🔗 Share this article

This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a roster of artists known for their holiday albums. Rather than centering on carols, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of primarily ballads from the artist 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 legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in strikingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their set featured covers of influences, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening embraced the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful closing run of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

While the evening's technical execution experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.