Teddy Swims Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Kegsmas in Atlanta at Buckhead Theatre

Written and Captured By | Raymond Kao

Teddy Swims has had a massive 2023. From collaborations with chart dominating artists like Armin van Buuren, X Ambassadors, and All Time Low, to his debut album I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, celebrating the 10th anniversary of his annual Kegsmas concert feels like the cherry on top of yet another phenomenal year for Swims. I wasn’t familiar with the phrase or the execution, but he succinctly described it for newcomers: a time for him and the band to just let loose and play what they feel like.

You couldn’t escape the Christmas spirit in Buckhead Theater, with guests dressed in red and green (and a lot of bare skinned Santas). Teddy himself showed out in a modified Santa suit (I have never seen Santa shorts before) wearing a necklace of Christmas lights. You could tell he was happy to be back and to be playing what he wanted, how he wanted.

See more photos of Teddy Swims HERE

Swims’ music is an eclectic but fun blend of R&B, pop, country, and soul. Imagine if Gavin Degraw was the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, but with more sad songs. His performance, even under the context of Kegsmas, highlighted his clear vocal prowess and control. Playing through his setlist, including songs like “All That Really Matters” (a collaboration with Illenium!) and “The Door”, I never felt like he once wavered in his vocals or his lyrics (despite a previous warning at the beginning of the set). He signed merch and personal effects in between songs and spoke about relationships and closure (“Some Things I’ll Never Know”).

He tipped his hat to his humble beginnings on Youtube, covering Christmas classics like “This Christmas”. Swims closed out the show with what appeared to be the audience’s favorite, “Bed On Fire”. The audience matched his energy in this closing song and he got a chance to bask in the appreciation that the audience sang back to him.

Photos By | Raymond Kao