R&B Christmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak fame.
However, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature 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 moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the concert embraced 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 production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than frost.
