🔗 Share this article

The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Rather than centering on seasonal songs, the evening served as a sentimental excuse for a trip back to the sincere and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Starting Acts: Classic Feelings

Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s era playing behind them. Next, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the headlining acts.

Toni Braxton's Powerful Set

The opening of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the era of her greatest fame.

Then, deep into her set, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might not sing live again. Performing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a deeply heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared earnestly.

Power chords then catapulted the audience into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though somewhat shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.

The Group Boyz II Men: Vocal Masters

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing breathtaking three-part harmonies that were both precise and reactive to their live band.

Their set included interpretations of inspirations, including a memorable guitar piece on Purple Rain, and songs influenced by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.

A Touch of Christmas Spirit

Towards the end, the concert turned to the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a powerful finale of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Overall Impressions

While the evening's production experienced some hiccups, and the sense at points was of stars performing a tribute to their younger selves, the net result was transformative. The crowd was temporarily taken back to the golden age of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.