R&B Xmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Journey Returning to the Nineties
This second annual R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Instead of centering on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.
The Moving Performance
The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak fame.
However, deep into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a deeply emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly matching all-white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating breathtaking three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their live band.
Their performance included covers of inspirations, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Towards the end, the evening embraced 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 Thoughts
While the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
