his hometown into a theatrical neo-cyber pop spectacle. With the roof wide open, the CN Tower glowing above, and a sold-out crowd of over 40,000 below, the Scarborough native delivered a show that felt both massive and personal for a second time. Having performed in this venue back in 2022 as well, the bar was set for this return to be a good one.
Opening with the eerie build of The Abyss, The Weeknd laid the groundwork for a two-hour, no-intermission performance that spanned every era of his career. From the haunting minimalism of House of Balloons to the arena-scale hits of Starboy and After Hours, it’s hard not to get excited and think about what’s next in his journey. Pyrotechnics roared to life early, and they did not hold back. It was enough to make you wonder how much the budget was for just the explosive effects. Songs like Sacrifice, The Hills, and Take My Breath were matched by fire towers and cinematic visuals, including a chrome monument looming over the cross-shaped stage that rotated with the star of the show.
Despite the scale, the energy stayed grounded in Toronto. Abel shouted out his roots throughout the night, recalling childhood Jays games in the same venue, injecting “Toronto” in across song lyrics, even joking that “Mr. Rogers” should bring back the “SkyDome” name. Fans roared in agreement of course. Playing four sold-out nights in the same building where he once sat in the cheap seats, it really was a full-circle moment and you could see it in his face especially as he experienced what must have been a dreamlike feeling when the entire stadium was chanting his name.
Masked dancers, lasers, and roaring crowd singalongs gave the show a surreal, operatic feel but softer moments still hit hard. Tracks like Call Out My Name and Out of Time drew out the emotional core of his wide discography. And when he closed with Moth to a Flame and an explosive fireworks finale, it genuinely felt like the end of a chapter especially with his rumoured departure from “The Weeknd” name after the tour.
Even with the end of this first half at the ‘Dome, two shows remain and ticket holders have a stellar performance to look forward to. More than just a concert, Abel found a way to perform a career retrospective in the place where it all began. The city made one of its own feel at home once again and he returned the love gladly with another incredible performance.
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