Teddy Swims has conquered the hearts and minds of New Zealanders with three sold-out stadium shows, and he allows himself to bask in the accolades.
Jaten Collin Dimsdale aka Teddy Swims is a big bear of a hirsute Southern man.
Born and raised in Conyers, Georgia which is an outlying town of metropolitan Atlanta.
He had exposure to the classic Soul artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Al Green courtesy of his father. Of course, Green is in the lineage of Otis (Redding), Percy (Sledge) and Wilson (Pickett).
He has a powerful blue-eyed Soul voice. A tenor which places him toward the Bobby Hatfield side of the Righteous Brothers, rather than the baritone of Bill Medley.
He was a sports jock heading in the direction of gridiron, but his talent for the stage and theatre was revealed at high school. He also participated in the school choir.
Early music ranged from Rap to Alternative/ Progressive Rock, some Hair Metal, and of course Soul. Looking for the appropriate suit to hang on his prop-forward (or defensive line-backer) frame.
He was born to be a Soul artist.
The first handful of songs, and the booming echoey drums dominate. A big heavy sound which blurs the definition of the guitars and keyboards.
You can hear echoes of familiar Seventies Soul music on What More Can I Say, Smoke and 911.
The thundering motor diminishes the vocals. Swims must bellow like Boss Springsteen to try and get above it, and I wonder what makes him so special.
It eventually comes right, and Hammer to the Heart is where the big Soul Pop voice is properly unleashed.
Maybe it just needed a little acclimatisation.
Then an extraordinary thing happens on stage. He talks directly to the huge sold-out stadium and breaks down and cries.
He is blubbering a bit, as he expresses how grateful he is to the New Zealand fans for saving his life.
This is the I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy tour. The title of his debut album spread over three separate releases 2023 to 2024.
The Kiwis were at the forefront of embracing his music. Going from a large following to a massive one.
This was helped no end by Swims covering Six60’s Rivers, released as a single in 2019.
He openly calls Six60 one of the greatest bands ever. He brings on the leader Matiu Walters to sing with him. The crowd erupt with noise, and to their credit the sound desk deals with this and the version tonight is superlative.
This is the first time I have seem Swims. Much of the audience are dialled in already. The switch is flipped for me at this point.
Swims is raving about how much he’s in love with this country. Beyond the usual show-bizz hype of many overseas acts. He is almost speaking in tongues.
When he settles his exuberance, he does take lengthy monologues about his emotional and spiritual journey. It is at the level of I Saw the Light.
James Brown did this with shows that were carefully choreographed down to the last minute. Wrenching every emotion out with his revues.
Swims approaches this with just his naked persona. This big Southern guy who looks like a Bubba.
When he dances (as badly as Spruce), he races around the big stage likes he’s channelling a Nascar V8.
Suitcase is when the ballads start appearing, and the music juggernaut tones down. Acoustic guitars, piano sounds come up with spatial arrangements. The bombast is dialled down.
Amazing is mostly piano keyboards and close to the best blue-eyed Soul vocal of the night.
In truth the songs that follow are now sung on this high plateau.
At this stage he takes a crowd walk. The big screen picks up women crying.
Behind him are the Freak Freely band, very much his soulmates.
I can probably identify with confidence Kevin Hanson guitar, Adonijah Addy Maxwell Cartwright guitar, and Turner Wood bass.
The drummer is authoritative. He takes a wonderful solo cameo to introduce Devil in a Dress.
She’s the devil/ I’m in peril/ She ripped my heart right out of my chest. On the EP it sounds like classic Northern Soul.
On stage tonight it is an unusual Pop rager reminiscent of Mitch Ryders Devil With a Blue Dress On.
The ladies are in the majority tonight. Stunningly (and inappropriately) dressed for such a chilly evening. Looking hot may counteract the cold.
The version of Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One is another highlight. Amongst many. He dedicates this to all mothers present tonight. What makes it stand out is that it is only accompanied by an acoustic guitar. The voice is superior Pop.
Meg Mac opens the evening tonight.
Megan McInerney comes from Sydney. She’s been singing since she learned to walk, so she must be innately talented.
Her professional career kicked off in 2013, which makes her almost a veteran.
Again, I had never heard of her until this show. On record she has the pipes to rival Cyndi Lauper which immediately grabbed my attention.
She can match this on stage.
Maybe It’s My First Time approaches the helium voice lift of Lauper. It is very easy to be seduced by her vocal talent.
Then she goes and aces it with Bill Wither’s Grandma’s Hands. The best version I have heard in recent times.
Descriptions of her voice range from Soul to Rock, but it is clear she is Pop with a big promise behind her.
Roll Up Your Sleeves takes it to the Gospel level, approaching Madonna’s Like a Prayer.
So does her closing song Never Be. She is backed on stage with sister Hannah and guitarist Keith.
So of course we will check her out again as a headline act.
Teddy Swims is bringing back the bombast for the closing songs.
The keyboards are featuring now and emulating the E Street Band’s Roy Bittan. He gets to solo and extend out on Tell Me.
The band work this number up and then segue into monster hit I Lose Control. And slay the Arena in the process.
Pyrotechnics, gas flames and sparkles accompany closing song The Door.
A great way for Teddy Swims to say goodnight, as he genuinely warmed everyone’s hearts. Even the cold, cold ones.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photos by Jennifer De Koning
Teddy Swims
Meg Mac
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