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This yearly Rhythm and Blues Christmas Concert 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 trip back to the earnest and emotional style of 90s R&B.

Opening Acts: Timeless Feelings

Dru Hill delivered iconic R&B in coordinated outfits, with music videos from the 2000s era playing on screens behind them. Next, a performance of mostly ballads from Joe set the stage for the main acts.

Toni Braxton's Moving Set

The beginning of the song Last Last skillfully segued into He Wasn’t Man Enough, tying in Braxton's artistic heritage. Initially, her show with a backing band appeared rooted in the era of her peak fame.

Then, nine songs into her set, she opened up about her battles with lupus and being told she might never perform on stage again. Singing Breathe Again in a solitary beam of light, she delivered a deeply heartfelt performance. “For as long as I live, I will never forget tonight,” she declared sincerely.

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

Boyz II Men: Vocal Virtuosos

Taking the stage in dazzlingly coordinated all-white outfits, Boyz II Men began with Motownphilly. They performed classics like Water Runs Dry and On Bended Knee, showcasing awe-inspiring three-way vocals that were both precise and responsive to their accompaniment.

Their set included covers of inspirations, including a memorable solo 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 evening turned to the Christmas mood with performances of Silent Night and Let It Snow. The show concluded with a strong closing run of hits including One Sweet Day, I’ll Make Love To You, and End of the Road.

Final Impressions

Although the night's technical execution experienced some glitches, and the feeling at points was of stars paying homage to their younger selves, the net result was transportive. The crowd was briefly transported to the peak era of R&B, going home sprinkled with glitter rather than frost.