The Black Moods are starting a new chapter.
The Tempe-based act boasts a new musician, new direction and a slew of new dates.
Singer Josh Kennedy, drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Brenden McBride will introduce this to Tucson fans on Saturday, April 12, at The Rock. Classics by The Black Moods like “Whatcha Got,” “Sunshine” and “Saturday Night” are expected to be part of the set as well.
“We’re really excited about this gig,” Diaz said. “Brenden McBride brings a breath of fresh air into the scene, so to speak. Besides having a lot of energy, we’re laughing and having a good time on stage, which hopefully, is addictive.”
The Black Moods integrate elements of classic rock, bypass grunge, and transition into modern rock. The day before the gig, the band will release their new single, “Daylight.”
The singles are available on EPs that can only be purchased at shows. “Daylight” is the follow up to the groove-laden “I Want Your Love,” accompanied by a quirky “Dating Game” video.
“We had this huge dating game set,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to use it as a backdrop at our shows. Otherwise, we have to find something to do with it.”
The last two years have been a whirlwind for The Black Moods.
They’ve recorded with The Doors’ Robby Krieger, opened for Rick Springfield and Orianthi, and completed new music. The single, “Heaven,” has opened new doors for The Black Moods by embracing a more experimental sound.
“We’re working with a lot of different aesthetics that we haven’t worked with before, like samples,” Kennedy said.
“It’s just a more modern sound that reflects what’s happening today. We’ve done the straight-up, three-piece rock band. We thought it would be interesting to add different elements.”
Some of The Black Moods’ new songs were recorded in a studio owned by The Stereotypes, the production team behind hits by Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Mary J. Blige and Iggy Azalea.
Kennedy and Diaz have since rerecorded the tracks with notable producer Jim Kaufman.
“We’re trying to build momentum,” Diaz said. “We want to make it a little enticing to come to shows. If you want the new stuff, come to the shows to get it.”
The Black Moods embraced the element of pop into its songwriting for “Blood.”
“We took the demos and recently went back to producer Jim Kaufman and rerecorded them,” Diaz said. “We still use the elements they had in their production when we recorded the songs in the last year. We have live drums, live guitar.”
The Black Moods
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12
WHERE: The Rock, 136 N. Park Avenue, Tucson
COST: $20
INFO: theblackmoods.com
This article appears in Apr 3-10, 2025.
