R&B Xmas Concert Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s
The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.
Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe set the stage for the main acts.
Toni Braxton's Moving Set
The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her peak fame.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.
Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.
Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters
Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their performance included interpretations of influences, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Touch of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening turned to the holiday theme with renditions 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.
Overall Thoughts
While the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the sense at times was of artists paying homage to their younger selves, the overall result was transformative. The audience was temporarily transported to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than snow.
