Sweetheart Contract

A furious streak runs through Sweetheart Contract's frenetic, Americana-tinged rock and roll. Though instant and earwormy, their music is something of a Trojan horse - under the guise of assured, super-melodic pop songs, songwriter Dexy Klepacz knots together uncompromising takedowns and spitting, fearless odes to love lost or soured.

The London four-piece were birthed in summer 2012 and swiftly began knocking heads together with a clattering, venomous collection of songs. "The Lonesome Death of the One-Man Cabaret Act" overlays a psychobilly flourish and an itchy, jittering riff with a tightly wound, desperate chorus, Dexy's vocals accelerating from a sigh to a howl; the satisfying "Summer Heist" tempers its catchiness with bittersweet, world-weary lyrics, and "Your Fucking Move" is as naked and fearless an anti-love song as you're likely to hear this year.

Dexy’s gutsy, idiosyncratic songwriting draws influence from diverse heroes - Elliott Smith's brittle beauty is here, and Big Star's pioneering alt-pop, but there are also nods to Johnny Cash and the Replacements.
Initially a solo performer, it soon became clear that his punky, abrasive take on Americana needed a full band. A gang was formed, and Dexy & The Hand Me Downs nailed down a reputation for rambunctious, compelling live shows, touring up and down the country and playing with the Wedding Present, Cory Branan and Franz Nikolay.

In 2012, Dexy formed Sweetheart Contract, debuting at east London’s Rhythm Factory and lining up autumn shows with US country upstart Lydia Loveless and a double whammy with legendary Memphis bar-room heroes Lucero.

This is a genuine band with genuine heart that are set to capture the imagination of smart, passionate music fans in a blaze of melody, fury and frenetic performance.