One Lone Car is a promising St. Louis band that plays hook-filled modern rock that should garner some major radio play.

The year is setting up nicely for the Alton quartet with their second LP, “North, South, East and the Rest,” releasing this Saturday on Uranus Recordings/Downtrodden. After playing the Bluebird on Saturday, They will be playing a handful of higher-profile gigs including dates with Soul Asylum and the Gin Blossoms.
Recorded at the Gin Blossoms’ Uranus Recording studio in Tempe, Ariz., the smart, tight songs on the album reflect the band’s 1980s new wave influences with some clear nods to 1970s guitar rock.

Frontman Dustin “Dei” Plegge’s voice is livelier and less predictable than your average modern rock clone.

The band has been playing the local bars for the past three or four years. I caught up with them the other day as they took a break in their Alton rehearsal space.

***

RC: How did you hook up with the Gin Blossoms?

DP: We’ve played all over the country ourselves including a tour of the East Coast last February. We met Robin Wilson (who fronts the Gin Blossoms) after inquiring about his rehearsal space. He liked our sound and called us back. We’ve opened for them over the past year and try to play with them whenever we can. We had a show in Tempe at the Last Exit and met a bunch of other great bands.

RC: What will be some highlights of your upcoming tour?

DP: The biggest highlight will be playing The Mint in L.A. Two days later we have a show in Tempe and Robin will join us onstage. We’re opening for Let Go, who is really big out there.

One Lone Car CD Release Show with Calhoun (Ft. Worth, Tex.) and Bear Hug Jersey

7 p.m. Saturday, March 8

The Bluebird, 2706 Olive Street. $8.

http://www.bluebirdstl.com/.

www.myspace.com/onelonecar

Upcoming shows

Mar 16 at The Canopy Club, Champaigne, Ill.

Mar 29 at The Canyons with Soul Asylum, Park City, Utah

Apr 12 at Off Broadway with John Henry & The Engine

May 9 at Ridgefield Playhouse with Gin Blossoms, Ridgefield, Connecticut

May 17 at the Chesapeake Jubilee with Gin Blossoms, Chesapeake, Virginia

Jul 13 at Taste of Dallas with Soul Asylum, Dallas, Tex.

Video: “Of Course I’ll Love You Always” at Cicero’s