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This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday albums. Rather than focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental excuse for a voyage back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with videos from the 2000s era displaying behind them. Following this, a set of mostly slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining artists.

Toni Braxton's Moving Performance

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. Initially, her show with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success.

However, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional performance. “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, cementing her command over the crowd's hearts. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Masters

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

Their performance included interpretations of inspirations, such as a standout solo on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Holiday Cheer

Finally, the concert turned to the Christmas theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance concluded with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the night's production had some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the golden age of R&B, leaving dusted with glitter rather than frost.