Teddy Swims lit up The Anthem recently with back-to-back sold-out performances that were as emotionally charged as they were vocally stunning. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter from Atlanta brought his I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition) tour to DC on Wednesday and Thursday (July 16–17), making up for a postponed pair of dates originally scheduled in June. If the wait dulled any anticipation, you wouldn’t have known it from the electrified crowd — and Swims himself seemed more than ready to make up for lost time.
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Kicking off Wednesday’s set with “Not Your Man,” Swims immediately drew the packed house into his world of heartbreak, healing, and hard-won self-discovery. His voice — equal parts grit and gospel — filled The Anthem with intensity from the first note, and never let up. Known offstage as Jaten Dimsdale, Swims performed a 25-song set that pulled deeply from his acclaimed debut and its expansive follow-up tracks, touching on themes of vulnerability, resilience, and learning to let go.
Watch the official music video for “Bad Dreams” by Teddy Swims on YouTube:
The Anthem’s stage was transformed into a dramatic visual experience from the moment the lights dimmed. Teddy Swims made his entrance atop a 15-foot tall arced ramp that surrounded the band on three sides as it descended gradually to stage level, creating a powerful silhouette as he launched into “Not Your Man.” Behind him, a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling HD screen and an oval overhead screen suspended at a 45-degree angle projected vivid lighting effects, live video, and song-synced graphics throughout the show. The immersive visuals paired with moody saturated lighting in deep blues and reds added emotional depth to the performance, amplifying both the quiet confessions and explosive crescendos in his 25-song set.
Highlights from Wednesday included the yearning “She Loves the Rain” and the devastating “Some Things I’ll Never Know” — a track Swims introduced as being about the difficulty of seeking closure in a broken relationship. These quieter moments gave fans a chance to absorb the lyrical depth that sets Swims apart from his peers. Songs like “Need You More” and “Black & White” showcased his dynamic range — both vocally and emotionally — moving effortlessly from falsetto-laced sorrow to thunderous declarations of pain and power.
But Swims also knows how to turn soul-searching into celebration. Tracks like “Hammer to the Heart” and “Devil in a Dress” packed swagger and bounce, eliciting full-body movement from the crowd. “Free Drugs” and “Funeral” brought a dose of funk and grit, while “Are You Even Real” — a standout from Part 2 of the Therapy project — landed with a mix of longing and bravado.
Stream I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition) by Teddy Swims on Spotify:
A pair of crowd-favorite covers punctuated the night. His rendition of ILLENIUM’s “All That Really Matters” transformed The Anthem into a glowing sea of phones and open arms. And later, his soulful reimagining of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” turned into a cathartic group singalong, reminding everyone just how fully Swims can inhabit a song — even when it’s not his own.
The emotional peak of the show came with his blockbuster hit “Lose Control,” a song that’s not only gone 6x Platinum and topped the Billboard Hot 100, but also resonated deeply with fans navigating their own messy stories. The crowd sang every word back at him, and Swims — grinning, sweating, and visibly moved — let them carry the final chorus.
The night closed with “The Door,” a song he described in interviews as a turning point in his personal life: about walking away from a toxic partner and reclaiming his self-worth. Delivered with unfiltered passion, the finale felt like a spiritual release — not just for Swims, but for every person in the room who’s ever struggled to leave something broken behind.
With over 9 billion streams across his catalog and a mountain of awards — including 2025 Grammy and BET Award nominations — it’s clear Teddy Swims is having a moment. But what sets him apart on stage isn’t just the commercial success. It’s the sense that he’s inviting the audience into a personal process — a therapy session, a breakdown, a breakthrough.
Swims has often said that making I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy was about finding a way forward without having all the answers. That spirit filled The Anthem both nights this week, with fans responding not just to his voice, but to his vulnerability.
In the end, Teddy Swims didn’t just perform songs — he offered testimony. And for two unforgettable nights in Washington, DC, thousands bore witness.
Setlist – Teddy Swims at The Anthem, Washington DC – July 16, 2025
I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour
- Not Your Man
- Hammer to the Heart
- Apple Juice
- She Loves the Rain
- Are You Even Real
- Devil in a Dress
- Bad Dreams
- Free Drugs
- Funeral
- What More Can I Say
- 911
- Need You More
- Black & White
- Small Hands
- All That Really Matters (ILLENIUM cover)
- Some Things I’ll Never Know
- Northern Lights
- Guilty
- God Went Crazy
- Use Somebody (Kings of Leon cover)
- Your Kind of Crazy
- Lose Control
Encore:
23. Bed on Fire
24. Goodbye’s Been Good to You
25. The Door
Enjoy some additional photos from the first night of Teddy Swims’ back-to-back sold out shows at The Anthem. All images are copyrighted and courtesy of the author.
