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The yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a roster of artists known for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night served as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily slow jams from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

However, deep into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the audience's hearts. She finished with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly 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 tight and reactive to their accompaniment.

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

A Touch of Christmas Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Thoughts

Although the evening's technical execution had some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was temporarily taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.