R&B Xmas Ball Review: A Heartfelt Journey Back to the Nineties
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists renowned for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 1990s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Set
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's musical heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.
Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply heartfelt performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated all-white outfits, 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 responsive to their live band.
Their set featured covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with sparkle rather than snow.
