🔗 Share this article R&B Xmas Concert Review: An Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers renowned for their Christmas records. Instead of centering on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 1990s R&B. Opening Acts: Timeless Vibes The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in matching outfits, with music videos from the 2000s playing on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from the artist Joe prepared the audience for the main artists. The Powerful Performance The beginning of Burna Boy’s Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic legacy. At first, her performance with a backing band seemed anchored in the time period of her peak success. Then, deep into her performance, she opened up about her struggle with lupus and being told she might never sing on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she gave a profoundly heartfelt moment. “As long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she stated earnestly. Power chords then launched the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her command over the crowd's emotions. She encored with an flawless, though slightly abridged, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart. The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos Appearing on stage in strikingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed hits like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, demonstrating awe-inspiring three-part vocals that were both tight and responsive to their accompaniment. Their performance included interpretations of influences, such as a memorable solo on Purple Rain, and songs inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven. A Dash of Christmas Spirit Towards the end, the concert embraced the Christmas mood with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded 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 experienced some hiccups, and the feeling at points was of artists performing a tribute to their younger selves, the overall effect was transportive. The audience was briefly taken back to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.