Teddy Swims gets soulful with sold-out Berkeley crowd

Teddy Swims is an old-school, old-soul charmer. The Atlanta-bred singer-songwriter brought vulnerability and his powerhouse vocals to a sold-out crowd at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Swims rose to prominence in 2023 with the release of hit single, “Lose Control”, a track that reached the top 10 charts in several countries and led to his 2025 GRAMMY nomination for ‘Best New Artist’. From the first note to the final bow, Swims transformed the venue into an emotional, cathartic space filled with smiling faces.

The lights dimmed as the early 90s techno song “Jump!” by The Movement emitted through the speakers and Swims’ eight-piece ensemble took the stage. With one strum of the guitar, pops of small pyrotechnics went off as Swims rose up onto one of his pillared platforms.

Shielding his eyes with a baseball cap and pink-tinted sunglasses, Swims wore a jersey in UC Berkeley’s colors with matching socks.

Opening with two powerful and electrifying songs, “Not Your Man” and “Hammer to the Heart” from his latest album release I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2), Teddy Swims then removed his sunglasses and turned his hat backwards, giving the audience a clear view of his face as he expressed his adoration and genuine gratefulness to all those in attendance.

Known for tackling themes like relationships, self acceptance, and healing, the setlist ran through Swims’ discography, including tracks from his first two albums, 2023’s I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) and this year’s Part 2 follow up. His cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” was an unexpected highlight and surprise amidst his own songs. And, after a night of fans scream-singing along, Swims wrapped up with his biggest hit “Lose Control” followed by an emotionally charged three-song encore that sent the crowd over the moon with joy. If you have the opportunity to catch this new superstar of soul live, make sure you do!

Photography by Sabrina Poei

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