🔗 Share this article Rhythm and Blues Xmas Ball Recap: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the 90s This second annual R&B Xmas Ball featured a lineup of artists known for their holiday records. Instead of centering on carols, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 1990s R&B. Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings The group Dru Hill presented iconic R&B in matching outfits, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a performance of primarily slow jams from Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts. The Powerful Performance The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her performance with a live band seemed rooted in the era of her peak success. Then, nine songs into her set, she spoke about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a deeply emotional moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated sincerely. Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the audience's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat abridged, rendition of her signature hit, Un-break My Heart. Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos Taking the stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men opened with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-way harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band. Their performance featured covers of inspirations, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and tracks influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Touch of Holiday Spirit Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The performance ended with a powerful finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road. Overall Impressions Although the night's technical execution had some glitches, and the sense at times was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall result was transportive. The crowd was temporarily transported to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than frost.