the mommy avenger

There is something about Tuacahn that always feels special. Maybe it’s the way the red rocks frame the whole stage or how the air cools just enough at night to make you want to settle in and stay awhile. It’s already a beautiful place, but when GENTRI walked out onstage, the entire atmosphere shifted. They didn’t have to say a word. Their presence did the work.

GENTRI — Brad Robbins, Casey Elliott, and Bradley Quinn Lever (short for the Gentleman Trio) carries a mix of confidence and charm that makes you feel instantly comfortable. They talk to the audience like they know us, laugh with each other in those in-between moments, and move with the kind of ease that only comes from years of performing together. 10 years, in fact, as this performance was celebrating.

Their voices blend in a clean, powerful harmony, and their signature cinematic pop sound fits Tuacahn perfectly. It’s big without being overwhelming, emotional without being heavy, and it fills the canyon in a way that makes you forget you’re outdoors at all.

Stephen Nelson at the piano adds so much to the night. His arrangements give structure to every rise and fall, and his playing keeps the trio grounded while letting them soar when the moment calls for it.

Their Christmas setlist felt familiar in the best way. Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Little Drummer Boy — all songs we know, yet each one carried a fresh energy. They didn’t rush anything. They let the harmonies build, let the quiet moments land, and trusted the music to speak.

O Holy Night was the standout. When they hit the big notes, the sound lifted straight into the canyon and held there. The whole crowd felt it. You could sense everyone settling into the moment, listening a little harder, breathing a little slower.

Their storytelling between songs added warmth. It wasn’t overly polished or scripted. It felt honest, and the audience responded to that. People laughed, nodded, and leaned in. GENTRI has a way of making a large crowd feel like a small gathering.

Part of GENTRI’s appeal is pure talent. You can’t argue with that. But it’s more than their voices. It’s the connection. They’re charming without trying too hard, sincere without being sentimental, and confident without a hint of ego. Their cinematic pop style hits all the right notes — emotional, uplifting, and full of life.

GENTRI at Tuacahn was a night where everything clicked. The charm of the trio, the power of their sound, the openness of the canyon, even the unpredictable weather — it all worked together. It was an amazing experience, the kind that stays with you after you leave the parking lot and pull back onto the road home.

It reminded me why live music matters. You don’t just hear it. You feel it.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}