Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Emotional Journey Returning to the Nineties
This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on carols, the evening acted as a nostalgic excuse for a voyage back to the sincere and emotional sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Classic Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s displaying behind them. Next, a set of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.
Toni Braxton's Powerful Performance
The opening of Burna Boy’s Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed anchored in the era of her greatest success.
However, deep into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.
Driving guitar chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Taking the stage in dazzlingly matching white outfits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.
Their set featured interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Holiday Spirit
Finally, the evening embraced 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.
Final Thoughts
Although the evening's production had some glitches, and the sense at times was of stars performing a tribute to their past selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.