Rhythm and Blues Xmas Concert Review: A Heartfelt Trip Returning to the Nineties
The second annual Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert featured a lineup of performers known for their Christmas records. Instead of focusing on seasonal songs, the night acted as a nostalgic reason for a trip back to the earnest and heart-rending sound of 90s R&B.
Starting Acts: Timeless Feelings
The group Dru Hill presented classic R&B in coordinated attire, with videos from the 2000s displaying on screens behind them. Following this, a set of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.
The Powerful Performance
The beginning of the song Last Last cleverly transitioned into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. At first, her performance with a live band appeared anchored in the time period of her peak fame.
However, nine songs into her performance, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might not perform live again. Performing Breathe Again in a single spotlight, she gave a profoundly emotional performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.
Power chords then catapulted the crowd into Long As I Live, cementing her grip over the crowd's hearts. She encored with an flawless, though slightly shortened, version of her iconic hit, Un-break My Heart.
The Group Boyz II Men: Harmony Virtuosos
Appearing on stage in dazzlingly coordinated white suits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They moved through 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 set featured covers of influences, including a standout solo on Purple Rain, and tracks inspired by them, like Bruno Mars’s Locked Out of Heaven.
A Dash of Christmas Spirit
Towards the end, the concert embraced the holiday theme with renditions of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong finale of anthems including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.
Final Thoughts
While the evening's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the sense at points was of artists performing a tribute to their past selves, the net effect was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home dusted with glitter rather than snow.
