words and multimedia by Cam Penner

Alan Mansfield and Steve Kudlacek are natural storytellers.

They know the story of Nebraska music in the 1990s. As part of Witness Tree's first iteration, starting in 1992, the two know the story firsthand. Back then, with bassist Eric Slater rounding out the band, they played acoustic coffee-shop songs, and continued through the decade before breaking up in 2000. Since they got back together in 2008, the band has changed directions, now a bit louder with more bite.

“We were acoustic-based rock with some loud guitar and drums: That was us in 1995,” says vocalist/guitarist Kudlacek, during Witness Tree's interview on our radio show on KZUM, Hear Nebraska FM. “Now we look at music, and we really want to be a rock band and have an edgier sound.”

Their new EP, Breathe In, showcases this change, and will be released on May 31. Witness Tree will celebrate the CD release at Slowdown this Friday with Thunder Power, Two Drag Club and Bulletproof Hearts.

“It was like being in a new band,” guitarist Mansfield says. “We had a new energy, new vibe, and a new relationship with each other.”

Listen to one of the transitional songs, "Memory," which draws on Witness Tree's past but shares some sonic similarities with their "edgier" material.

(Tonight on Hear Nebraska FM, listen to The Bottle Tops. Tune in at 89.3 FM or stream online at kzum.org.)

Cam Penner is a Hear Nebraska intern. He is loquacious. Reach him at camp@hearnebraska.org.