Jim Louvau
Audio By Carbonatix
The Black Moods’ singer, Josh Kennedy, knows what he wants in his band. With the addition of Wyves’ bassist Brenden McBride, Kennedy said he and drummer Chico Diaz feel the dream lineup is complete.
“This is the band I’ve always wanted to have,” Kennedy said.
Showing The Black Moods’ progress toward its full-length album and its trademark modern-leaning classic rock grit, the Tempe-based rock act will celebrate its EPs “Blood” and “Passion” at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4, at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale.
The act plans to release them on a double EP vinyl called “Passion and Blood.”
The Black Moods teased its EP with the blues-infused anthem, “Suit Yourself.”
Kennedy leads the charge with his roaring guitars and raspy vocals, layered with Diaz’s driving percussion and McBride’s bottom line.
The chorus hits hard with a rebellious hook that’s both catchy and cathartic — especially to Kennedy.
“To me, it’s a song about pushing ahead no matter what and not letting anyone or anything drag you down,” Kennedy said. “Lyrically, I wrote it hoping it would help me practice what I preach.”
Mr. P-body
The Black Moods are U.S. road warriors, pushing their sound to anyone who will listen — despite blown tires, other bus problems and equipment issues.
The trio is determined to make its music stick. While “Heaven” leaned into melodic introspection, “Sugar” swings the pendulum back toward gritty sensuality and blues-drenched riffs. Together, the two tracks suggest a dynamic and diverse album on the horizon.
To mold its sound, The Black Moods frequently collaborate with Jim Kaufman (Everclear, Helmet, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, and Ashley McBryde) and Johnny “K” Karkazis (Plush, Adelitas Way, Disturbed, Plain White T’s and 3 Doors Down).
“Suit Yourself” continues their streak of high-energy releases. With a new album on the horizon, the songs set the tone for a bold, new chapter.
“Sugar” is a masterclass in seductive rock ‘n’ roll. Kennedy describes it as “one of the sexiest songs we’ve written.”
The lyrics create a picture of passion laced with danger. Lines like “Don’t forget I’m kinda crazy, cinematic, a little magic” hint at a volatile romance, wrapped in drama and allure.
To match the song’s sultry vibe, The Black Moods released a visually arresting music video directed by Michael Levine (Skillet, Peyton Parrish). Filmed at Chandler’s Rawhide Western Town, the video reimagines a classic bank heist with a twist, blending spaghetti western aesthetics with rock star bravado.
Mr. P-body
The Black Moods are longtime Valley staples. The act sent its debut self-titled record to stores in 2012, following in the footsteps of masters such as the Doors and Jimi Hendrix.
Since then, fans have been drawn to The Black Moods, thanks to songs like “Passion,” “Youth is Wasted on the Young,” “Saturday Night,” “Bad News,” “Bella Donna” and “Sunshine.”
The Black Moods’ live shows have become their selling point, having shared stages with the Doors’ Robby Krieger, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Eve 6, ZZ Top, Rick Springfield, Collective Soul and Cracker.
To add to that aesthetic, The Black Moods welcomed renowned Phoenix musician McBride into the fold earlier this year.
“Brenden McBride is like a shot in the arm for us,” Kennedy said.
“Finally, having him in the band reminds us why we do this in the first place. There are no limits when it comes to working with him and I think that’s why we’ve grown so much in this past year. We had been trying to get him to join us for a long time, and the stars just finally aligned.”
The Black Moods EP release starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4 at Talking Stick Resort. Tickets start at $31 for ages 21 and older.
