Artist’s ‘Therapy’ tour makes a splash on the Strip

Teddy Swims is the headliner. The name is at once a full sentence, and an acronym for “Someone Who Isn’t Me Sometimes.” Born Jaten Dimsdale, Swims adopted the stage moniker to reflect different facets of his personality, through his music and performances.

One of those facets is of a record-setting hitmaker and sold-out touring headliner. Swims is sweeping through Vegas on his “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy” tour. Presented by Live Nation Las Vegas, the show is sold out, but resale tickets (the pink dots) are available at Ticketmaster.com.

Swims has made a splash, sales-wise, with his greatest hit, “Lose Control,” which spent a record 100 weeks on the Billboard singles chart after reaching No. 1 in March 2024. The song is still in the top 10, at No. 7. The song is six-times platinum, and has generated nearly four billion streams internationally.

A bit more about the 32-year-old, genre-defying Swims:

— His first name is from the nickname “Teddy” from his childhood, as in “Teddy” bear.

— He was a star football standout at Salem High School in his hometown of Conyers, Ga. A teacher encouraged some of his teammates to join the musical-theater class, and also the chorus. Swims went on to perform in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Rent.”

— He learned to play ukulele and piano, watching lessons on YouTube to hone his skills.

— He gained an audience with YouTube performances, covering Shania Twain’s “You’re Still The One” and Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” among other hits.

— He currently boasts almost 5.6 million YouTube subscribers (adding at least one other one Thursday afternoon).

— He embraces soul, funk, R&B and pop.

— His collaborations include Meghan Trainor on “Bad For Me,” Maren Morris on “Some Things I’ll Never Know,” Thomas Rhett on “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman,” Illenium on “All That Really Matters,” and GIVĒON on “Are You Even Real.”

— His influences include Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Keith Sweat and Frank Ocean.

— He picked up a tableau of influences from his father. Swims told Rolling Stone in 2021, “My dad put me on the good stuff, like Marvin and Stevie and Keith Sweat and Al Green, all these monster singers.”

— He once worked at Chili’s. Not as a singer. As a server.

Cool Hang Alert

ExCal made a cameo in here. Let’s point our lance to The Lounge, an underrated, underappreciated and often underused venue off the casino floor. But the room is animated with — and this title is accurate — Karaoke at the Kastle. The interactive singing runs 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursdays through Sundays. I’ll show up to sing the theme from “Kats.” Er, “Cats.” …

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.