Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert Review: An Emotional Trip Returning to the 90s
The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Performances: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a set of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.
The Moving Set
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not 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 stated earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance featured covers of inspirations, including a standout solo 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 evening embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Overall Impressions
Although the night's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.