Born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, the Atlanta leg of Teddy Swims’ I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour was nothing short of a full-circle moment. Since he unashamedly admits that Atlanta is one of his favorite spots to perform, Teddy set his sights on making The Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park a community united by the beautiful experience of soulful music. Although the audience seemed regular from the outside gaze, an attentive viewer would notice seats filled with relatives of Teddy Swims, his background vocalists, and beyond. This community, fans and friends alike, were brought together to experience authenticity, soul, and humility.
This tour celebrates closure, a transition from a period of darkness into the light of a successful tomorrow. Split into two parts, Teddy Swims’ featured album, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy narrates a journey filled with trials of heartbreak, toxic relationships, and unhealthy coping mechanisms that metamorphoses into a prosperous life that prioritizes family, fatherhood, and connection. Throughout the concert, Teddy Swims graced his audience with a melodic voice twinged with unfiltered pain and triumph while simultaneously empowering the audience with golden life nuggets.
The most profound things are often found in the most unexpected places, and that is exactly what Swims did with his song, “Small Hands”. Swims prefaced “Small Hands” with a poetic section of gratitude for his seven-week-old son and his girlfriend, Raiche, who were both in the audience. This song was written to honor his son and recognize him for giving Swims his greatest gift, being a father. As a father, he was in awe at how his child held his hands and loved him despite his flaws. Simply, for that reason alone, he decided that he would give him the world. If that wasn’t enough to bring the audience to tears, Swims proceeded to sing the song with such soul that he brought himself to tears. That rawness and comfortability with vulnerability is what set him apart as a performer. In Teddy Swims’ fashion, he followed this touching moment with a humorous quip about how he needs to get himself together to do the rest of the show. The audience was captivated, and they were even more overjoyed when he thanked them for allowing him to be real and give the world joy in his true skin.
There certainly was not a shortage of experiential wisdom in this concert. On top of the depth of “Small Hands”, Swims tackled the concept of living in one’s true skin and experiencing unconditional love in “Black and White” . Joined by his background singer, Myles, he took the audience to church with a mixture of gospel riffs and moving harmonies. From the eyes of Teddy Swims, the world can make love complex, while the idea of love is quite simple or “black and white”. Once more, Teddy Swims elevated music above rhythms and notes into a universal message that could resonate with each audience member.
With the end of the concert approaching, Teddy Swims, once again, hit the audience with a tough and honest topic: closure. With the development and completion of his album, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy”, he worked to arrive at a place of closure. In this new place, he realized that all of that pain placed him in a better place than he ever could have imagined possible. He came to the conclusion, especially as time passed, that his ex-girlfriend actually made him rich off the pain she caused him. However, on a more serious note, Teddy Swims spoke words that everyone, regardless of background or current situation, needed to hear now or for a later scenario. The pain that you are experiencing now has another side, and that side is brighter than this one. Although you may have to squint your eyes super hard to see beyond, it exists. More importantly, it’s more beautiful than you could ever imagine possible. Teddy Swims brought the gift of music, for sure, but he also brought the gift of closure to his audience. That gift is more expensive than a concert ticket will ever be and more fleeting than a concert if not held onto tightly.
Written and Photographed by: Genesis Strother