A Day Away is a year-old emo punk-rock band starting to make a name for itself locally with fun lyrics everyday youth can relate to and a unified, polished and unique sound.

Addiction, the opening song of the band’s debut EP, combines great lyrics about a guy who tries to sweet talk a girl and ends up stuttering all over himself with perfectly matched music to go along with the failure.

“The music nearly always comes first because we think the feel of the music should set the tone for the lyrics. Also, if you have the music first, you can form the vocals to match the music, said guitarist for the band Blake Duncan.

“I’ve gone so far as to count the number of syllables each line should have and write lyrics to fit the number of syllables needed,” added Duncan.

The second song on the sample, Before It Ends, is a bit heavier from the start but lightens up when the singer’s voice cuts in with a lyrics about two young lovers and their very passionate relationship and how quickly the wonderful bliss ends. A Day Away heightens the emotions through their choice of more intense music, which includes an amped-up guitar along with tons of bass and drums.

Sarcastic Reminder has lyrics that most guys in high school and college can relate to: “Driving fast out of here / won’t turn back for at least a year / getting out while I’m still young / yes I’ll get this done / I’ll sing a song and prove them wrong / show them that there’s more to me, just a kid they see.”

A Day Away makes Sarcastic Reminder sound authentic by using great harmonizing techniques that make it sound like they’re competition to parents who are constantly babying them and not giving them the credit that they deserve.

Despite being a younger band, A Day Away has some really intense music that combines well thought out music with fun, playful and at sometimes serious lyrics that make them a band to listen to as well as to see.

“Our performances are shows, intended to entertain, not just to regurgitate our recordings,” said Duncan.

You can find out about the A Day Away’s upcoming gigs, listen to music samples and buy the band’s debut EP at www.myspace.com/adayawayband.