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This yearly R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of performers renowned for their holiday records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a sentimental reason for a voyage back to the earnest and emotional sound of 1990s R&B.

Opening Acts: Classic Vibes

The group Dru Hill delivered classic R&B in coordinated attire, with music videos from the 2000s playing behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, connecting Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her greatest fame.

However, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she delivered a profoundly emotional moment. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, solidifying her grip over the audience's emotions. She finished with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos

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

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

A Touch of Holiday Spirit

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

Overall Impressions

While the evening's technical execution had some glitches, and the feeling at times was of artists paying homage to their past selves, the overall effect was transformative. The crowd was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, leaving sprinkled with sparkle rather than frost.