R&B Christmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the night served as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
However, deep 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 solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set included covers of inspirations, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with sparkle rather than snow.