🔗 Share this article

This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her greatest success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance featured covers 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 Spirit

Towards the end, the evening turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.