Teddy Swims, Auckland NZ, 2023

Teddy Swims

28th August 2023
Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Doug Peters.

To be perfectly honest, Teddy Swims would not be the first musician to become famous off the back of covers thrown up onto the platform that has launched more than one career, YouTube often the place where many a young aspiring popstar hopes to catch their big break.

The difference being with Jaten Dimsdale, aka Teddy Swims from Georgia, is that the now thirty-year-old singer has a voice that transcends the noise, and a larger-than-life personality to accompany it.

It was a cover of Michael Jackson’s Rock with You that was the catalyst, a fine song that more than a few artists have covered. But for those that have actually watched the video, there is an underlying charm and playfulness that exudes from Swims, despite the almost disarming appearance; the sticker tatts, bushy beard and camo shirt more giving the impression that he is about to teach you how to deep fry a turducken for thanksgiving, than open his mouth and serenade you with a voice smoother than maple syrup.

With three EPs under his belt, Swims has quite the following as illustrated by the enthusiastic sold-out crowd in Auckland’s Town Hall last night, all eager to bask in the presence of an artist that is undoubtedly going somewhere and fast.

Swims has previously stated that nearly all of his songs are written about falling in or out of love and it’s this kinda honesty that is half of his appeal. Us humans are strange creatures and love (or the absence of it), the trials and tribulations and sheer, unadulterated joy that comes with being in love is something that affects one and all, so it is no wonder that his music speaks to so many.

And that includes all ages – not surprising really, as Swims has a unique ability to present a very rock and roll persona, while belting out soulful blues that bring chills by the bucketload. And it is this magical combination that means his music has captured the hearts of more than one generation of admirers.

From the night’s opener of 911, with its soulful tale of dedicated love (who doesn’t like the idea of someone always having your back!) Swims took Tāmaki Makaurau on a journey, one in which he embraced the attendees like old friends.

Backed by the outstanding Freak Freely, Teddy Swims band who he refers to as his “best friends”, it was often hard to know where to look. Yes, Swims is a frontman who knows how to entertain, and holds the crowd in the palm of his hand throughout the entire night, however for those that also appreciate good musicians, it seemed almost a crime to not focus in on guitarists Addy Maxwell and Jesses Hampton as they delivered stunning performances of dexterity, or Christian Griswold whose bass lines smouldered in all the right places and delivered the upbeat funk that patrons could shake their groove thing to. DeAndre Hemby on drums was precision personified and of course Jairus Hardge on keys, was the additional oomph that took last night’s concert to the next level.

Following an absolutely stonking cover of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ which everybody sang to (because who could possibly resist), What More Can I Say, a song of unrequited love soon had fans shuffling their feet, Dose continuing on with that sumptuous bluesy feel, where at some points you could almost picture being seconded away in the back of a southern bar sipping on a whiskey neat.

It was towards the middle of the show though that the crowd really got in behind Swims, tracks such as Someone Who Loved You and of course Lose Control (which has racked up nearly fifteen million plays on Spotify) seeing many in the audience sing from the heart along with Swims, Lose Control being one of those songs that anyone who has ever had their heart broken can relate to.

His cover of Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One, saw him bring a sweet falsetto to his vocals, his command of his own natural instrument one that continues to impress. With those aforementioned three EPs already under his belt, his followers have been patiently waiting for an album, and that patience was rewarded tonight for many as Swims performed Some Things I’ll Never Know from his debut due to be released next month – it’s a tune that will undoubtedly be his next big hit, Swims performing it solo and absolutely killing it.

All That Really Matters saw the crowd go wild as they recognised the opening notes, everyone quickly falling into a silent reverie as they let the magnificence of the music wash over them in waves, the track a perfect set closer.

An encore was a given, but that didn’t stop those in attendance from heartily chanting “Teddy” at the top of their lungs until he returned to stage, his million-dollar grin genuinely illustrating how much he was enjoying his time back in Aotearoa. Tennessee Whiskey allowing an opportunity for each of the band members to show off their skills in their respective instruments, bass, guitar and keyboard solos all bringing the house down.

Rivers was dedicated to the people of New Zealand, “coolest motherfuckers in the world” Swims declared, before a funk laden Goodbyes Been Good To You (another yet to be released song), saw the crowd get down to the beat one last time.

Closing the night with Bed on Fire was like an uplifting cleansing for all who were present, fans abandoning themselves to the chorus and purging that which had burdened their hearts whether past or present in song, Swims taking that energy and transforming it into a closing performance that felt transformative.

A downright superlative night of music and aroha!

Teddy Swims:

Lou’Ana:

Were you there at the Auckland Town Hall for this magnificent RNB, Soul and Pop gig? Or have you seen Teddy Swims perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Setlist:

1. 911
2. For The Rest Of Your Life
3. Don’t Stop Believin’ [Journey cover]
4. What More Can I Say
5. Dose
6. Til I Change Your Mind
7. Devil in a Dress
8. Someone Who Loved You
9. Lose Control
10. Amazing
11. Simple Things
12. You’re Still the One [Shania Twain cover]
13. Some Things I’ll Never know
14. All That Really Matters
15. Tennessee Whiskey [David Allan Coe cover] (encore)
16. Rivers [Six60 cover] (encore)
17. Goodbyes Been Good To You (encore)
18. Bed on Fire (encore)

_{Note: Ambient Light was provided passes to review and photograph this concert. As always, this has not influenced the review in any way and the opinions expressed are those of Ambient Light’s only. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase a product using an affiliate link, Ambient Light will automatically receive a small commission at no cost to you.}

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