Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

The bar space at the Red Palace was warm and cozy last Thursday night, a haven when the rest of H Street was quiet, cold and covered in snow. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. members Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein sat at the bar, part of the crowd that came to escape the elements: Zott in a black sweatshirt, Epstein in a wool sweater. But later and upstairs, in the bar’s performance’s space, flashbulbs and makeshift flares illuminating their NASCAR suits, the two were a dynamic stage duo, commanding the room instead of fading into it.

Though the band has yet to put forth a full-length album, the band has gathered press everywhere from Esquire to ESPN. The LP, to be titled It’s A Corporate World, isn’t due until the spring, but every song the band offered on Thursday night showed promise beyond their EP’s four tracks.

The title track from that album inspired a costume change for Epstein, from his racing suit into a blazer with glowing green lights. A poppy, uptempo track, it stood as a cheerful spot among a dreamy cover of “God Only Knows” and “We Almost Lost Detroit,” which seems to pay homage with its heavier rock feel. All three tracks are slightly different, but all three were performed with heart and a touch of humor — and all three clearly belonged to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.