Review: Teddy Swims at Riverside Theatre

Teddy Swims at Riverside Theatre
w/ Meg Mac
Friday, July 19, 2024

Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Teddy Swims and his band Freak Freely delivered an unforgettable performance for the final show of their Australian and New Zealand tour leg in Perth. The tour came in the wake of Teddy Swims’ debut solo album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1), which saw the genre-defying artist pour his heart and soul into his music for a journey of self-discovery, and on Friday night, Riverside Theatre was packed with Perth fans joining him for the ride.

Sydney singer-songwriter Meg Mac kicked off the evening with a captivating 30-minute performance, featuring delightful harmonies provided by her sister Hannah McInerney and multi-instrumentalist Pete. The set opened with Maybe It’s My First Time, a track from Mac’s 2019 album Hope, and encompassed renditions of Bill Withers’ Grandma’s Hands and Good Neighbours’ Home. Mac also introduced two unreleased songs: 17 and The Tune I Will Be Singing Until I Die. Having studied at WAAPA and having recorded some of her first music in Perth, it was something of a homecoming for Mac, particularly when she closed with early hits like Roll Up Your Sleeves and Never Be.

After a 30-minute break, the band Freak Freely took the stage, followed shortly by Teddy Swims, who appeared in a green hoodie, jean shorts, a beige cap, and socks.

Fans started coming to the stage to get photos and videos with Swims within the first three songs. When singing Used to Be Broke, one even went onto the stage and hugged him!

After singing Noise, written by guitarist Jesse Hampton, Swims told the audience his one rule: 'staying with it'. Encouraging the crowd to echo, “I will stay with it," Swims explained this was to ensure everyone stayed safe and hydrated. The night really got into gear from there, especially during How Much I Love You, when confetti guns lit up the stage with burst of vibrant colour.

Towards the end of the set, Swims transitioned to a series of heartfelt ballads, starting with Amazing alongside keys player Jairus Hardge. At the end of the song, a couple in the audience got engaged, and Swims brought them on stage, even changing the arrangement of the next couple of songs so he, alongside Hardge on keys and Hampton on acoustic guitar, could serenade them with a cover of Shania Twain's You're Still The One.

In the lead-up to Some Things I'll Never Know, Swims spoke about how people can be in our lives for a season or a lifetime, and for those who are in our lives for only a season, they come into our lives to teach us a lesson. The lesson may not speak to us straight away; closure takes time, and we need to accept that some things are out of our control.

Leaving the song to the end was the popular single that has taken over radio stations, streaming platforms and TikTok: Lose Control. The song was introduced with incredible keys and guitar solos by Hardge and Hampton and a truly epic solo by guitarist Addy Maxwell in the middle of the song.

It was a fantastic night of entertainment by Teddy Swims, Freak Freely and Meg Mac and the crowd was buzzing as they left the show.

ALEIGHSHA GLEW

Photos by Linda Dunjey