After the release of a couple LPs featuring local rock bands, original owner and founder Steve Lefever had plans to let the label die. 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 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. 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 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,
The Player Piano,
Novi Split,
The Letterpress, and special guests Pinewood Derby. Today, Sunset Alliance remains an active record label cooperating with different artists globally and focusing mainly on
indie and
alternative music. Although the majority of the latest releases are digital, the label keeps selling physical records and merch as well through their online shop. ==Bands ==