The Black Moods

The Black Moods play raw, amplified rock & roll.

Born in the Arizona desert and reared on stages across North America, the band delivers a modern update of a timeless sound, breathing fresh life into a familiar mix of electric guitars, anthemic hooks, and percussive stomp. The Black Moods’ three members — frontman/guitarist Josh Kennedy, drummer Chico Diaz and bassist Jordan Hoffman — aren’t looking to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they’re piling into a vehicle that’s existed for decades, souping up the engine to suit their contemporary needs, and steering those wheels toward their own rock & roll horizon.

The band formed in Tempe, Arizona. Inspired by local heroes like the Gin Blossoms and Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers — both of whom have become champions of the Black Moods, often tapping the group as a high-profile opening act — The Black Moods began building their audience the old-school way: by hitting the road. They toured heavily, promoting albums like their 2012 self-titled debut and 2016’s Medicine with gigs across the country. By the time “Bella Donna” hit the radio airwaves during the summer of 2018, The Black Moods’ fanbase had grown exponentially. The song became a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, paving the way for the band’s biggest shows to date.

Modern-day torchbearers of ageless rock & roll, The Black Moods aren’t shy about nodding to their influences. “Bella Donna” was partially inspired by the Doors’ slinky strut, while the climatic chorus of “Bad News” points to alt-rock mainstays like the Foo Fighters. With one boot planted in the same ground as their influences and the other pointed toward unexplored territory, The Black Moods blaze their own path while still paying tribute to those who came before them.

Both “Bella Donna” and “Bad News” were recorded with Grammy Award-nominated producer Johnny “K” Karkazis, who flew to Phoenix and set up a makeshift studio in the band’s own rehearsal space. There, in the same practice facility once shared by hometown heroes like the Refreshments, the band funneled the spirit and swagger of their live show into their most dynamic recordings to date. That live show — which The Black Moods sharpened with cross-country tours alongside the Doors’ Robbie Krieger, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Eve 6, Cracker, and numerous other headliners — has always been one of the band’s strongest selling points. Now, thanks to singles like “Bella Donna” (which also lends its name to the first wine in The Black Moods’ wine series), The Black Moods’ fury and fire onstage is matched by their electricity on record.

The band’s name is The Black Moods. And these days, those black moods are looking pretty bright.