GENTRI • 10th Anniversary Christmas Tour • November 28, 2025 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
GENTRI’s 10th Anniversary Christmas Tour arrived at Eccles Theater in downtown Salt Lake City with the kind of polish, heart, and theatrical sweep that has defined the trio since their earliest days, but there’s an added sense of celebration this time. An awareness that a decade of work has shaped them into performers who know exactly who they are and what their audience wants. The show feels like both a milestone and a love letter to the fans. Those who have followed them, to the craft they’ve sharpened, and to the cinematic-pop style they’ve spent ten years refining.
This was my first time seeing a proper GENTRI concert. I’ve seen them perform the National Anthem. I’ve seen Casey Elliot perform in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and in Bright Star, both here at the Eccles Theater. But I had never seen The Gentlemen Trio in a full concert of their own. I have been told many times that I needed to and that I wouldn’t regret it. I’m glad I finally had the opportunity. What I found was a polished, well-crafted show to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.
From the moment the lights dim and the first rich harmonies spill across the theater, it’s clear that the group is leaning fully into their strengths. Their blend—smooth, powerful, and effortlessly unified—is as tight as ever, but what stood out even more is how confidently they carry themselves. Ten years on, they’ve become masters of pacing, structure, and emotional build. They understand how to construct not just a concert, but a full narrative arc, moving from intimate moments to sweeping, dramatic peaks.
The setlist is crafted to mirror their evolution. They revisited early favorites with a maturity that added new depth, reshaping familiar melodies with subtle phrasing and refined vocal textures. Songs that once leaned heavily on youthful sentiment now carry the weight of lived experience. Their signature style—classically inspired vocals layered over pop-influenced arrangements—remains intact, but the arrangements feel broader and more dynamic, as though the group has spent the last decade learning how to fill a room not just with sound, but with intention.
One of the most striking aspects of the performance is the trio’s chemistry. It isn’t manufactured; it radiates in the small glances, the shared smiles, and the instinctive way they lock into each other vocally. Moments when one singer steps forward for a solo highlight the others’ ability to support without overshadowing. They have learned the art of breathing together, shaping vowels identically, and blending tone colors so seamlessly that the transitions between lead and harmony feel effortless.
Between songs, they share stories—some humorous, some vulnerable—about the early days of GENTRI: nights spent rehearsing in cramped spaces, the serendipity of their first collaborations, and the small turning points that eventually led to bigger stages. These anecdotes give the show a sense of intimacy that strengthens the connection between performers and audience. It’s clear they remember where they started, and they speak about the journey not with ego but with a kind of grounded gratitude.
The production style supports the emotional tone without overwhelming it. Lighting cues sweep from warm golds during nostalgic songs to cool blues in more reflective numbers, and dramatic white beams accompany their biggest, most theatrical climaxes. The staging is minimal but intentional, giving the trio ample room to move while keeping the visual focus on the music and the vocal interplay. A small ensemble of instrumentalists rounds out the sound with sensitivity, knowing when to swell and when to disappear into the background to let the harmonies take center stage.
Among the evening’s most memorable moments are the quieter ones—pieces sung with only a piano, where their voices feel close and unfiltered. Here, the group’s emotional transparency becomes the heart of the show. These stripped-back numbers reveal not just technical skill but a willingness to be sincere. GENTRI is not afraid of sentiment, and they treat their audience with the same earnestness that has become a hallmark of their brand. Rather than shying away from big emotions, they lean into them fully, inviting listeners to do the same.
But the show never becomes too heavy. Humor threads throughout the evening, from playful banter to dad jokes by Casey. There’s a relaxed charm in these unscripted moments that balances the grandeur of their more cinematic pieces. As polished as the performance is, it never loses a sense of warmth or approachability.
Quite possibly the biggest highlight of the entire evening didn’t come from the gentlemen in the trio. It came from their Pianist/ Producer/ Arranger, Stephen Nelson. Members of GENTRI went into the crowd and asked for music from a famous soundtrack and for a well-known Christmas song. One audience member chose Star Wars, and another chose “O Christmas Tree”. Nelson was then given only a few minutes to come up with a mashup of these familiar melodies.
While GENTRI bantered and told stories to buy Nelson some time, Stephen was furiously working away at the piano to put his piece together. When the time came, Stephen Nelson delivered a piano mashup beyond expectations. He seamlessly wove these iconic melodies in a way that you think he had been working on this piece for months. As the music continued to play, I could see audience members becoming more impressed. The instant Nelson played his last note, the audience in Eccles Theater erupted. It had to be the largest ovation of the show.
Vocally, the trio is in some of their finest form. Their control is razor-sharp, especially in the climactic high-register passages that seem to suspend time. They navigate complex harmonies with precision while retaining a sense of spontaneity. Decade-long vocal partnerships don’t happen by accident; they happen through trust, discipline, and a shared vision, all of which are evident here.
What ultimately defines the 10th Anniversary Tour is its sense of gratitude. GENTRI makes it clear that this show is not just a commemoration of their first ten years but a celebration of the community that helped them grow—a blend of fans, families, collaborators, and local audiences who have welcomed them again and again. By the time the final song swells toward its emotional crescendo, the performance feels less like a farewell to the past decade and more like a promise for the next one.
GENTRI’s anniversary tour succeeds because it captures everything that has made them beloved: soaring harmonies, cinematic arrangements, emotional sincerity, and a stage presence that manages to be both polished and personal. Ten years in, they remain true to their roots while performing with the confidence of seasoned artists who have honed their craft. It’s a show that celebrates growth without abandoning familiarity, offering listeners a reminder of why they fell in love with the trio in the first place.
GENTRI’s 10th Anniversary Christmas Tour continues. For dates and more information, click here.