Lake Tahoe, NV (9/6/25) – Lake Tahoe, a familiar tourist destination, known for it’s clear emerald water and towering ski slopes. On this early September evening however, as 9,300 concert goers
file into the Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre, this is home to the Teddy Swims and his ‘I’ve Tried
Everything But Therapy’ tour.
With 44 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 18 million followers on IG and TikTok
combined, and 5 million followers on Facebook, it is nearly impossible to not recognize
the impact that Teddy Swims has made on “Pop” music. Even if you do not listen to the
genre, you have undoubtedly heard a Teddy Swims song, and chances are, you can not
help but like him.
I’ll admit that I am not a fan of the genre. Also, I have not been to a “Pop” music show
since my adolescent brain developed into adulthood. There is just something about this
Teddy Swims character, though. Sure, he can sing, but he also writes his songs. Those
songs seem to have substance. I just had to check out this show.
As the sun began its descent, giving way to an early fall chill, Irish singer-songwriter
Cian Ducrot took the stage. Although I had no preconceived notions about what to
expect from Cian’s set, I did imagine that he would be backed by a full band.
That would not be the case. Ducrot authoritatively walked to center stage in a shirt that
read “Honky Tonk”, harmonica around his neck, and picked up a Martin guitar. As if
reading the crowd, he proudly stated, “Hello Lake Tahoe, I’m Cian Ducrot. This song is
about not being a d*#k.” He then proceeded to sing the ‘No Way To Live’, a song that
can be found on his sophomore album “Little Dreaming” which was just released last
month.
During his time with us, Ducrot shared deeply personal stories. Some were simply
hilarious, while others pertained to loss and grief. Of the latter nature, Cian performed
‘Part of Me’, a song written about the loss of his best friend to suicide. The first verse
alone pierces the soul.
“They say the devil takes the best of us
I Guess I always knew you weren’t like the rest of us
You held the party in your hands like it would slip away like moments
passed
Oh how I miss the way you used to laugh
Is that the way it goes you trade your soul
To be a rose
Give everything you’ve got to give before you’ve got to
I guess that no one knows
I guess that I just didn’t see the lows
Oh we all fall down”
‘Part of me’ can be found on Cian’s 2023 album, ‘Victory’
Through all the shows I’ve been to, it is incredibly rare to see the seats full during the
supporting act’s set. It is even more rare to have the near capacity audience hanging on
to every word. Cian Ducrot did just that. He seemed to have the crowd captivated, as
they were singing along and even laughing with him during his six-song set.
The fact that he accomplished such a feat with nothing more than his words, a guitar,
harmonica, and a keyboard is quite amazing! Given the connection he had with the
audience, there’s no doubt that he gained quite a few new fans. I absolutely look
forward to catching a Cian Ducrot headlining show.
Cian Ducrot’s Setlist
- ‘No Way To Live’
- ‘Rock Bottom’
- ‘Your Eyes’
- ‘Part of Me’
- ‘The Book of Love’
- ‘I’ll Be Waiting’
That early autumn chill I mentioned earlier. Well, it was about to get HOT!
As Teddy Swims’ eight-piece band were silhouetted by fog and stage lights, the man
himself appeared on the crowd’s left side of the stage and on top of a ramp. Welcomed
by thunderous applause, the ensemble blazed into ‘Not Your Man’ from the ‘I’ve Tried
Everything But Therapy (Part 2), which was released earlier this year.
Throughout the songs ‘Hammer to the Heart’, ‘Apple Juice’, and ‘She Loves the Rain’,
the band didn’t miss a beat, and the energetic crowd barely had time to catch their
breath. In fact, the entire crowd remained on their feet dancing and singing along.
I don’t think anybody sat down until Swims slowed it down a bit with ‘Need You More’. A
song that he dedicated to the mother of his child, as he implored the audience to hold
those that they love close. That of course was the perfect segue into ‘Black and White.’
A song about love, that Teddy stated is very important to him.
Halfway through the show, Swims stated that he was going to sit down for a few and get
intimate. The man was true to his word. Sitting there, he described how the next song
was about his son. He went on to describe how difficult it is to leave his family behind
while he’s out on tour, although he is extremely grateful. He then performed ‘Small
Hands’, beautifully.
Although he alluded to how grateful he feels to be able to live the life he does, he
absolutely doubled down on that when he dedicated ‘All That Really Matters’ to us.
Stating that he is super grateful, because this has all saved his life.
With the entire amphitheater hanging on his every word, Swims announced that he has
one more “crybaby” song for us. Letting us know that this song is about a heartbreak
that never goes away and sometimes you never get closure. This right here was the
Teddy Swims testimony! Just before performing ‘Some Things I’ll Never Know’, he
urged anyone that may be struggling to write a book, write a song, do something to get
it out. Follow those dreams.
I absolutely loved the fact that Swims would share his thoughts and inspiration behind
many of his songs. That’s the type of vulnerability that truly helps people. It surely
connected an entire amphitheater.
Throughout the 25-song performance, Teddy Swims’ voice was incredible, the band was
on fire, the light show complimented the songs, and one of the female singers had the
voice of an angel. I may not be a fan of the “pop” music genre, but I finally learned to
Swim. I am most definitely a Teddy Swims fan. His songs just seem to encompass so
many different genres.
Teddy Swims took us ALL to church. Or perhaps it was more of a communion. On
second thought, since I’ve tried everything BUT therapy, perhaps this evening with
Teddy Swims and Cian Ducrot was just that, therapy.
Teddy Swims Setlist
‘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’
‘Some Things I’ll Never Know’
‘Northern Lights’
‘Guilty’
‘God Went Crazy’
‘You’re Still the One’ (Shania Twain cover)
‘Your Kind of Crazy’
‘Lose Control’
‘Bed on Fire’
‘Goodbye’s Been Good to You’
‘The Door’
Do not altar photos
Copyright: Chris Couture Photography
