Dark Entries Records Celebrates 15 Years with Two SF Parties

Dark Entries, the record label and Tenderloin shop that specializes in out-of-print and unreleased archival material, especially underground ’80s music, has reached a milestone 15 years.

Josh Cheon says he didn’t launch the label in 2009 thinking this far into the future. “But I think I always was a little overambitious,” he says. “I had a list of projects that I wanted to work on.”

Over the years, Dark Entries has put out more than 100 albums, including unreleased electronic dance music and gay porn soundtracks from Patrick Cowley; and private jazz, blues and gospel recordings by disco star Sylvester. Now, to celebrate that unexpected but entirely welcome longevity, he’s organized two anniversary parties in San Francisco — one a concert at the Great American Music Hall on July 13 and another at the Midway on July 20.

The lineups for both nights are pulled together from musicians Cheon has worked with on Dark Entries releases, but each has a distinct flavor.

The Great American show, headlined by Topographies, will be more post-punk and ’80s leaning, with sets from Brontez Purnell, Loveshadow and Topazu. Topographies, formed in 2018 by Justin Oronos, Jeremie Ruest and Gray Tolhurst, put out their sophomore album earlier this year with Dark Entries, channeling cold wave forebears with impeccably moody, synthy shoegaze.

Purnell may be best known for his punk and garage rock (or his books, Since I Laid My Burden Down and 100 Boyfriends), but on July 13 he’ll be performing electronic music he’s never played live before. “That’s definitely a good reason to come out,” Cheon chuckles, “because you might never see this again!”

Cheon describes Loveshadow, a Bay Area pop duo, as having “soulful Kate Bush kind of vibes,” and hints that there might be a secret guest joining them on vocals.

At the Midway, analog guru and underground Midwest rave hero Bill Converse is playing his live set in San Francisco for the first time ever. “It’s going to be a pretty intense, fun dance party,” says Cheon, who caught Converse’s show in San Diego. This night, he says, will be “definitely more techno, house kind of vibes.” Also performing are Group Rhoda, Dax Pierson, Carlos Souffront and Pre Op Trans.

With acts coming from as far away as Texas and Washington, Cheon is excited for it all to come together. “I’m glad they all said yes and that I was able to get them all to perform here,” he says. “Everyone’s kind of traveling to make this happen, which is really nice.”

The July 20 night also doubles as an unofficial afterparty for the San Francisco Art Book Fair, which runs July 18–21 at Minnesota Street Project. Dark Entries will have a table at the fair with a new publication presenting work by in-house designer Eloise Leigh, along with DIY typography and logos from bands featured on reissues.

Fifteen years in, can Cheon now envision a 30-year anniversary? “I don’t see me stopping this anytime soon,” he says. “And I have so much stuff I need to get out — there’s still a backlog of releases that are waiting in the queue. I literally just signed a contract today with an artist.”

As long as he’s having fun, he says, he’ll keep it going. Or, he adds: “As long as people keep buying records.”

Dark Entries’ 15th anniversary parties are $18 presale, $25 at the door for both the July 13 Great American Music Hall show and the July 20 Midway show.