R&B Xmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening served as a sentimental reason for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Opening Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the era of her peak fame.
Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt 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 crowd's emotions. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way vocals that were both tight and responsive to their live band.
Their set featured covers of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Christmas Cheer
Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Impressions
While the night's production experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.
