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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the evening served as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest success.

Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Driving guitar chords then launched the audience into Long As I Live, cementing 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

Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both tight and reactive to their live band.

Their set included covers of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the evening's production experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than snow.