House of Music

Teddy Swims

Moody Amphitheater

Austin, TX

August 7th, 2025

Photos and Review by Roy Vergara

The Texas heat lingered as the sun dipped behind the Capitol, but that didn’t deter Austin fans from filling Moody Amphitheater. The night began at 7:28 p.m. when Cian Ducrot walked onstage with his acoustic guitar, sporting a Terry Black’s hat and immediately charming the crowd with his endearing Irish charm and mellow voice. He confessed his uncertainty about Terry Black’s BBQ quality, saying “it was good but a little bit salty.” The jab drew a mixture of laughter and good-natured boos from locals who are passionate about their brisket. Ducrot wrapped his set at 8 p.m., leaving the atmosphere electric with anticipation for what was about to follow.

At 8:30 p.m., the band began taking their places before Teddy Swims appeared on an elevated platform on the left side of the stage. The show came alive with a stunning mix of audio and visual elements, including a large LED screen featuring swirls of Saturn’s rings, red Cadillacs gliding through space, yellow Lego toys, and astronauts drifting across the big screens. The band provided their own flair of precision and cohesion, while the backup singers elevated the experience to something reminiscent of a spiritual revival. Teddy’s voice carried a rich, soulful weight that made it feel like he was singing straight through you, not just to you.

Early in the set, he dedicated “Need You More” to the woman who carried his newborn son. “I’ve been a dad for just over a month,” he said with a smile that made it clear it still didn’t feel real. “It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done. Natural home birth… my girl is a superhero. Tell your mom any chance you get you’re lucky to have her.” Then as he began “Small Hands,” the crowd went still. With just his voice and an acoustic guitar, the raw emotion became evident. His voice cracked as he delivered each lyric, struggling to maintain composure. “He’s a lucky little fucker, man,” he said as the crowd chanted “Teddy! Teddy!”—their voices lifting him up when he needed it most.

The rest of the set moved between raw honesty and pure fun. “Something I’ll Never Know,” written by his brother about a breakup, came with a smirk and the quick aside, “She sucks, but I’m doing great.” “Lose Control” turned the stage into a galaxy, and “Guilty” splashed his teddy bear mascot across the screens as it was parodied into different influential music album covers like Dr. Dre, Amy Winehouse, Bowie, Metallica, and Etta James. A new song, “God Went Crazy,” felt like a deep cut straight from his musical influences.

One of the most memorable moments came during his jukebox game, a tradition stemming from their YouTube cover days. The crowd picked G1, which landed on Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One,” and suddenly everyone was swaying together under the warm summer night sky. When “All That Matters” hit, the entire place shouted the lyrics back at him. Confetti burst into the air, small fireworks popped over the stage, and Teddy stood there soaking it all in.

By 10:15, the lights went down and that was the end. No encore, no extra bows. But it didn’t matter. Teddy had left it all on that stage. Austin got the heart, the voice, the laughter, and the kind of moments you carry with you long after the amps go quiet.

Check out the gallery below to relive the night or see what you missed.

Cian Ducrot

Teddy Swims