When Chicago-based band Sunday Runners released its eponymous debut disc last year, more than a few took notice of its edgy and well-honed melodic rock and roll.

And Milwaukee music fans could take pride because the band was fronted by former Mas Optica and Front of Truck guitarist Randy Diderrich.

Diderrich says he wasn't all that surprised about the Runners', well, runaway success.

"I knew the songs were good, and the production was good and really all you can do is hope that other people will get it," he says. "I just wanted to make a little record that my friends and family would enjoy. It's always a bonus if people outside of your little circle dig it."

Having scored tunes on "The OC," "Real World" and "Road Rules" and five weeks nestled in the respected CMJ chart, Sunday Runners are headed back into the studio to record a follow-up.

"We're working at the same place as last time, Sumpter Studios in Lake Geneva. It's where our label (Machine Records) is, and it's the best recording atmosphere that I've ever been in -- super laid-back. We're bringing a guy, Duane Lundy, up from Lexington, KY to do the recording and the band will be producing with our old buddy Todd Bowie, who did the first one. The goal is to work fast, and have it out in the fall."

While the first Sunday Runners disc was conceived initially as a solo project, Diderrich says the second CD will be a group effort. And he's excited by that.

"We've got 60 percent written and the new songs are sounding great. We're playing a couple of them live to test them out, and of shape them a bit. Mason (Brown, the band's guitarist) has been writing and has a different style than me ... more poppy, Kinks-y? It should be a good combination."

Diderrich promises to play a few of those tunes when the Sunday Runners play at The Mad Planet on Saturday with Stall.

Also on the bill is Minneapolis outfit The Hopefuls. The band was originally called Camaro and later The Olympic Hopefuls until the five-ring thugs demanded they cease and desist using the "O" word. The group has managed to soldier on, nevertheless, and recently released its full-length debut disc, "The Fuses Refuse to Burn," which rocks melodically in the vein of Weezer, The Apples in Stereo and even, yes, The Cars.

Small-town Illinois rockers The Living Blue play at Onopa on Friday, Feb. 24. The garage poppers recently released its Minty Fresh Records debut, "Fire, Blood, Water," after a triumphant appearance at the '05 South by Southwest in Austin and it's loaded with chiming guitars, ringing melodies and just enough grit.

The disc follows on the heels of a 2004 disc -- "Living in Blue," recorded with power-pop guru Adam Schmitt at the controls -- that landed the quartet on the WB's "One Tree Hill" and MTV's "Power Girls" and on stages across America with the likes of The Strokes and the reformed New York Dolls.

Also on Friday is the second of four concerts in the Spring 2006 Wisconsin Singer-Songwriter Series at the Cedarburg Cultural Center. Minnesota's Peter Mayer takes the stage at 8 p.m. with what have been described as his "inventive guitar work and soothing voice." Other shows in the series include Cheryl Wheeler on March 10 and David Stoddard on March 31.

You can get your St. Pat's Day on early Saturday, Feb. 25 at The Fenians play at McAuliffe's Pub in Racine. The Orange County quintet pops in on J.J. and company as part of a tour in advance of the recording of its sixth CD. In the meantime, you can enjoy number five, Every Day's a Hooley," released in 2004.

A week later, on Friday, March 3, Detroit singer/songwriter Luke Sayers makes his Milwaukee debut at the Bremen Café, performing songs from his disc, "Songbook: The Introduction."

The Pabst hosts eclectic Canadian singer/songwriter and poet Jane Siberry on Friday, March 3. Her latest disc is 2003's "Shushan the Palace: Hymns of Earth."

Finally, on Tuesday, March 7, Lucinda Williams returns to town, much to the delight of roots rock and alt.country fans. She also plays at The Pabst and will certainly bring all the fire and grit that fueled last May's "Live at the Fillmore" CD on Lost Highway. She'll perform a rare acoustic duo show with Doug Pettibone.