Review: The (Second) Weekend Concert

The+Weekend+begins+his+concert+at+the+top+of+the+Toronto+skyscraper+as+a+group+of+women+in+red+walk+down+the+stage.+After+this+dark+opening+number%2C+The+Weekend+incorporated+different+light+colors+to+keep+audience+members+excited+and+engaged.

Photo credit: Rose Sarner

The Weekend begins his concert at the top of the Toronto skyscraper as a group of women in red walk down the stage. After this dark opening number, The Weekend incorporated different light colors to keep audience members excited and engaged.

By Rose Sarner, Culture Editor

Four sold out nights, 70,240 fans and fire that shot up from the stage. The Weekend’s “After Hour’s Til Dawn Tour” began in July and was expected to end Sept. 23 in his home town of Toronto, Canada, but it was ultimately extended. The Weekend’s Los Angeles shows started Sept. 2 when he sold out Sofi Stadium and then continued to sell out the following night, Sept. 3, to mark his final night in the city.

However, during his second night in Los Angeles, The Weekend lost his voice during the opening number, “Alone Again.” By the time he hit the second song, “Can’t Feel My Face,” he stopped preforming. Although there were hiccups in his first performance, I was impressed by his second performance Nov. 26, weeks following. He gave audience members everything they wanted, highlighting how much he appreciates his Los Angeles fans.

At the first concert, my friends and I began screaming for the Weekend when he walked onto stage, but after 4 seconds, my friend looked at me and said, “Where did he go?” For the next two minutes, all I could see were women in red dresses, which reminded me of those in “The Handmaids Tale.” The concert began with these women walking slowly down the stage, and the Weekend was in a mask pretending to lead an orchestra. I was not impressed. The beginning of an artist’s show who has six American Music Awards, 20 Billboard Music Awards, four Grammy Awards, four Guinness World Records and 17 Juno Awards could have been more exciting.

Despite the not-so exciting opening, minutes later, with tears trickling down his face, The Weekend announced that he lost his voice and said he “[could] not give everyone the show [he] wants to.” We quickly ran out of the arena trying to avoid the chaos, but we were eager to return because of the strong energy that we could feel within the first few songs.

When The Weekend took his first steps on the stage during his original show, the audience screamed and filled the stadium with electric noise that I had never heard before. One thing I admire about the Weekend is that he truly cares about and respects his fan. He immediately posted the new concert dates and added an additional night in Los Angeles, which then, of course, sold out again.

In the middle of the second show Nov. 26, when he returned to Los Angeles with a better voice this time, he said, “We’re back at the scene of the crime, it looks like.” I really enjoyed this conversational aspect of The Weekend’s concert because it allows audience members to feel like they matter in a venue with 70,240 other people.

In addition to the engaging moments of the concert that incorporated lights, colors and special affects, this tour represents a contrast from his previous album, “Starboy,” which symbolized freedom and excitement. “After Hours” highlights themes of being blind, alone and empty which can be seen in the tracks, “Alone Again,” “Heartless,” “Blinding Lights” and the lead single “After Hours.”

Furthermore, the variety of set designs helped engage viewers during the slower songs of the album. During “I Can’t Feel My Face,” fire shot up from out of the stage, and during “Blinding Lights,” many lights moved throughout the stadium, changed directions and made the venue shine. The set designs and changes in colors fueled the audiences energy and made the concert even more impactful.

Another aspect of the set I had never seen before was a giant moon that hung on one end of the stadium and on the opposite side there was a apocalyptic model of Toronto. The placement of both the moon and model of Toronto aimed to paint the picture of a collision course with The Weekend’s Canadian home town.

Throughout this concert, one thing became extremely clear: the Weekend’s fans will always show up and show out for him. During the second show, from beginning to end, audience members had even more energy, screamed even louder and danced even more.

This concert was an overall amazing experience that was filled with exciting music, engaging set designs and colorful lights.

  • Engaging
  • Set Design
  • Technical Quality
  • Enjoyment
  • Impact
4.2

Summary

The Weekend concert lit up SoFi stadium Nov. 26 with engaging set designs and emotional slow songs. It was the perfect concert to dance with your friends and feel the energy of those around you.