Black Cat Habitat is a soulful and shamelessly melodic original indie rock band with a beautifully-worn 90's sensibility, led by singer-songwriter Rachel McCullough, with guitarist Neal Blumberg, bassist Danny Walker, and drummer Jay B. Wade. Rachel’s upbeat and bittersweet songs center on themes of longing, triumph, and finding your own habitat.
From their very first beat, audiences instantly know they are in for a high-rev ride. Black Cat Habitat captures their attention with Rachel’s “wickedly sweet” vocals, punctuated by Neal’s texture-laden guitar riffs, Tony’s undeniable driving bass lines, and Jay's always-on-in perfect measure drums.
Black Cat Habitat’s high-energy shows feature songs from the Jam the Signal (2016) and Ready to Bruise (2011) EPs. Listeners are greeted by a multi-layered sound reflecting the band’s wide-ranging influences, such as U2, The Pretenders, Juliana Hatfield, Nick Drake, The String Cheese Incident, Iron and Wine, The Allman Brothers, Phish, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. It doesn’t make sense. But then it does.
Drawing inspiration from the feeling of being on the outside, it was the yearning for inclusion that led to the creation of Black Cat Habitat. Music was her way to connect. Her habitat. A place of understanding without saying a word. And like the magical healing powers of a black cat’s purr, she found other searchers on her journey.
They rejoice at having found each other, and audiences can hear that giddy excitement with every hungry, unapologetic indie-rock song they play, and on-stage banter. “We're not just after the perfect tone, we're after a feeling. When we play, we're looking for symbiosis with each other and ultimately, with the audience.”
Press Peeks:
- “To this writer’s ears, Maria McKee and Lone Justice came to mind hearing the beguiling “Jam the Signal,” the title song from BCH’s 2016 album. You can’t really liken it to most pop or rock, though, it evades comparison.” Route 1, October 3, 2018. Full Page article!
- On-Air News mention: NJ TV12 Coverage (10/3/2018)
- “They're back, and bigger. Black Cat Habitat has been no stranger to area stages. Whether in cozy coffee shops or larger brew pub venues like Triumph, this indie-rock band has been churning out their own style of '90s-esque for years. Their repertoire has nuggets of soul collided with the jangle of guitar and rockin' choruses.” The Times/NJ.COM, May 30, 2018.
- “Their sound is reminiscent of powerful female rock of the '90s; her vocals stand out as a big, bold display of what happens when indie meets grunge and has a rendezvous with alternative rock.” The Times/NJ.Com. January 10, 2018.
- “Black Cat Habitat, fronted by singer Rachel McCullough, is an indie-rock band that brings soul to the stage. They create catchy melodies that linger with you long after the show, and McCullough's vocals leave a lasting impression.” The Times/NJ.COM, August 7, 2017.
- “They've got a sinister sweetness that makes their show oh-so-good. Black Cat Habitat is a shameless indie pop-rock band that puts on a sultry, raw performance every time they take the stage. Their repertoire is dark yet inviting.” The Times/NJ.com, 11/16/2016.