Teddy Swims Welcomes John Legend During Sold-Out Two-Night Stand At L.A.’s Greek Theatre [Photos/Videos]

On a pair of warm September weeknights in the Hollywood Hills, Teddy Swims turned the storied Greek Theatre into a joyful family reunion. Across two sold-out nights, the Atlanta-born singer (real name Jaten Collin Dimsdale) wove together soul, country, pop and more in a signature blend that—on the wings of his rich, versatile voice—has carried him from YouTube covers to the top of the Billboard charts.

For all the fanfare (pyro, giant screens, teddy-bear animations), Teddy carried himself with gratitude. He called his band “my best friends” so often it felt like a mantra, thanked his fans repeatedly for showing up, and even got personal about his life as a new dad. But above all, he sang his heart out, and that’s what had fans on their feet from the first chorus to the final encore.

Teddy opened with “Not Your Man”, emerging atop a ramp with pyro blasting behind him before strolling down to center stage. By the time he reached “Hammer” and “Apple Juice”, the energy beneath Griffith Park was already at fever pitch. He slowed it down for “She Loves the Rain” and “Are You Even Real”, his honeyed voice floating over the hillside, before tearing into “Devil in a Dress”.

Photo: Josh Martin – Teddy Swims at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 9/9/25

The second act leaned into Teddy’s country streak. Wearing a cowboy hat and framed by stormy visuals, he sang “Bad Dreams” under flashes of digital lightning. During his new song, “Free Drugs”, the screen lit up with a rainbow teddy bear holding a “Free Hugs” sign, with the “H” cheekily crossing out the “DR.”

That humor still left room for some heartfelt moments. Teddy sang “Funeral” while autographing merch tossed up from fans, and dedicated “Need You More” to “the amazing woman who carried my son for nine months.” The song played out with the now-familiar teddy bear, this time perched inside the mouth of the moon with a bandana tied around its head. For “Black & White”, Teddy preached “love is love” and shared a stunning duet with one of his backup singers.

Mid-show, Teddy “sat his fat ass down,” as he put it, and opened up about fatherhood. “All I can do is wipe ass and make him laugh,” he joked, before delivering the night’s most vulnerable moment: “Small Hands”, stripped down to just voice and acoustic guitar under a single spotlight.

He continued the tender streak with “All That Really Matters” and “Some Things I’ll Never Know (STINK)”, weaving stories about heartbreak, healing, and gratitude into each song. It felt less like a performance and more like a conversation with 6,000 friends.

Photo: Josh Martin – Teddy Swims at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 9/9/25

The third act brought the party back. “Northern Lights” shimmered against aurora borealis visuals, “Guilty” flashed teddy-fied parodies of classic album covers (Bearinem, Beariohead, Dr. Grizz, Amy Bearhouse, etc), and “God Went Crazy” soared with gospel-tinged power.

For the covers segment, Teddy explained how he started out five years ago with a “jukebox” full of requests and continues to pay homage to other artists as a tribute to his humble beginnings. This night’s draw: Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You”, which Teddy and the band tore into with funky delight. The following night’s crowd would be treated to something even rarer: a cameo from John Legend, who joined Teddy for a moving performance of “Ordinary People”.

Things got downright silly on “Your Kind of Crazy”, with lava lamp visuals, Teddy clowning around with a toilet prop at the top of the stage ramp, and yes, throwing fake poop into the crowd. By the time he hit “Lose Control”, his chart-topping breakthrough, Teddy had the entire Greek singing, even handing the mic to a young fan in the front row to lead the first chorus.

Photo: Josh Martin – Teddy Swims at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 9/9/25

The encore kept things tight but explosive. “Bed on Fire” featured Teddy shouting out his drummer as his “best fucking pal,” before wrapping the night with the emotional exhales of “Goodbyes” and “The Door”.

These two shows cemented Teddy Swims as more than a viral star. He’s a bona fide headliner, capable of filling arenas with nothing more than his voice and sincerity (though the teddy-bear graphics and pyrotechnics certainly don’t hurt).

Next up, he takes the party to paradise with two shows at Waikiki Shell in Honolulu later this month, before continuing through New Zealand and Australia. Judging by the magic at the Greek, those fans are in for something special: a show that’s equal parts soul revival, country hoedown, pop spectacle, and comedy sketch—all held together by Teddy’s joyful exuberance.

Teddy Swims With John Legend – “Ordinary People” – 9/10/25

[Video: Being a Light instead of a Blight on the World!]