R&B Xmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Trip Back to the 90s

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their holiday records. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of mostly slow jams from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's musical legacy. At first, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the time period of her peak fame.

However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly.

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

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

Appearing on stage in dazzlingly matching white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both tight and responsive to their live band.

Their performance featured interpretations of influences, such as a standout guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Dash of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the evening embraced the holiday mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net effect was transformative. The audience was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than snow.