Sunset Alliance Records is an independent record label based in

Mesa, Arizona Mesa ( ) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the most populous city in the East Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area), East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by ...

. It is owned and operated by David Jensen.

History

After the release of a couple LPs featuring local rock bands, original owner and founder Steve Lefever had plans to let the label die.Garcia, Gilbert
''Speed Kills'', The Phoenix New Times, Jan. 17, 2002
retrieved 01-09-12 Then, in 2000, he approached the then-frontman of Before Braille, Dave Jensen, who had been working for two years to create a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

for the benefit of a local Phoenix art house and music venue, Modified Arts, and invited him to join in the management of Sunset Alliance and release that compilation on the label.Sunset Alliance Official Site: Story
retrieved 02-17-12 While Dave Jensen's original plans had been to release that record on his own start-up label, Aireshire Drive, he jumped at the opportunity. In 2001, Dave Jensen took full ownership of the label and has managed it since. After a decade of operations, Sunset Alliance remains a small enterprise that focuses on local artists. However, this has not kept the little label from attaining some significant national (and even international) success. During those first ten years, Sunset Alliance put out 46 releases, had three bands appear in the popular Emo Diaries series on Deep Elm Records, found its bands charting on the

CMJ CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events and online media company, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music Monthly'' and ''CMJ New Music Report''. Th ...

200, sent its bands across the U.S. on concert and music festival tours, watched as some of its artists received international praise and released their records in foreign markets, and has even applauded as one of its groups moved on to a major label. In January 2010, Sunset Alliance celebrated its ten-year anniversary with a revue show featuring some of its most successful bands, including: Before Braille,

Fivespeed Fivespeed was an American rock band, formed in Peoria, Arizona, United States, in 1997, and later based in Phoenix, Arizona. While in the beginning, Fivespeed's style was greatly influenced by the punk and hard-core movements,Garcia, Gilbert ''Sp ...

The Player Piano ''The Player Piano'' was a post-rock band from Provo, Utah in the United States. History The members of the Player Piano met while still in college in Provo, Utah. There, they participated in the indie music scene and made their own contributio ...

Novi Split ''Novi Split'' is David Jerkovich's (a.k.a. "David J.") semi-solo indie pop/folk act. It is based in San Pedro, California. Story By 2003, David J. started recording his own version of lo-fi indie folk-pop under the moniker "Novi Split." The fol ...

The Letterpress ''The Letterpress'' was a rock band from Mesa, Arizona, most widely known for its lack of guitars, as the band originally only consisted of two basses and a drum set. History The Letterpress was formed with the idea of doing something differen ...

, and special guests Pinewood Derby.

Bands

This list is compiled from information found on the Sunset Alliance website,Sunset Alliance Official Site: Allies
retrieved 01-21-12 as well as through the label's discography. * Andherson *

Art for Starters ''Art for Starters'' is a band from Mesa, Arizona. It is essentially former Before Braille frontman David Jensen's solo project. History While still a member of Before Braille, David Jensen would constantly demo new songs for a project that he ...

* Before Braille * The Bled * Beninem * Captain Baby * Corrupt Citizen * Felix * 52nd Street Jazz Band *

Half Visconte ''Half Visconte'' was an indie rock band from Tempe, Arizona, fronted by Scott Tennent and Rich Minardi. Tennent was owner and operator of the now-defunct label, This Argonaut Records, and the former manager of the Phoenix indie/art rock-music v ...

* Jeff Johnrey * Last Day Parade *

Loyal Wife Loyal Wife is a band from Mesa, Arizona. It is former Before Braille frontman David Jensen's latest project. History Band members David Jensen and Ashley Taylor originally crossed paths while Jensen was still in his band Before Braille.

* The Manhattan Project *

Mr. Fantastical Mr. Fantastical, a.k.a. Harvey B. Fantastical, is the alter-ego of Jason Corman, former guitar player for Arizona rock band Jesus Chrysler Supercar, butcher, and solo-artist. History Jesus Chrysler Supercar Jason Corman's (i.e., Mr. Fantastical ...

The Necronauts The Necronauts is a band originally from Mesa, Arizona. It has been active for well over ten years and maintains a place in the Arizona punk rock scene, and has now started to find a place nationwide. History The Necronauts formed in 2000 in Da ...

Rajiv Patel Rajiv Patel is a musician and virtuoso solo-guitarist from Mesa, Arizona. Story Patel's Bands Soon after Before Braille recorded its debut LP, '' The Rumor'', Rajiv Patel was recruited and joined the band as its new lead guitarist.Dominic, Seren ...

* Redfield * Roger Over & Out * The Retaliation for What They Have Done to Us * Signedso *

Shotstar Shotstar was a rock band from Tucson, Arizona. History Inspired by 60s classic rock as well as the power pop of the '70s and '90s, singer/guitarist Andrew Taillole and bassist/singer Tobin Watkinson began writing and recording songs together i ...

Stereotyperider Stereotyperider is an American post-hardcore/punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. History Stereotyperider was formed in 1999 by former members of ManDingo and Adams Alcoholics.O'Connor, Leanne''Interview: Stereotyperider'', Verbicide M ...

* Tickertape Parade File:Before_Braille_group.png, Before Braille File:RajivDPatel.png,

File:The Bled live on Projekt Revolution tour.jpg, The Bled File:Art4Starters.png,

Discography

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control American independent record labels Indie rock record labels Record labels based in Arizona Companies based in Mesa, Arizona Record labels established in 1999 1999 establishments in Arizona