Teddy Swims Finds Therapy in Minneapolis
July 6, 2025 - Minneapolis, MN
After rescheduling a handful of June shows, Teddy Swims arrived in Minneapolis on July 6th. Now touring for part two of his most recent album, I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy, Swims introduced fans to a more cohesive and fuller sound than part one. Fresh off becoming a new father, Swims brought vulnerability and a heartfelt performance to the city.
The night started in a cloud of smoke emanating from the stage, creating a foggy atmosphere at The Armory. First on the stage was Sienna Spiro, and it was her first night opening for Teddy Swims. Spiro’s career began to gain traction after several of her singing videos went viral on TikTok in 2021.
After a few minutes of technical difficulties, Spiro stepped out and stunned the crowd with her vocals. Only 19 years old, Spiro’s vocals are meant to marvel at. She has a deep and soulful voice, which sounds like it belongs to someone much older than her. Her voice carried to the back of the venue and still sliced through the air. That, and the pianist who accompanied her on stage, set the tone for the night.
It felt fitting that Spiro was asked to open on Swims’ tour given that her debut EP was titled SINK NOW, SWIM LATER. Her setlist included songs from that EP like “CYANIDE” and her most popular song, “MAYBE.” After 30 charming minutes, Spiro thanked the crowd and ended her set. It was quite a successful first night for her, and if you can get to the show early, I’d recommend catching her set.
Immediately after Spiro walked offstage, Teddy Swims’ name was projected onto the curtain that hung over the stage. When the lights went down and the curtain dropped, Swims appeared from a side stage riser. Every piece of equipment he used, from the entire stage to his mic stand, was decked out in ink that rivaled his own. Various doodles of hands, teddy bears, bugs, and words covered the ramp and risers. Each time I looked away from the stage, my eye was drawn to something new.
As Swims descended the ramp from the riser he was on, the crowd cheered and welcomed him into their arms as he got closer. He greeted the fans with a display of small pyrotechnics that shot up behind him. Swims got comfortable and kicked off his leopard-print shoes by the second song and spent the rest of the night walking around the stage in his socks.
Now that Swims had properly introduced his show with “Not Your Man,” “Hammer to the Heart,” and “Apple Juice,” he slowed things down a bit with “She Loves the Rain” and “Are You Even Real.” Going from high-energy songs to slow ballads, Swims’ vocal range is something to admire. His stage presence captivated the fans through all aspects of his performance.
Swims changed his coat and hats a few times throughout the night. His denim jacket and cowboy hat were exchanged for a trench coat and baseball cap. An outfit change wasn’t what I had expected from him, but the night surprised me. Not only was Swims out there, but he was accompanied by three backing singers who added to the already insane sound Swims was producing.
His biggest hit, “Lose Control,” was positioned right at the end of the setlist before the encore. The wait was worth it. The fierceness and slow build pulled the audience closer to the stage until the release. The connection in the crowd and the screaming were therapeutic.
If I left the show with one thing, it’s that Teddy Swims cares about his fans. Throughout the night he checked in on fans, stopped the show to ensure everyone was okay, and signed autographs while singing “Funeral.” The sold-out crowd was swaying all night long to the moody and emotional songs. They got the night they came for and then some.
