Sundays are a day of rest and- for some- a day of worship. Fans in the hallowed house of Arizona Financial Theatre last Sunday experienced a different kind of gospel when Teddy Swims’ I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour landed in Phoenix alongside Cian Ducrot and a jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring production.
Irish singer-songwriter and possible Disney prince Cian Ducrot was an unassuming presence against the massive backdrop behind him but his heartfelt vocals and acoustic guitar still filled the room. His cheerful demeanor mixed with his song’s biting wit definitely won him more than a few new fans and even had the venue singing along to the final song of his set- the perfect opener to set the mood for the night.
The stage was shrouded by a huge black curtain and flashing lights slowly revealed Teddy Swims’ incredible band but when the curtain came down, all eyes were on Swims at the top of a curving ramp that placed the singer high above his adoring audience. His discography is as wide as it is deep and we dove to the depths together through “Not Your Man” and “Apple Juice”. With his flowing black outfit, black hat and plenty of gold draped around his neck and wrists, Swims cut a powerful figure against his dramatic production.
Between songs, he was charming and genuine and during songs he could be found walking along the barricade signing anything held out by the eager fans clutching vinyl, memorabilia and more. The connection he shares with his audience is a beautiful thing to behold if any attention could be pulled away from the sheer force of Swims’ musical talent. “Are You Even Real” and “Devil in a Dress” were crowd favorites but you could say that about every song on the setlist- the fans were ready for any and everything.
At the halfway mark, Swims took a breather to speak directly to the audience about his journey through life and his recent journey into fatherhood- a topic that inspired “Small Hands” which is still a song Swims struggles to perform without the tears falling. The fans drank in every word, swaying to a request for “Amazing” and “Northern Lights” before the energy picked back up to reach the end of the show.
Swims’ career started with viral covers of popular songs and in that spirit, a song was chosen at random by the band’s jukebox, landing on a beautiful cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody”. Naturally the set ended with “Lose Control” before Swims re-emerged for a three-song encore. It may not have been church but Arizona Financial Theatre was still a house of worship on Sunday night and we’ll need another therapy session with Swims as soon as possible.
