Photos by: Damian Ruiz
If you’ve never seen Teddy Swims live, here’s the short version: the man can make you laugh, cry, dance, and sing along all in the same hour. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, born Jaten Dimsdale, rolled into 713 Music Hall in Houston, TX on his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy tour and delivered a night that felt as much like a heart-to-heart with a friend as it did a big-ticket concert.
By the time the lights dimmed and Swims’ eight-piece band, “Freak Freely”, took their positions behind a curtain, the venue was buzzing. The curtain drop at around 9 pm revealed Teddy at the top of a ramp, launching straight into “Not Your Man.” From there, it was full throttle, blazing through “Hammer to the Heart” and “Devil in a Dress” with enough sparks and flames to match the Houston heat outside.
But while Swims can command a stage with big, radio-ready energy, it’s the quieter moments that really land. Introducing “Need You More,” he dedicated the song to the mother of his newborn son. “Black & White” saw backup vocalist Myles step in for Muni Long’s part, turning the duet into a soulful in-house collaboration. And then there was “Small Hands,” written for his son, a song so personal that Swims warned he’s never made it through without crying. True to his word, the tears came, and the crowd met him with a swell of phone lights and soft voices singing along. Not that it was all heavy feelings. Swims loves a bit of mischief too and it showed throughout the night during some of his cover performances.
Throughout the night, he signed items handed up from the pit showing love to his supporters. He checked in on the crowd through the night, shouted out his band, and kept the atmosphere equal parts intimate and electric. Swims’ character really shined through his stage presence as a very honest and humble guy.
Of course, the set saved some of the biggest punches for last. “Lose Control,” the chart-topper that’s been on the Billboard Hot 100 for nearly two years, brought the house down before he briefly stepped offstage. The three-song encore ended with “The Door,” a fitting closer that sent the audience out on a high, confetti still drifting in the air.
Teddy Swims’ live show is the rare thing that can feel like a stadium spectacle one minute and a late-night living room jam the next. Between the emotional honesty, genre-spanning setlist, and his mix of humor and humility, it’s no wonder fans of all ages and backgrounds pack these shows and leave already thinking about the next time.
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