🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B. Starting Acts: Classic Feelings Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. Initially, her show with a live band appeared rooted in the time period of her greatest fame. Then, nine songs into her performance, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching 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 precise and responsive to their accompaniment. Their performance featured interpretations of influences, 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 concert turned to the holiday theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Thoughts Although the night's production experienced some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.