Teddy Swims' annual love affair with Australia – he's back for his fourth tour down under in four years – has seen the pop-soul crooner upgrade from smaller arena shows of previous visits to major entertainment arenas this time 'round.
Last weekend he rolled into Brisbane for back-to-back sold-out concerts at the Entertainment Centre (that's 27,000 folks across the 2 nights!), and boy were fans losing control to spend an evening with the Georgia native and his simply sensational band, Freak Freely.
After dodging the rain as the heavens opened walking into the Boondall complex (18 October), before getting wanded going through the turnstiles, scampering pass the massive lines queuing for merchandise and (mostly) adult beverages, I navigated to my seat just as support act, and newfound besties with Teddy, Matt Corby was commencing his second song.
With the arena more than two-thirds filled still an hour-plus before the main event was testament to the soulful crooner's pulling power. Corby headlining a venue of this size seems totally natural, especially after witnessing him play the second-last Sunday night slot at Splendour's main amphitheatre a few years back (maybe 2019 when the Hoods were a last-minute addition to headline – it's a little hazy now my memory).
Matt Corby - image © Gaby Barns
Alas, I digress. Matt offers an authentically raw style, the grit and sunshine of life seeping out of his honeyed pipes with an ease that soothes. With his backing band shrouded in darkened lighting the majority of the set, Matt was left in the spotlight, bare feet pacing the carpeted stage, oscillating between an electric guitar and just the company of his microphone stand.
With a catalogue of hits that could easily fill a two-hour set, Matt's condensed performance included the airing of new song 'Burn It Down' that was released only days prior.
Accompanied by dark pink, bright blue beam lights, it's an upbeat, jazzy, '70s disco-soul number, a butter-smooth melody wrapping itself around an irresistible rhythm that purrs. A vibe akin to an Isaac Hayes and Van Morrison jam, it's a bop despite Matt declaring: "We're still trying to figure it out."
Other highlights of his succinct set were 'Brother', 'Resolution' and 'Talk It Out'. Matt's smooth, mellow vocals make his live version utterly captivating. The band also sparkles, allowing Matt to shine as frontman at the appropriate times, but bringing sublime instrumentation/ musicianship ranging from bruising rock, sultry funk, heart-crushing soul, and delta blues.
Matt Corby - image © Gaby Barns
Before he signed off, Matt shared with the crowd what they could expect from the rest of the evening. "[A] really good show you're about to see. It is legit. Teddy's an incredible person." The Teddy-Corby bromance needs its own podcast. . . can I get a hallelujah!
After a relatively quick turnaround (for a major arena production), as the house lights dimmed, the Entertainment Centre was filled with the booming tones of DJ Kool's 'Let Me Clear My Throat', the ubiquitous dance-floor filler somewhat at odds with Teddy's general vibe, but also highlighting Swims' genre-diverse approach to music making. No doubt the Kool & The Gang sample that features in DJ Kool's track also playing a role in its selection.
Still bathed in semi darkness, it was time for an audio overload. Jungle-style drums pounded hard (I almost expected Ace Ventura to pop out from behind the stage curtain), before searing guitar riffage joined the deafening chorus of wonderful noise, and you just knew you were about to witness something incredible.
As the main curtain dropped, synchronised fireworks exploded atop the back of the raised platform stage in a dazzling display of brightness, revealing Teddy's eight-piece band (bassist, two guitarists, drummer, keys, and three back-up singers who he declared his best friends in the world numerous times throughout the performance) housed within a stage design that was reminisce of a '60s-'70s variety show stage.
Teddy Swims - image © Gaby Barns
Then Teddy appeared above the band on a raised platform – that sloped downwards to the main stage area (that was also raised) with two dedicated smaller rostrums for guitar solos later in the set.
Wearing a black jacket, cargo-pant-inspired ensemble and a cool AF 'Evil Artist' black trucker cap paired with rose-tinted pink sunglasses 'Not Your Man' opened proceedings on a massive 25-song set list.
This being my second live experience with Teddy (last seeing him in 2023), his confidence commanding the stage has flowered impressively, strutting the stage with passion. It was at this moment I realised, as someone who's agnostic, I was at the altar of Teddy Swims and church had commenced. If anyone was still not sold, Teddy won them over with the one liner: "How 'bout them Broncos!"
Teddy Swims - image © Gaby Barns
After powering through 'Hammer To The Heart' and 'Apple Juice', after declaring Matt Corby creamy (or was it dreamy; either way, we need that podcast stat), Teddy schooled the room on the only rule for the evening being "stay with it", that safety was number one, and if anyone got into trouble to make noise and he'd stop to the show, which only endeared himself further to the crowd.
When the fourth song commenced, the slow-burn ballad 'She Loves The Rain' there was a commotion towards the front of the standing room portion of the crowd, leaving the rest of the audience baffled (was someone punking Teddy?!) until the joy emanating from the front area made it apparent something gorgeous had occurred – a successful marriage proposal. "How beautiful. . . It's going to be a good night," declared Teddy.
Continuing to power through the set list, one of Swims' first hits 'Devil In A Dress' saw Teddy disappear from view, the stage shrouded in fog before he reappeared after his first costume change wearing denim shorts, flannelette top and a huge, white cowboy hat. Queenslander anyone?!
Teddy Swims - image © Gaby Barns
Another personal favourite was next, 'Bad Dreams' getting a superb crowd sing-along, the pop-soul vibes serenading our Saturday night brilliantly. Relatively new song 'Free Hugs' saw our first encounter with Teddy's animated bear on the back-screen, holding a sign reading 'Free Hugs' with the 'H' superimposed over 'Dr' highlighting Teddy's own battles with sobriety.
The love-in continued when Teddy stopped the show after noticing a sign in the front row; the near 15,000-strong crowd would witness a gender reveal, Teddy playing the role of celebrant perfectly as he held aloft an envelope. "So we're having. . . sorry, I mean 'you're' having. . . A BOY!" Cue crowd jubilation.
It teed up the next song wonderfully, 'Small Hands' written for his four-month-old son (who Teddy shared was backstage with his mum). Accompanied by an acoustic guitarist, Teddy sat down for a stunningly beautiful rendition, a plush koala hurled onstage – a gift for Teddy's son. It was yet another poignant moment in an emotionally-rich night, Teddy graciously thanking the crowd for saving his life and giving him this beautiful life.
The love-in wasn't over either, with the very next song – a cover of ILLENIUM's 'All That Really Matters' – eliciting a second successful marriage proposal (somewhat ironically from the same section of the crowd as the first!).
Teddy Swims - image © Gaby Barns
After all the lovey-dovey feels, Teddy apologised ahead of the next song 'cause he was about to bring the sad vibes – "but the song's in the set list, which means I have to play it guys," Teddy said, hamming it up.
A song about closure, 'Some Things I'll Never Know' was again just Teddy, his voice and keyboardist onstage, the skin prickling then (and now days later typing this review). Then it was time for a third costume change, Teddy reemerging wearing a Bronco's cap and a Devil Wears Prada (the movie, I think) tank top.
An unexpected cool moment arrived when Teddy and his band returned to their YouTube roots, an animated jukebox on the back screen activated with a random song selected, Teddy sharing they'd perform whichever song it landed on. Shania Twain's 'You're Still The One' never sounded so good, folks!
One of his lesser known numbers, 'Your Kind Of Crazy', followed, Swims appearing atop the raised platform sitting on his throne (read toilet seat – he lowered the seat lid after flushing ladies; what a gentleman!), signing a toilet roll and throwing it into the crowd as he returned to the front of the stage.
Then the oh-so familiar piano tones of 'Lose Control' sent the crowd into rapture, the anthem creating an epic moment in time, Swims' allowing the crowd to sing the chorus line like a proud papa.
Teddy Swims - image © Gaby Barns
The band and Teddy then departed ahead of the encore, although a fair chunk of the crowd decided that was the time to call it quits exciting the main arena in droves having heard the song they'd spent hundreds on to hear live, which was disappointing, but also highlighting why humans IMO are both the best and worst aspects of living on this planet.
If they'd stuck around, they would have been serenaded by Teddy singing one of his early hits 'Bed On Fire' before bopping along to 'Goodbye's Been Good To You' and 'The Door' – both from Part 1 of the 'I've Tried Everything But Therapy' album series.
Seamlessly moving between old-school soul, R&B-rich pop, yacht-rock-flavoured soul, country-rock pop, even smatterings of southern rock, Teddy Swims is one of modern music's true entertainers.
A voice that will stay with you long after the melody dwindles to silence, his humility mixed with humanity and a genuineness you can't fake (and oh-so lacking in today's algorithm-handcuffed, doom-scrolling world), is why Teddy Swims' greatness cannot be understated.
More photos from the concert.
Lastly, and not related to the performance, maybe Queensland Rail can work with the Entertainment Centre team when organising future weekend track works.
I find it pretty unfathomable that one of the major access points to the venue would not be available when hosting two sold-out events across a 28-hour period; instead operating a super-limited bus service schedule that would've have taken close to two hours to reach my destination (four hours both directions), when the train trip would only take 25-30 minutes.
$150 in Ubers later for my 2 trips (the return home a wonderful $100 back to West End from f'ing Boondall) and I was glad I wasn't drinking or buying merch! Get off my lawn rant. . . over!
