EPK
Live Performance Videos
NEW ALBUM RELEASE - 2026
Stepping Off the Crag
Black Cat Habitat
This indie-rock album from Black Cat Habitat features songs evoking joy, longing, gratitude and strength. From the bopp'n opening track of "Dove" to the emotionally gritty world of "Waves (Song for Gradwell)," the album Read more
This indie-rock album from Black Cat Habitat features songs evoking joy, longing, gratitude and strength. From the bopp'n opening track of "Dove" to the emotionally gritty world of "Waves (Song for Gradwell)," the album is straight ahead rock and groove. The album highlights creative strength and resilience sparked in the "New July" and takes on an "oh wait, it's not me, it's you" attitude in "Control." Feeling comfort and loss all at the same time is reflected in the song "Part of You." Included is the 2025 single counterpart “Part of You (Acoustic)”, along with earlier releases “Make Me Feel,” “Becoming,” and “Dragon’s Tale.” With this album, Black Cat Habitat steps off the crag into the great unknown - a nod to the lyric in "Dragon's Tale."
Black Cat Habitat is a soulful, shamelessly melodic, groove-infused indie rock band whose songs about love, longing, and finding your own habitat linger long after the final note. Known for high-energy performances and emotionally resonant songwriting, the band delivers a sound that’s both powerful and inviting.
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Dove 4:060:00/4:06
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Dragon's Tale 4:160:00/4:16
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Control 4:190:00/4:19
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New July 3:430:00/3:43
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0:00/7:51
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Part of You 4:090:00/4:09
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0:00/3:58
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Make Me Feel 3:540:00/3:54
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New July (Acoustic) 3:390:00/3:39
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0:00/4:43
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0:00/1:03
Cover of The Cure's “Boys Don’t Cry,” lovingly performed by Black Cat Habitat. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Pier Giacalone at Hopetown Sound (Doylestown, PA). Cover Song License #1187813. Boys Don't Cry. By Michael Dempsey, Robert Smith, and Laurence Tolhurst. Copyright Universal Music Mgb Songs o/b/o "Fiction Songs, Ltd."
Albums
Jam the Signal
Black Cat Habitat
Driving rhythm, upbeat music with occasionally gut-wrenching lyrics. All songs written by Rachel McCullough (c) (p). Rachel McCullough - Vocals, Guitar / Pier Giacalone - Lead Guitar / Mark Carson - Bass (except Broke My Read more
Driving rhythm, upbeat music with occasionally gut-wrenching lyrics. All songs written by Rachel McCullough (c) (p). Rachel McCullough - Vocals, Guitar / Pier Giacalone - Lead Guitar / Mark Carson - Bass (except Broke My Heart, played by Pier Giacalone) / Mike Wexler - Drums. Produced and Engineered by Pier Giacalone. Recorded and Mixed by Pier Giacalone at Hopetown Sound (Doylestown, PA). Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Avatar Studios (New York, NY). Photography by Frank Pronesti.
About the Songs: Deeply personal and emphatic without being overdone, the songs include driving rhythms, soaring vocals, and harmonic layers sitting atop swirling guitars. With Rachel on vocals and rhythm guitar, producer Pier Giacalone's lead guitar work catapults "Jam the Signal," "Ambushed," and "The Big Mistake" to the big sounds they crave. Mark Carson brings bass bottom end to "Somebody Brought You Home" and Mike Wexler's precision drumming keeps "Broke My Heart" true to its pop/punk roots.
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Jam the Signal 3:510:00/3:51
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Broke My Heart 2:430:00/2:43
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Ambushed 4:140:00/4:14
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0:00/4:19
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The Big Mistake 3:480:00/3:48
Ready to Bruise
Black Cat Habitat
Soulful, melodic, bittersweet songs about love, longing and finding your own habitat are all dressed up in upbeat tunes framed with black eyeliner. Listeners describe singer-songwriter Rachel McCullough's (aka Deb) vocals Read more
Soulful, melodic, bittersweet songs about love, longing and finding your own habitat are all dressed up in upbeat tunes framed with black eyeliner. Listeners describe singer-songwriter Rachel McCullough's (aka Deb) vocals as "captivating" and "wickedly sweet" evoking comparisons ranging from Gwen Stefani to Alanis Morissette. All songs written by Rachel McCullough.
Light Shines On, Fortune Teller: Rachel McCullough - Vocals, Guitar; Chris Macica - Guitar Adam Winokur - Guitar, Bass; Drums - Matt Muir
Ready to Bruise, You are My Star, I Do: Rachel McCullough - Vocals, Guitar; Lance Reichart - Guitar; Wayne Taussig - Bass; Chris Allen - Drums
The album starts in the dark with Ambushed (How Lucky You are) calling out stealth manipulators with "how lucky you are to be born without a heart, cause mine hurts all the time." Hope springs in a jaded world with the lazy love song You are My Star, "together we'll walk through the midst of the madness." Sweet harmonies are found in the title track Ready to Bruise, a song about taking chances, and yeah, even if it means getting banged up along the way. Fortune Teller reveals a wiser soul comforting the worry wart - even if you think you've "read the script a thousand times," you have no idea about what tomorrow may bring "my dear!" I Do is a love song, with Miss Independent, asking whether she can "live with someone else without losing myself." High energy Light Shines On is the celebration of letting yourself have a voice (but "would you love me anyway?")
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Ambushed (Acoustic) 4:200:00/4:20
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You are My Star 3:180:00/3:18
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Ready To Bruise 4:370:00/4:37
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Fortune Teller 4:040:00/4:04
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I Do 3:540:00/3:54
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Light Shines On 3:270:00/3:27
Promo Videos
Press
Album Review - Stepping Off the Crag
by Dave Franklin, The Big Takeover (03/31/2026)
Interview with Rachel McCullough
- Samuel E. Archer, Muzilog Magazine (03/15/2024)
Mixing It With Nicki Kris
- Nicki Kris, Sisters in Music (03/24/2025)
"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." - Susan Van Dongen, U.S. 1
“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 stage." - Lisa Rich, The Times/NJ.Com
“They're no stranger to Small World Coffee, and it's easy to understand why. 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." - Lisa Rich, The Times/NJ.Com
Photos
Danny Walker, Neal Blumberg, Rachel McCullough, and Jay B. Wade
Live Shows
Previous events
Millersville University Disability Pride Celebration
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Millersville University (Student Center), 40 Dilworth Rd., Millersville, PA 17551
Join us as we perform to celebrate Millersville University's Disability Pride Celebration!
Join Black Cat Habitat to celebrate the release of their long-awaited new album, "Stepping Off the Crag"! The party starts at 3:00 pm with our good friends and your favorite mischief-makers, Charles Laurita and The Mischief! Then keep your groove going with two sets by Black Cat Habitat, including one where we'll play tracks from their entire album! The entire event is free to attend and you'll be brimming with smiles by the end of the day!
Coffee and a Concert at Cranbury Public Library
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Cranbury Public Library, 30 Park Place West, Cranbury, NJ 08512
Free and Open to the Public. Limited Seating! Register at the "Get Tickets" link. Full band acoustic show with the stories behind the music.
Multi-band Show! $10 Cover/21+ Over. Doors open 7:00 pm. Lineup (approx.): 8:00 - The Just Imagines 9:00 - Black Cat Habitat 10:00 - Faint Halos 11:00 - Glass Prince
Join Black Cat Habitat for their annual Gratitude Show at John and Peters! The ability to make music, perform it live and hang with folks who love music as much as they do? They appreciate that and they appreciate you! Stop by and hang out at your Habitat away from home on this last show before Thanksgiving! They'll start out with a sultry acoustic set, before ending the afternoon with full on groove-infused rock! John and Peters has a great menu as well, so come huuuuungry!
Come for the sounds and the incredible food at this iconic tavern off Main St. in Yardley!
Full band acoustic set! 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. In the heart of Princeton!
Join Black Cat Habitat at John and Peters! Special Guest, Soldier On will kick off the show at 3:00 p.m., followed by two sets of Black Cat Habitat mewness! No cover. Tips are appreciated to help fund the new album.
Join Rachel and Neal on the porch for the 1st Annual Doylestown Porchfest!
Acoustic show at this iconic venue on Main St. Come for the sounds and the incredible food!
Black Cat Habitat joins up with Charles Laurita and the MIschief at Dharma Bums!
$10 Advance / $15 Door
Free outdoor show in the heart of Princeton! All tips go to Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for Kids.
Join Black Cat Habitat for a special acoustic show of some of their most popular original songs.
Join us for an afternoon show! Special Guest, Charles Laurita and The Mischief kick it off at 3 p.m. Black Cat Habitat plays 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
