🔗 Share this article R&B Christmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B. Opening Acts: Classic Vibes Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main artists. Toni Braxton's Moving Set The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak fame. Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly. Driving guitar chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment. Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Cheer Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts While the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.