Review: The Weeknd at NRG Stadium

The Weeknd
After Hours til Dawn Tour
NRG Stadium
August 30, 2025

There’s a big difference between being a singer and being a star performer. Anyone with a little courage can stand on a street corner and sing some tunes, but it takes a special kind of talent to command a stadium full of adoring fans. Last night, Abel Tesfaye, known to the world as The Weeknd, hosted night one of two sold-out concerts inside NRG Stadium. Joining him for these shows were opening acts Playboi Carti and Houston’s very own multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Dean.

The show began early around 6:45 p.m. with Dean surrounded by keyboards and synths, standing solo on the massive stage and running through a litany of hits. He dove into the tracks he produced while working for Rap-A-Lot as a producer, mixer, and engineer, creating music for Scarface and The Geto Boys, Devin The Dude, Big Mello, Z-Ro, 5th Ward Boyz, and many more. Dean also played the guitar and even played a few melodies on the tenor saxophone as he ran through songs he created for Kanye West, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Jay Z, Beyonce, and more. It was a perfect homecoming set for Mike, who would later return to the stage to play keys during The Weeknd’s headlining set.

Rapper Playboi Carti followed Dean, and although he is a strong and energetic performer, the audience seemed to be withholding their applause for The Weeknd. Carti would later accompany the headliner for the songs “Timeless” and “Never Lie,” which were well received by the crowd.

As the intermission was ending and the stagehands prepped the scene for Abel, the stadium was filled almost to capacity. A massive LED video screen was positioned at the east end zone of the football field, and the set resembled a post apocalyptic scene with a broken skyline. Two long runways crisscrossed the length of the arena floor, and a giant golden figure of a female dancer served as a centerpiece.

A group of dancers dressed in red robes and face masks made their appearance on stage as the opening notes of “The Abyss” rang out. The Weeknd then appeared in the middle of the group wearing a black robe and a golden mask. The eyes were illuminated with lights, giving him a mystical aura and commanding awe and applause from the crowd. “Wake Me Up” and “After Hours” rounded out the opening trio of tracks.

The theme of the production was a mix of religion, cult imagery, and a dystopian future. Heavy use of pyro and lasers enhanced the mood, which played with the contrasts of light and dark, fun and fear, angels and demons. The moving images on the large video board showed fantastical visuals of an all seeing eye, souls being lifted around in a circular motion, and many other magical forces.

The Weeknd’s voice equally as angelic and mischievous, a natural tenor who flaunts his falsetto as his not-so-secret weapon, mixing tones, tunes, and tempos effortlessly. His set list is at times slow and moody, which then ventures into upbeat and dance-worthy, then crashes into vibrant stories of love, lust, and loss. Its easy to see why he is one of this generations most popular and beloved artists.

The set list was extensive, with over 40 tracks spanning his 15 year career. The crowd was completely enamored of him, showing love and cheering at every look, gesture, and smile. Once Abel removed his mask, you could see how the love was reciprocated. “I love you, Houston!” he shouted, with tears forming in his eyes. It was a spectacular connection between artist and audience.

“We are nearing the end of our tour, and usually by this time an artist tends to get lethargic” he confessed to his fans. “But you guys are giving me so much life! I’m never going to skip Houston, ever!” he promised.

There were many highlights, but my favorite tracks of the night were “Save Your Tears,” “I Feel It Coming” and “Often.” I will definitely be in the building when The Weeknd returns to H-Town.