Teddy Swims Presents: I've Tried Everything But Therapy Tour (show review)

Teddy Swims Presents: I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour (show review)

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Sometimes music really is the best therapy, and on August 3, 2025, Teddy Swims proved just that, bringing catharsis to a sold-out Arizona Financial Theatre with his “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy” tour.

Nearly every seat in the venue was filled as Irish indie pop artist Cian Ducrot took the stage for a solo acoustic set. The singer, celebrating the release of his sophomore album, Little Dreaming, released just two days prior on August 1st, treated the audience to a 6 song setlist featuring 5 songs from the 16-track album. His stripped-down performance allowed his lyrics to shine, eliciting both gasps and laughter at times as the audience soaked in his savage, witty lyricism, gaining their full attention from the moment he opened with “No Way To Live” and “Rock Bottom.” Ducrot took moments to engage with the crowd, at one point asking anyone who had had their heart broken recently to raise their hand. He selected one heart broken member of the audience, and asked for her name before having the entire audience sing the lyrics to “The Book Of Love,” altering the words to include her name. The whole audience sang “Kimani, don’t be so sad, he’s never going to love you like that,” in unison, a moment she is sure to never forget. Ducrot closed his set with “I’ll Be Waiting,” the viral hit that surely came across your For You Page in 2022. With lyrics like “If you ever wanna fall in love, if you ever wanna bet on us, if you ever wanna be my one, I’ll be waiting,” it’s no surprise that the song is frequently used in weddings. Ducrot took a moment to share how ironic this is, as the song is about “shitty dads and people who do not show up for you when they are supposed to.” While short, Ducrot’s set was the perfect warm-up. It was lighthearted yet heartfelt, showcasing his soulful voice and setting the tone beautifully for the rest of the evening.

A large, black curtain hung from the ceiling, shielding the stage, as the audience, buzzing after a stellar performance from Cian Ducrot and filled with excitement, eagerly waited for Teddy Swims to make an appearance. At 9PM, the lights dimmed, and strobe lights behind the curtain revealed the silhouettes of Freak Freely, Teddy Swims’ band, as the opening notes of “Not Your Man” rang out. The curtain dropped, and Teddy Swims appeared at the top of a ramp, bathed in the spotlight, as he serenaded the audience with the gritty, soulful vocals the world has come to know and love. And in case you were wondering—yes, his voice really is that good.

Pyro flared, the stage beamed with vivid LED visuals, and his mic stand, shaped like a tattooed woman, mirrored the ink-covered floor and Swims’ own body art. Swims guided the packed crowd through a genre-defying setlist that was heavily focused around his most recent album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, featuring 20 of the album’s tracks. After releasing part 1 in 2023 and part 1.5 in 2024, the complete addition of the album, featuring an additional 18 tracks, was released on June 27, just 4 days after the birth of his son. Throughout the night, Swims gushed about fatherhood and how it has changed his life, taking time mid set to sit down for a vulnerable performance of “Small Hands” dedicated to his son. He shared that he hasn’t quite figured out how to perform the song without crying, and this evening was no different. The audience cheered with encouragement as his voice cracked, and by the time he wrapped up the song, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Swims made a clear effort to spotlight his band, with various members stepping into the limelight throughout the night, and with each of his backup singers having the opportunity to display their incredible vocal talents in dedicated duets with him. Swims expressed his love and gratitude for the fans, stating that they have saved his life in so many ways- a sentiment which resonated throughout the night as he took every opportunity he could to connect with the fans and attempted to sign any items passed his way, something relatively unheard of during a live performance.

Given that Teddy Swims gained recognition in his beginnings with cover songs on Youtube, it was only fitting that he included a cover within his set. A cover song is randomly selected through a jukebox each night, and while the band has learned all of the possible songs, they do not know which song they will play until that moment of the set each evening. On this evening, the audience was treated to a soulful rendition of “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon. Swims would go on to close his set with “Lose Control” before returning for a three-song encore, sending the audience off with a final performance of “The Door.”

Four wardrobe changes, a gold mic, and matching glittering gold jewelry added flair, but nothing outshone Teddy Swims’ voice: gritty, tender, and unmistakably his. The “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy” tour is one you won’t want to miss! Catch Teddy Swims as he continues to tour across North America through September 26. The tour will also take a trip down under as it heads to Australia and New Zealand in October. Tickets can be purchased here.