At one time, while he lived in the Richmond Hill area north of the city, Rock singer Kevin Huckell used to book his Plaza Ratz band all over the GTA, in particular in the westerly portion in Etobicoke and Mississauga.

Kevin dropped out of the scene several years ago while dealing with health and family matters, but a year ago announced he was about to move to Scarborough, where he’s been settled in a very comfortable domestic arrangement since last autumn.

With all that settled, he told me not long ago, it was time to get back to the business of making some party Rock music in clubs, so starting early last winter he reformed the Ratz and began appearing at a couple of places not far from home.

I had a chance to catch up with the group a few weeks ago when they performed at a cozy little room known as Kelly’s on Kingston Rd., where they’ve become regular attractions. While the band is still a little rough around the edges (they had a first-time bass player for this show and no harmonies singer, forcing Huckell to carry the entire vocal load) they still have the energy and drive and talent to put on a very entertaining evening of classic Rock, and some tunes, such as their signature “You Talk Too Much” and a killer version of Goddo’s “Young Girls” are show-stoppers.

The group performs at another Kingston Rd. eatery —Tara Inn at 2365 Kingston Rd.- tonight from 8:30 - 12:30 and the group should be even tighter and more lively for this no-cover show.