EP OF THE DAY — DAYTONA: STORM SO LONG

It’s been a tough week at Daytona, where rains canceled Sunday’s NASCAR race and a fiery explosion shortened Monday’s night’s makeup competition. But it should be a much sunnier week for the band Daytona as they get set to release their debut EP. Guitarist Hunter Simpson (Wild Yaks), drummer Christopher Lauderdale (the Siberians), and bassist Jose Boyer (Harlem) were friends when they were in North Carolina, and now that they have all made the musical pilgrimage to Brooklyn, they have formed an indie pop trio. From the sweet opening chords of “You’re in Beijing” to the infectious closing jangle of “Dive In,” the five-song EP, Storm So Long, features bright hooks and catchy melodies. There’s an Asian tinge to the title track, while a flowing synth floats on waves in the background of “Undertow.” “I know you say you’re going away / Why don’t you stay?” they ask on “In Your Arms,” making it difficult to turn the album off. “A day is not a waste of time,” they proclaim on “You’re in Beijing,” and indeed, it would not be a waste of time to check these guys out. Daytona will be celebrating the March 2 release of Storm So Long, which was recorded in Long Island City in December, with a series of local shows beginning at Shea Stadium on March 2 with Simpson’s other band, Wild Yaks, along with Steel Phantoms and Busy Busy Busy, and continuing March 5 at Cake Shop with Fenster, March 21 at Littlefield with Ed Askew, Steve Gunn, and Saredren Wells, and March 27 at the Rock Shop with Polica and Field Mouse.