Back at my local haunt, the legendary Cart and Horses, birthplace of Iron Maiden and still one of the best-sounding rooms in East London, it was time for a night of proper, old-school Hard Rock. Friday’s bill paired the high-octane Dutch outfit The Dirty Denims with rising Basingstoke four-piece Revenant, and the mix couldn’t have worked better.

Revenant hit the stage first, opening with a thunderous drum intro that jolted a few punters into life. Note to self: remember the earplugs next time. Their sound is a blend of Classic and Southern Rock swagger, gritty but melodic, all anchored by the dual guitar attack of “Sugarman” Sam Lay and Matthew Hudson. 'Public Service Announcement' set the tone, while 'Best Medicine' and 'The Masquerade' showed off their knack for big hooks and solid grooves.

'Black Dogs and Sad Men' tackled male mental health with a heavy sincerity that cut through the noise. 'Coming Back to Life', their first ever song, apparently written in forty minutes, was introduced with tongue-in-cheek humour about Lay’s ex-wife. With Carl Donoghue pounding the drums and Robin Nutley keeping the low-end steady (and taking plenty of jokes about his height), they closed with 'I’ll Be There', a gritty, heartfelt finale that sealed their growing reputation as ones to watch.

Then came The Dirty Denims, and if Revenant were all grit and groove, the Dutch quartet were pure, unfiltered fun. Frontwoman Mirjam Sieben tore across the stage like a live wire; equal parts Suzi Quatro and Bon Scott, she belted out feel-good Rock anthems that turned the Cart into a full-on party zone. Guitarist Jeroen Teunis peeled off solos with effortless flair, while bassist Han Ernest and drummer Suzanne Driessen kept the rhythm section tight and bouncy, even joining in on backing vocals.

Tracks like 'Party On' and 'We Won’t Stop' were tailor-made for fist-pumping singalongs, and they also managed to showcase 'Back in Time', their new single, much to the delight of the crowd. By the end of their set, the walls of the Cart were sweating as much as the crowd. For their first UK visit, The Dirty Denims didn’t just make an impression; they left scorch marks.

A night of riffs, smiles and proper Rock’n’Roll attitude. Exactly what Fridays were made for.

Ivan De Mello