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The second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday albums. Instead of focusing on carols, the evening acted as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Vibes

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era displaying on screens behind them. Next, a performance of primarily ballads from Joe set the stage for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her show with a live band seemed rooted in the time period of her greatest success.

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

Driving guitar chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, solidifying her command over the audience's emotions. She encored with an impeccable, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

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

Their set included covers of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended 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 evening's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the overall result was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the golden age of R&B, leaving sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.