After six months away (not including a low-key set at the Main Street Vinyl Record Fair last November), Johnny de Courcy and the Death Rangers finally make their live return on Thursday (February 20). The band is headlining the opening night of Lukes General Store, a Calgary institution making its Vancouver debut with a pop-up location at the Space Lab (126 East Pender Street).

So what can we expect? “All new set, man,” de Courcy told the Straight, adding that the hiatus gave him time to woodshed the Death Rangers’ next record. While it’s still in the classic pop-rock vein of last year’s self-titled debut, de Courcy promises “a live-band affair rather than me doing a bunch of fuckin’ layers on my own”. And also: “It’s gonna be way better!”