I have seen the Van Buren in Phoenix sold out, and then I went to a Teddy Swims concert. Plenty of folks were in the building, but I am pretty sure you could have heard Teddy Swims four blocks away. The pure talent is remarkable, let alone the spirit he performs with. The “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy” tour made its 14th stop in Phoenix with Teddy playing alongside Zinadelphia.
Despite the name of the tour, there were only two songs performed from I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy. From that album he played “Lose Control,” his number one song on Spotify, and “Goodbye’s Been Good to You.” Instead he uses his opportunity on the bigger stages to play from his entire discography.
He came out to “911,” a feature from his 2022 EP “Tough Love.” He followed “911” up by an unbelievable cover of “Don’t Stop Believing”—a tribute to Journey. Swims then got his groove on and performed “Til I Change Your Mind,” a soulful track from the 2021 EP “Unlearning.” A few songs later, he poured his heart out into—my personal favorite—”Devil in a Dress,” a feature from the 2022 EP “Sleep is Exhausting.”
If you’re sensing any themes from Teddy’s song names or albums, you can piece together that he has had some low points. He uses his platform to discuss real topics such as “you should love everyone despite the color of their skin,” and before performing “Evergreen” telling the audience it’s a tune about learning that you deserve to be loved.
Teddy has one of the most powerful voices I have heard in person, and an artist who even sounds better live. His soul, flow, and upbeat songs create a positive environment for everyone. He shows his creativity through music and through tattoos supporting many of them. Teddy has a unique look, and he owns it through his confident performance. Teddy has a number of covers of popular songs, but I’d suggest you listen to his personal tunes as well.
