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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball showcased a lineup of performers known for their Christmas albums. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic excuse for a trip back to the sincere and heart-rending style of 90s R&B.

Opening Performances: Timeless Feelings

The group Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in matching attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists.

Toni Braxton's Powerful 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 performance with a backing band seemed rooted in the time period of her peak success.

However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly heartfelt 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, solidifying her command over the crowd's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and reactive to their accompaniment.

Their performance included covers of inspirations, such as a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show ended with a powerful 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 technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.