R&B Xmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties

The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “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 audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Spirit

Finally, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the night's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.