Tempe-based rock trio The Black Moods are riding a wave of momentum this summer with their swaggering new single "Red Lights," a track the band describes as an "adult Disneyland" version of a late-night rock anthem. The song, recorded at The Stereotypes studio in Los Angeles with a Grammy-winning production team, has already found a rapid audience response and pushed the group's sound into fresh territory.
From Tempe riffs to Los Angeles studios
Frontman Joshua Kennedy said the track was born from an intentional push beyond the band’s usual palette. The song’s opening riff traces back to Kennedy’s recent listening deep-dive into The Smashing Pumpkins, and the lyrics recast elements of the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are into a more dangerous, grown-up narrative. The band recorded the song at The Stereotypes studio alongside a production team known for chart-topping pop work.
"We had that envisioned, and then we just made an adult version of it," Kennedy said. "Lyrically, it’s like, 'She wants a drag on my cigarette / her eyeliner’s on the run / She said she wants to get out of here now / She knows I like to have fun.' That kind of vibe. It's a good adult Disneyland kind of thing."
Quick sessions, strong reaction
Members of the trio — Kennedy, bassist Brenden McBride and drummer Chico Diaz — told the Shepherd Express that the song came together quickly in the studio, with only a couple hours spent assembling the parts. The band said that streamlined recording process has often delivered their best work, and fans reacted promptly: "Red Lights" climbed to number 13 on the iTunes charts after its release.
The single's chart placement underscores a broader dynamic for the band, which blends classic and modern rock elements and credits outside collaborators for pushing them into new sonic spaces. Still, the trio says they want to return to a more straightforward rock approach when time allows, hoping eventually to enter the studio for a straight-ahead rock album.
Tour stops and Milwaukee ties
Despite their Tempe roots and studio work in Los Angeles, The Black Moods maintain a fiercely loyal following in cities like Milwaukee. The band plans to return to Shank Hall on Friday, Aug. 21, a stop that highlights the way regional fan bases can sustain rock bands through both traditional touring and streaming success.
- Song: "Red Lights" — recorded at The Stereotypes studio in Los Angeles
- Chart performance: reached No. 13 on iTunes charts
- Band members: Joshua Kennedy (frontman), Brenden McBride (bass), Chico Diaz (drums)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Single | "Red Lights" |
| Studio | The Stereotypes (Los Angeles) |
| Chart peak | No. 13 on iTunes |
Local music observers say the band’s mix of classic-meets-modern rock and its deliberate collaborations have helped broaden their audience without abandoning the trio’s core identity. For Tempe concertgoers, that identity is rooted in the city’s vibrant local scene: a place where musicians often experiment with influences from across decades, then bring the results back to stages in Phoenix and beyond.
What’s next for the Tempe trio
Beyond the Milwaukee show, the band has indicated an appetite for both more collaborative studio experiments and a return to a rawer rock sound. The dual goals — pushing sonic boundaries through high-profile producers while still aiming for a straight-ahead rock album — reflect a balancing act many contemporary rock acts face as they seek to grow without losing the elements that built their initial following.
As The Black Moods continue to release new material and tour, Tempe listeners will be watching to see how the band integrates these experiments into a longer-term body of work. For now, the quick-moving success of "Red Lights" and the forthcoming Shank Hall appearance show a band that is both rooted in place and willing to take its Tempe-born sound into new environments.
Concert-goers and local fans can expect to hear the band’s evolving mix of classic riffs and modern production on the upcoming tour stop, where The Black Moods will bring a taste of Tempe’s rock scene to Milwaukee on Aug. 21.
