Music review: A vulnerable Teddy Swims wins over San Diego with soul and sincerity

Don’t let all the face tattoos fool you: Teddy Swims is every bit the big-hearted teddy bear his name suggests. The Atlanta-bred crooner (real name Jaten Collin Dimsdale) brought warmth, vulnerability, and powerhouse vocals to a sold-out Gallagher Square at Petco Park.

Swims adopted his stage name as a fusion of a childhood nickname and an acronym for “Someone Who Isn’t Me Sometimes.” The moniker reflects his musical versatility, but on this balmy San Diego night July 31, he wasn’t playing roles. From the first note to the final bow, Swims was disarmingly real — gracious, emotional, and deeply caring.

He kicked things off with the swagger of “Not Your Man” and the slow-burn intensity of “Hammer to the Heart.” Backed by an eight-piece band, all clad in custom Padres jerseys, Swims completed his comfy look with cutoff jean shorts and matching pink sunglasses and socks.  

After “Apple Juice,” he paused to thank the crowd and take in their adoration. He appeared visibly touched, as if unsure he deserved such a reception.

That emotional undercurrent runs through much of his work. Across the 32-year-old singer/songwriter’s first two full-length albums — 2023’s I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) and this year’s (Part 2) follow-up — Swims has carved out a space for raw, heartfelt songs about toxic relationships, lost love, personal struggles, self-acceptance, and healing.

Known for his genre-blending style, Swims jumped from the old-school R&B of “What More Can I Say” to the gospel-infused rock of “Devil in a Dress.” He also performed his catchy new country song “Free Drugs” (from I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Complete Edition) released in June), and soulful single “God Went Crazy,” his answer to Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

Early in the 105-minute set, Swims asked the audience to repeat the phrase, “I will stay with it.” It served as a mantra to not only keep themselves together, but also to look out for one another. 

As it turned out, there were two incidents warranting security’s intervention; one of them an apparent scuffle. After pausing to ensure everyone’s safety, Swims asked what most of us were thinking: “Who gets in a fight at a Teddy Swims show?”

On a lighter note, during the lovely “She Loves the Rain,” Swims spotted something in the crowd. “Are you engaged?” he asked a couple. After they confirmed, he patted his heart and beamed, “That is so cool!” Once again, the thought of a newly engaged couple finding special meaning in Swims’ music appeared to genuinely move him. 

But nothing stirred the new father quite like singing “Small Hands,” a tender tribute to the baby boy he welcomed in June with partner Raiche Wright. Sitting on a stool, backed only by acoustic guitar, Swims fought to finish the lyric: Oh, I never loved myself / Until the day I held / These small hands. The crowd met his vulnerability with cheers.

While the full band brought energy to up-tempo numbers, Swims’ vocals occasionally got muddied in the mix, like on “Bad Dreams.” The show’s real highpoint came during a stripped-down set that began with “Small Hands” and included tender versions of “All That Really Matters,” his 2022 collaboration with ILLENIUM, and “Some Things I’ll Never Know,” accompanied by just a piano. With minimal instrumentation, the focus was on Swims’ extraordinary voice; confident yet unsure, strong yet fragile, heartbroken yet hopeful. 

To the delight of nearby fans, Swims autographed upwards of 25 items, from ballcaps to sneakers. At first, it came off like a generous gesture (who else does this?). Though he did an incredible job of holding the mic, Sharpie, and keepsakes while signing and singing, as during “Funeral,” the novelty wore thin. By the third song, with Swims on autopilot, it felt more like a distraction pulling focus from his performance.

Swims’ meteoric rise in popularity over the past two years might seem like “overnight success,” but he paid his dues playing in numerous Atlanta-based bands from 2011-2018. As his musical diversity reflects today, during those formative years he experimented with everything from alternative rock, soul, and R&B to post-hardcore and hair metal.  

He first attracted the world’s (and Warner Records’) attention in 2019 by posting covers on YouTube, from Michael Jackson’s “Rock with You” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” He spent the next few years releasing EPs and singles, until his 2023 breakthrough album cemented his sound.

To decide which cover he would perform tonight, Swims incorporated a clever “jukebox” segment, letting two people choose a letter and number. The pair landed on D1, selecting Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” (his YouTube video has racked up 226 million views).

Swims wrapped up his set with “Lose Control” — the first song in history to spend 100 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 — followed by an emotionally charged three-song encore that served as a final reminder: Strength isn’t about toughness; it’s about being brave enough to bare your soul. 

Donovan Roche is a longtime music writer and frequent contributor to Times of San Diego. Send your story ideas to droche617@gmail.com.