R&B Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Vibes
Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining artists.
Toni Braxton's Moving Performance
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.
However, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply emotional 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, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both tight and reactive to their live band.
Their set featured interpretations of influences, including a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Cheer
Finally, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions 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 Impressions
While the night's production had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.
