Black Moods & Backrooms: How The Black Moods Cut Their Teeth in Tempe

From Coffee Shops to Change: The Purpose-Driven Sound of Tia Penny

On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman sits down at the intimate Z-Bar inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort with one of Arizona's most promising young voices — Tia Penny. At just 18 years old, Tia has already built an impressive musical foundation. From receiving her first ukulele at age seven to performing in coffee shops across Arizona, her journey reflects both talent and purpose. With influences ranging from Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin to Bob Dylan, her soulful sound carries a depth far beyond her years. But Tia's story goes beyond music. She shares the inspiration behind her powerful original song "Goodbye," written after intervening in a friend's mental health crisis. The song led to a meaningful partnership with Teen Lifeline [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0], a teen suicide prevention organization. Through this collaboration, Tia has performed at their gala events and helped raise awareness by incorporating the hotline number into her music video—using her platform to make a real difference. In this episode, you'll hear about: 🎸 Starting her musical journey with a ukulele and piano 🎶 Influences from classic rock and folk legends 🧠 Plans to study psychobiology at UCLA with a potential music minor ✍️ Writing songs focused on social impact and mental health awareness 💙 The story behind "Goodbye" and her partnership with Teen Lifeline 🌴 Moving to Los Angeles to pursue both academics and music Tia Penny represents the next generation of artists—musicians who blend artistry with advocacy, using their voices not only to entertain but to inspire change. http://www.tiapenny.com [http://www.tiapenny.com/] https://www.instagram.com/tiapennysings/ [https://www.instagram.com/tiapennysings/] youtube.tiapenny.com [http://youtube.tiapenny.com/] https://www.facebook.com/tiapennysings [https://www.facebook.com/tiapennysings] Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

Black Moods & Backrooms: How The Black Moods Cut Their Teeth in Tempe

Origin: Tempe, Arizona Genre: Rock / Blues Rock Core Members: * Josh Kennedy — Guitar, Vocals * Chico Diaz — Drums * Brandon Kuntz — Bass On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman sits down with Arizona rock powerhouse The Black Moods to talk about how it really starts. Before the tours. Before the big stages. Before opening for national acts. It was four-hour bar gigs. Moving pool tables out of the way. Playing to eight people at the Yucca Tap Room. Josh, Chico, and Brandon break down: 🎸 How the band name "The Black Moods" came from a shared obsession with The Doors and rock biographies 🥁 The first chaotic gigs that were "train wreck after train wreck" 🚐 Getting thrown into booked shows with no safety net 🎤 Why playing to tiny crowds was essential to building real stage chops 🛣️ Road etiquette — what separates seasoned touring bands from rookies 🔥 The moment they went all-in on music They talk about inheritance money funding the leap, grinding through early gigs, surviving COVID by gigging harder than ever, and why you can't learn stage presence sitting in your bedroom studio. This is the part of the music story people don't glamorize — but it's the part that builds you. Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

Acoustic by Week, Full Band by Friday: The Rise of Lacy Rashea

On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman walks into Roosters Country and discovers a band on the brink of something bigger. Meet Lacy Rashea and her band. By weekday, Lacy and Shane strip it down to acoustic — what she calls "paid practice" — tightening harmonies, testing songs, and building chemistry. By weekend, it's a full five-piece country-rock show that brings the rowdy. Lacy shares: 🎤 Growing up with a country-singer dad who opened for Tim McGraw 🎸 Picking up guitar at 12 but choosing songwriting over theory 🔥 Winning Best Female Artist & Best Upcoming Artist at the ACDMA Awards 🛣️ Touring regionally and nationally 🌵 Why Arizona built her — but Nashville is calling They talk about: * The energy exchange between performer and crowd * Why acoustic shows are more vulnerable than full-band sets * How open mics create real chemistry * Overthinking as a musician * The grind of bar gigs vs. the rush of festival stages And the big announcement: Lacy Rashea is making the move to Nashville. Not because Arizona isn't enough — but because growth requires discomfort. Also coming up: opening for Diamond Rio [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1], Jo Dee Messina [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=2], and performing at the Chandler Ostrich Festival [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=3]. This is the grind before the breakout. Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

No AI, No Tracks — Just Blues: JC & The Juke Rockers on Arizona Backroads

On this episode of Arizona Backroads, Birdman is back at the Grand Vista Lounge inside the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort, sitting down with Arizona blues powerhouse JC & The Juke Rockers. Frontman John Chavez (JC) shares how a $12 Stella guitar at age 12 launched a lifelong journey from classic rock roots to full-time blues musician. Alongside bassist and longtime collaborator Rob DeVries and Chicago-raised drummer Matt Indies, the trio breaks down what keeps live music alive in Arizona. You'll hear about: 🎸 From high school choir to 20+ years of band chemistry 🥁 Basement drum practice that brought the Chicago police knocking 🎤 Why the audience is the "fourth member" of the band 🎶 The DJ phase — and why live bands are roaring back 🔥 Blues as the foundation, with rock, R&B, and old-school country in the mix 💿 Their 13-track original album All About the Blues Plus, Birdman captures one of those pure Arizona moments — little kids dancing on the balcony during sunset, maybe experiencing their first live band ever. No tracks. No AI. No substitutes. Just musicians, instruments, and energy. Arizona Backroads — Get out and explore.

Dripping in Divinity: Carley Cavender's Leap Into Full-Time Music

Birdman pulls up in Downtown Mesa at Diamond Don's, right next to The Saltmine Studio Oasis, to sit down with rising Arizona vocalist and recording artist Carley Cavender. Carley's story is the real behind-the-scenes grind: singing at weddings at nine years old, getting bullied after a school talent show, then reclaiming the mic at 18 through open mics and never looking back. She breaks down why open mics matter for artists, why small rooms can be scarier than big stages, and how sobriety changed her relationship with performance — nerves, confidence, and all. Now she's stepping into her next chapter: leaving her day job and going full-time music, pushing her original work, and building beyond Arizona. Carley talks influence and identity (blues and soul at the core, modern edge in the delivery), the business reality of early gigs, and the mindset shift from "cover sets for hours" to "artist sets that move people." You'll hear: * Why open mics are the best training ground for stage confidence * The truth about early gig pay and how artists level up * Performing sober vs. "liquid courage" * Staying grounded while chasing big visibility * What's next: originals, out-of-state shows, and a bigger stage Arizona Backroads — get out and explore. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carleycavendermusic/ [Instagram:%20https://www.instagram.com/carleycavendermusic/%20%20Facebook%20(Soulful%20Sounds%20by%20Carley%20Cavender):%20https://www.facebook.com/Soulfulsoundsbycarleycavender/%20%20Spotify%20(Artist):%20https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM4y2vCZF8NH1yboGqa5X%20%20YouTube%20(Dripping%20In%20Divinity%20playlist):%20https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7LPtN7gROUWfor8MYAZbAcXSgxTuAcH8%20%20YouTube%20(Carley%20Cavender%20Music%20channel):%20https://www.youtube.com/@CarleyCavenderMusic/videos] Facebook (Soulful Sounds by Carley Cavender): https://www.facebook.com/Soulfulsoundsbycarleycavender/ [https://www.facebook.com/Soulfulsoundsbycarleycavender/] Spotify (Artist): https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM4y2vCZF8NH1yboGqa5X [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM4y2vCZF8NH1yboGqa5X] YouTube (Dripping In Divinity playlist): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7LPtN7gROUWfor8MYAZbAcXSgxTuAcH8 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7LPtN7gROUWfor8MYAZbAcXSgxTuAcH8] YouTube (Carley Cavender Music channel): https://www.youtube.com/@CarleyCavenderMusic/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@CarleyCavenderMusic/videos]