The Weeknd performs in front of a sold out Denver crowd. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The Weeknd, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, FINALLY made it to Denver's Empower Stadium, August 18th after COVID caused his 2020 After Hours to be cancelled. Instead of disappointing concert goers with a performance based solely on his newest album, Dawn FM, Abel did what any smart artist would do and combined these two beautiful albums into a worldwide stadium tour for the masses!

Mike Dean and Kaytranada opened up for The Weeknd in place of Doja Cat who was on the original lineup, and really set the tone for the party we were in for. After maybe the longest set change of my life, Abel rose initially from a partially destroyed skyline set that morphed throughout the production, telling a story between the first two parts of his Trilogy through pyrotechnics, flashing lights and a giant luminescent moon that made the stadium feel otherworldly. Red fabric clad backup dancers moved in synchronicity and gave off eerie Handmaid's Tale vibes while The Weeknd performed hit after hit in front of the changing post apocalyptic scene. The sold out show audience got to enjoy bangers like "Or Na"Can't Feel My Face", "Crew Love",Or Nah", "Starboy", "Blinding Lights" and by the sound of it, enjoyed every moment of it.

Wrist bracelets equipped with lights were given out upon entry (but not collected, WASTEFUL) and added to the ambience through color coordination with the set, and allowed guests to not have to mess with their phone flashlights in the middle of the show. Although stadium sound isn't the ideal way to experience one of your favorite artists, the production definitely made up for anything that the sound was lacking. If you weren't there, you should be feeling pretty square because this tour was one for the books.

Words: Lina Skrkydczak | Photos: Robert Castro

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