Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker are sharing their favorite songs with their favorite cities on “Brent Forever: The Tour.” The duo celebrated the release of their third collaborative album, “brent iii,” with a brief North American tour, showcasing some of their most iconic tracks as a singer-producer pair. Cutler and Zucker performed at the Ryman Auditorium in the heart of Music City on Nov. 17.
Cutler and Zucker took a unique approach when selecting opening acts for this tour for “Brent Forever: The Tour.” The duo invited a different artist to open in each city. Abby Powledge took the stage as the opening act for their Nashville show. A native of Boerne, Texas, Powledge recently moved to Nashville to pursue music professionally. Her set was simple, featuring just her and an acoustic guitar, making connecting with her music easy. I adored this format — it was a refreshingly raw performance with no backing tracks or large production.
Toward the beginning of her set, Powledge performed her unreleased song “to be held,” which she described as a take on the “to have and to hold” phrase associated with marriage. Shortly after, Powledge followed with an acoustic, slowed-down cover of Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away.” To wrap up her set, she played her hit song “the way that i am,” explaining that it was about her being honest in her writing for the first time.
Shortly after Powledge’s set, Cutler and Zucker took the stage. With the stage fully lit, the unique setup was revealed. An elevated platform surrounded the stage, featuring a violinist, a cellist, a drummer, keyboards and other backing instruments. At the center of the stage was a cozy living room set, complete with a couch, rugs, a piano, benches and lamps. The stage design gave the impression of a studio or living room, making the duo’s performance feel smaller and more intimate.
Before Cutler and Zucker began singing or playing, a small projector displayed a video montage highlighting the duo’s six-year journey as collaborators. After the montage, they opened their show with the song “Ashes and Rust.” This was an excellent choice for an opener, as it immediately drew attention to the backing vocalists and showcased how Cutler and Zucker’s musicality integrates an orchestra and multiple singers. This introduction set the tone for the evening with a laid-back vibe and slower songs that the crowd could sway along to.
Next, Cutler took the lead on the song “Emily” while playing the piano, with Zucker seated stage-left on a bench, supporting with guitar. The violins joined in at the beginning of the song, providing a beautiful introduction to this slower, emotional piece.
“We’ve been waiting to bring our favorite songs to some of our favorite cities,” Cutler said.
She then transitioned into the next song, “I Miss You.” Both Cutler and Zucker sat at the front of the stage on cushioned stools, each with a guitar and microphone, and performed this slower acoustic piece. It was one of my favorite moments of the night.
After Zucker performed “Five Minutes,” Cutler shared a brief story about their next song, “And the Government Too.” She explained that it was the first song they wrote for “brent iii” and the last one they finished. The song missed the physical printing deadline for vinyl and CDs, which is why it’s only available on digital versions of the album. Cutler described it as “one of the most personal and special songs we wrote together,” and Zucker dedicated it to his partner, Mathilda.
Following “And the Government Too,” the duo jumped straight into “Say I Love You.” Before starting, Cutler told the crowd, “We cordially invite you to stand for this one.” People around me quickly got to their feet, clapping along to the upbeat and groovy tune.
After performing slower songs like “Love You Into Loving Me” and “Please,” the duo moved on to “The Stars.” This was my favorite song to hear live. Compared to the studio version, Cutler and Zucker enhanced the performance with powerful orchestral sounds and backing vocals, making it feel cinematic and even more emotional.
As the night began to wind down, Cutler and Zucker performed one of their most iconic songs, “You Were Good to Me.” Cutler explained to the crowd that the song was one of the first they wrote for the “brent” project.
“Boy, did we get lucky with this one,” Cutler said.
Before their final songs, the duo chatted and laughed with the audience.
“What has been your favorite part of tonight?” Cutler asked Zucker, who responded, “I was in a different headspace at the start of the night, and I owe this change to everyone in this room being amazing.”
Cutler shared a vulnerable moment, recounting how she was crying alone in the green room before the show and wasn’t feeling her best. She expressed gratitude to Zucker and the crowd for lifting her spirits. Their openness about mental health and their ability to lean on each other underscored how well this duo works together.
They closed the night with “This Is How You Fall in Love.” Cutler asked the crowd to put their arms around whoever they came with and sing along if they knew the words. I was most excited to hear this song, and it did not disappoint. It was beautifully moving, and during the performance, someone even proposed.
Throughout the show, it was clear that Cutler and Zucker share more than just a working relationship — they are truly best friends. Zucker even mentioned how much he has enjoyed “sitting on the side watching Chelsea shine” during the tour, highlighting how special their bond is.
From their playful jokes to their undeniable chemistry on stage, Cutler and Zucker make an incredible musical duo. I truly hope to see another “brent” project from the pair and hopefully, another tour in the future.
