Sons of the Golden West was formed in 2004 by Bay Area-based musicians Eric Butterfield and B. Satter. Vocalist Justin Sacco joined the group in the early stages of the band's first recording. Drummer Aaron Markus later rounded out the lineup.

The band's self-titled, 12-song album was self-released on the band's own Fashionably Late Records in 2006; the first three tracks from the album can be heard at www.sotgw.com/listen.