Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, stopped by the NRG Arena in Houston for two nights full of magic, dancing, and R&B with support from Playboi Carti and Mike Dean.
It’s no secret that Houston never fails to make each of The Weeknd‘s shows an unforgettable experience. On the second night at NRG Arena, Abel declared Houston as “the wildest crowd of the tour”. By the time the lights turned off, the declaration was powerful and the energy in the stadium was otherworldly.
The stage setup served as a dystopian cityscape with a massive, looming statue that followed Abel’s every move. There was also an army of people in red ceremonial attire, who were moving with great coordination. The show started with power as he performed “The Abyss,” “Wake Me Up” and “After Hours”. The crowd had a marvelous experience throughout the night, as everyone in the stadium sang every word.
The mood changed as the night progressed, and the setlist walked through his entire discography. He meshed the hits extraordinarily with the infectious work of the latest album Dawn FM, all while sprinkling fan faves from his earlier work. The energy grew with classic throwbacks like “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Starboy” and “The Hills”. It was an exciting journey for longtime fans, as they never knew what was yet to come.
One of the best moments came before the song “Out of Time,” when Abel took a moment to reflect on his career. “It’s been a good past 15 years,” he said, “I wish for another 15 years with you”. It was a heartfelt promise to his fans, a testament to his gratitude and the deep connection he has with his Houston fans. The Weeknd got everyone hyped up again by launching to faves like “Die for You,” where he teased the audience with a smile and asked, “You know we can go all night, Houston?” It was a rhetorical question, but the answer was a resounding, unified “yes!” from the Space City.
The night ramped up as The Weeknd played the infectious pop anthem “Blinding Lights,” which had Houston jumping. The final act of the night built with “Less than Zero” and “Save Your Tears”. As the final chorus began to swell, Abel leaned into the mic and uttered the question: “Houston, I need to know… is this the greatest night of your life?” For every individual in the stadium, the answer was a lively cheer that could deafen sounding for miles.
Not only were the visuals amazing, but The Weeknd was a phenomenal performer. He was confident, moving across the large set and having no trouble hitting every note flawlessly. He navigated his songs with ease, moving from the gloomy, dark tones of his earlier work to the bright synth-pop dance energy from his latest works. It was a great night and an impressive three hours full of songs and good vibes.
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
