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thecontraire.bsky.social
Derek S
@thecontraire.bsky.social
850 followers 1.4K following 1.7K posts
"My greatest wisdom is the knowledge that I do not know." —John Steinbeck • Mostly music, photography, & art • Sometimes books, business, marketing, news, and technology • No DMs • inquiries@thecontraire
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thecontraire.bsky.social
🎶 #NowPlaying 🎶

Thrice
Anaheim, CA — November 2025
House of Blues Anaheim

#photography #concerts
#thrice #dustinkensrue
#houseofblues #hobanaheim #anaheim
The band Thrice performs on a dark, fog-filled stage at House of Blues Anaheim, illuminated by dramatic beams of blue and white light. The lead singer stands center stage while a crowd in the foreground watches with hands and phones raised. Photo by @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 23, 2025. Thrice lead singer Dustin Kensrue stands bathed in a single, dramatic diagonal beam of spotlight on a dark stage at House of Blues Anaheim. He sings into a microphone while holding a white guitar, viewed from the audience where silhouettes of fans hold up smartphones to record the moment. Photo by @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 23, 2025.
November 24, 2025 at 5:11 AM
thecontraire.bsky.social
The Format
October 2025
@ Hollywood Forever
Hollywood, CA

#photography
#concerts #theformat
#natereuss #sammeans
#hollywoodforever
#hollywood #california
A low-angle concert photo of The Format performing live at Hollywood Forever, featuring lead singer Nate Ruess standing center stage. A large, illuminated sign reading "THE FORMAT" hangs above the band, who are bathed in deep blue stage lighting and theatrical fog, with the dark silhouettes of the crowd watching in the foreground. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 10, 2025. A wide shot of The Format performing at Hollywood Forever, with the stage bathed in warm, golden spotlights and theatrical fog. Lead singer Nate Ruess performs center stage beneath the illuminated orange band logo, while a dense crowd of silhouettes fills the foreground under a dark night sky. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 10, 2025.
November 22, 2025 at 9:00 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
It’s Election Day.

☑️ Virginia
☑️ New Jersey
☑️ NYC
☑️ Pennsylvania
✅ California (we’re not losing this)
+
🔥 Jack Smith, gloves off dgaf

We work the offseason to win when it counts.

If good things happen, it’s because we were effective enough to earn them. Keep going.
A protester holds a sign reading “HE’S NOT A KING, HE’S A DRAFT Dodger” with stylized text mimicking sports team logos. Taken during a No Kings protest on October 18 at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, California. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 2025. A group of protesters gathered outdoors holding colorful signs with slogans such as “NO KINGS,” “DEFEND DEMOCRACY,” and “NO THRONES, NO CROWNS, NO KINGS.” One woman stands out wearing an inflatable peacock costume. The scene is sunny with trees and buildings in the background. Taken during a No Kings protest on October 18 at Centennial Park in Santa Ana, California. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 2025.
November 4, 2025 at 5:13 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
The Wonder Years
October 2019
Toyota Arena, Ontario CA (Oct 22)
Chain Reaction, Anaheim CA (Oct 24)

#photography
#concerts #thewonderyears
#toyotaarena #ontarioca
#chainreaction #anaheim
#california
A wall display of vintage band T-shirts and memorabilia at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA. Centered is a white shirt featuring a somber black-and-white portrait with the text “I’M NOT SAD ANYMORE — the Wonder Years.” Above it hangs a large white sign reading, “No Crowd Surfing. No Crowd Moshing. Or You Will Be Kicked Out!” The scene captures a nostalgic punk and emo aesthetic. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 24, 2025. The Wonder Years performing live at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA. The band plays under colorful stage lights as the crowd cheers and sings along. A fan is seen crowd surfing with one arm raised near the front of the pit, just below a sign that reads “No Crowd Surfing. No Crowd Moshing. Or You Will Be Kicked Out!” (FYI: No one was kicked out) Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 24, 2025. The Wonder Years performing live at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA. The band plays under blue stage lights as the crowd raises their hands and records the show on phones. A sign on the back wall reads “No Crowd Surfing. No Crowd Moshing. Or You Will Be Kicked Out!” surrounded by vintage punk T-shirts. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 24, 2025. The Wonder Years performing live at Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA. Viewed from the upper level, the stage is lit with bright spotlights as the packed floor crowd glows red from concert lighting, with smoke effects rising around the band. The large arena is filled with fans across multiple levels. They opened for Yellowcard and A Day to Remember on The Maximum Fun Tour. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. October 22, 2025.
November 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Run it back.

11/1 @ Sentinel Bridge

#photography #yosemite #halfdome #nationalparks #nature #travel #roadtrips
#ProtectOurParks
A serene river reflects colorful autumn trees and the towering granite face of Half Dome under a clear blue sky in Yosemite National Park. The golden leaves contrast beautifully with the evergreens along the riverbank. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 2025.
November 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
A home office corner with music and art displays. The wall features a grid of CD album covers including The Beatles, Sum 41, Gym Class Heroes, multiple Eminem albums, Linkin Park, Paramore, and more. Below them, a wooden shelf holds a collection of CDs. On the right, another shelf displays a large Hamilton vinyl, Funko Pop figure, and small collectibles. On the lower wall, colorful paintings include a Vespa scooter by a doorway (artwork by @jimmusilpainter.bsky.social) and a scenic river landscape. A small collection of books can be seen in the bottom right corner. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2025.
September 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
🎶 #NowSpinning 🎶

We're doing fine
And it gets
Better every time

We're doing fine
But I'll let you decide

There's something wrong
Cause everybody knows
That we can do this
On our own…

#Woah #Paramore
#AWKIF

youtu.be/oOj35ta7GQ8
A cozy vinyl corner with a turntable on a wooden stand, a Paramore “All We Know Is Falling” album displayed on the wall, and more records in a wooden shelf, including Paramore’s “After Laughter” and a Hit the Lights CD cover. A colorful ceramic turtle sits on the stand next to the turntable. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2025.
September 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
🎶 #NowSpinning 🎶

We are so far
From you
Burning on
...
Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave
And then

We'll meet again
When both
Our cars collide?

#Helena #MyChemicalRomance
—
#MayDeathNeverStopYou
youtu.be/UCCyoocDxBA
A cozy corner featuring a record player with a clear dust cover, a colorful turtle figurine, and framed artwork on the walls. A My Chemical Romance vinyl record, “May Death Never Stop You - Greatest Hits 2001-2013” is displayed above the player. A wooden shelf holds more records and art pieces. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2025.
September 10, 2025 at 6:11 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
🎶 #NowSpinning 🎶

Salt, sweat, sugar
On the asphalt
Our hearts
Littering the topsoil
Tune in and
We can get the last call
Our lives, our coal
…
Sign up
It's the picket line
Or the parade…

#BleedAmerican #JimmyEatWorld
youtu.be/Ag8yc8yx2LU
A cozy corner with a turntable on a wooden audio stand, a colorful turtle figurine on top, and framed art and vinyl records decorating the wall, including Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American album cover. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2025.
September 10, 2025 at 6:11 AM
thecontraire.bsky.social
🎶 #NowSpinning 🎶

Live right now
Yeah, just be yourself

It doesn't matter
If it's good enough
For someone else…

#TheMiddle #JimmyEatWorld
—
#BleedAmerican
A cozy corner with a turntable on a wooden audio stand, a colorful turtle figurine on top, and framed art and vinyl records decorating the wall, including Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American album cover. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2025.
September 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
🎶 #NowSpinning 🎶

Today, everything you want
I swear it all will come true
Today, I realize how much
I'm in love with you
…
Please, please, listen to me
It's taken so long to come true
And it's all for you

#Today #JeffersonAirplane
youtu.be/5SXy7G5dtb4
—
#SurrealisticPillow
A corner setup with a record player spinning a vinyl under a clear dust cover. On the wall above is Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow album cover. A small colorful turtle figurine sits beside the player, and nearby shelves display other album art and framed prints.
September 8, 2025 at 6:11 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Hot Mulligan
Los Angeles, CA — August 2025
The Roxy Theatre

🎶 #NowPlaying 🎶
*Equip Sunglasses*

#hotmulligan
#concerts #theroxy
#roxytheatre #sunsetblvd
#hollywood #losangeles
August 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
#Vinylrecords finally out of storage after moving!

Blondshell — Self-Titled (2023)
Jeff Buckley — Grace (2015, 180g)
NIKI — Nicole (2022)

#vinylSky #vinyl
#VinylCommunity #VinylCollection
Three vinyl record covers side-by-side: on the left, a black-and-white photo of the artist, a woman with light curly hair in a dark sweater, titled “Blondshell”; in the center, a color close-up of Jeff Buckley looking downward, titled “Grace” with stickers obscured; on the right, a softly blurred portrait of a woman with long hair, titled “Nicole NIKI” with a sticker describing the 2 LP set.
August 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
#NowPlaying
—
#books #audiobooks

Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom

by Grace Blakeley
@graceblakeley.substack.com

#VultureCapitalism
#economics #econ
#democracy #politics
#climate #climatechange
Bright green book cover for “Vulture Capitalism” by Grace Blakeley. Subtitle reads “Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts, and the Death of Freedom,” with the letter S in “Capitalism” replaced by a dollar sign.
August 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Hey you! Been all over the map lately but we’re chillin 🙃
💫🤷‍♂️🐈‍⬛🚚🏡🎶☮️💙😎
A monarch butterfly with orange and black wings rests on a cluster of small, bright orange and red flowers. The plant has long, narrow green leaves and appears to be growing against a weathered wooden fence in the background. Some dried seed pods and silk fibers are visible on the plant. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. August 2025.
August 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Meg & Dia
Williamsburg, NY — September 2019
Music Hall of Williamsburg

#photography #concerts
#meg&dia #meganddia
#musichallofwilliamsburg
#williamsburg #williamsburgny #longisland #newyork
A lively concert scene inside the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York. The band Meg & Dia is performing on stage under colorful spotlights, with the lead singer, Dia Frampton, standing at the center holding a microphone and another band member, sister Meg Frampton, playing guitar to the right. The stage is dimly lit except for the vibrant lights above, casting a warm glow over the performers. In the foreground, a packed crowd of fans faces the stage, many with hands raised and some capturing the moment on their phones, creating an energetic and immersive atmosphere. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2019. A packed audience watches Meg & Dia performing on stage at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York. The lead singer, Dia Frampton, stands in the center holding a microphone, gesturing with one hand while singing. To the left, a guitarist plays in a relaxed stance, and to the right, another band member, Meg Frampton, plays an electric guitar under the glow of stage lights. Bright white and colorful spotlights illuminate the band, contrasting with the dark background. The crowd in the foreground is dense, with many fans holding up their phones to capture the performance. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. September 2019.
July 27, 2025 at 11:44 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
We Are The In Crowd
w/ #AlexGasgarth
at Warped Tour 2012

#concerts
#WeAreTheInCrowd
#AllTimeLow
Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low performing with Taylor Jardine and We Are The In Crowd at Vans Warped Tour 2012. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. June 21, 2012. Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low performing with Taylor Jardine and We Are The In Crowd at Vans Warped Tour 2012. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. June 21, 2012.
July 27, 2025 at 2:31 AM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Disarm
Pedro Reyes (Mexico, 1972)

#disarm #pedroreyes
#art #sama
#sanantonio
A display case contains a collection of musical instruments creatively assembled from disassembled gun parts. On the left is a bow resembling one used for a violin, followed by two instruments in the center and right. The central piece resembles a violin or viola, constructed from overlapping black metal gun components, including trigger guards and handgun frames. To the right is a larger, guitar-like instrument with an elongated neck and rounded base made from curved rifle magazines and additional firearm parts. Above these sits a triangular shape made from three rifle magazines. The entire arrangement is set against a clean white background, with the pieces meticulously arranged to highlight the transformation of weapons into art. This work is titled Disarm by Mexican-born artist Pedro Reyes (b. 1972), on display at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025. A sculptural musical instrument resembling a xylophone is displayed in a clear case. The instrument is constructed from dark metal gun barrels arranged in parallel rows, forming a stepped keyboard-like surface. At the bottom right corner, a pistol frame is partially visible, integrated into the structure. Two metal rods, likely functioning as mallets, lie beside the instrument on the white display surface. The piece combines the visual language of weaponry with that of a traditional percussion instrument, symbolizing transformation from violence to creativity. This artwork, titled Disarm, is by Mexican-born artist Pedro Reyes (b. 1972) and is exhibited at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025. Two museum wall labels are displayed side by side, one in English (left) and the other in Spanish (right). The labels provide information about artist Pedro Reyes, born in Mexico in 1972, and his works from the Disarm series. The English text lists titles including Disarm (Satyagraha) (2015), Tambourine (2018), and Disarm (Ahimsa) (2017), all created from destroyed weapons, metal parts, and strings. A paragraph explains that Reyes engages in Social Practice, an art form involving public participation to address sociopolitical issues. To make these instruments, Reyes collaborated with the Mexican Secretary of Defense, who confiscated 6,700 firearms in Ciudad Juárez. These weapons were crushed by tanks and steamrollers, then given to skilled artisans to craft playable musical instruments—transforming “agents of death” into “agents of life.” Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025.
July 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
thecontraire.bsky.social
“
Let us not fool ourselves. What we knew is dead, and maybe the greatest part of what we were is dead. What’s out there is new and perhaps good, but it’s nothing we know.
”

— John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America, 1968

#quotes #books
#travelswithcharley
#johnsteinbeck
Cover of the audiobook ‘Travels with Charley in Search of America’ by John Steinbeck, part of the Penguin Classics series. The artwork shows a green truck with a black poodle, Charley, looking out of the passenger window. Text at the bottom reads: ‘John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley in Search of America, Read by Gary Sinise, Unabridged.’
July 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
thecontraire.bsky.social
#HumansOfBluesky

Diner/Cafe
Orange, CA — July 2025

I could tell you where, but then I’d have to wait longer. Let’s just go together on your next visit

#photography #cafes
#diners #restaurants
#classiccars
#orangeca #orangecounty
#EastCoastKin
A cozy diner-style restaurant interior with whitewashed brick walls and a patterned ceiling. Warm string lights hang across the ceiling, creating a welcoming ambiance. Several people are seated at dark wooden tables, eating and conversing. Two individuals use walkers positioned near their chairs. A large wall-mounted TV shows an image of classic cars in a parking lot. The walls are decorated with framed black-and-white photos and a U.S. flag. Ketchup bottles, menus, and utensils are visible on the tables. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025.
July 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Some art we picked up from an estate sale last weekend… who dis?

#Paintings by Daniel Roca Blanco
—
#art #painting
#classiccars #architecture
#cuba #havana
A vivid, colorful painting by Havana-based artist Daniel Roca Blanco, depicting a lively street scene somewhere in Cuba. The artwork features a classic yellow 1950s American car, prominently parked in the foreground. Around it, people gather and move about, adding energy and life to the setting. The street is lined with vibrant colonial-style buildings, including a corner structure with ornate wrought-iron balconies and a striped awning over the entrance. The atmosphere is warm and bustling, with dramatic lighting and expressive brushstrokes capturing the spirit of Cuban urban life. The painting is framed in a rich brown wooden frame with a black inner border. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. An original painting by Havana-based artist Daniel Roca Blanco, portraying a dynamic Cuban street scene. At the center stands a tall, narrow, and ornately detailed building with curved corners and balconies, set against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. In the foreground, a classic red and yellow 1950s American car is parked on a cobbled street. Pedestrians, including a man in an orange shirt and a woman in a red dress, walk along the sidewalk, adding life and movement to the scene. The painting uses bold outlines and vibrant colors to capture the architecture, atmosphere, and energy typical of urban Cuba. The piece is framed in a textured brown wooden frame. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social.
July 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Rakim performs center stage under dramatic blue lighting at a packed concert venue, while a DJ and others stand behind him. The audience is engaged, many holding up phones to record the performance. Photo taken at a Rakim concert on July 21, 2025. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. Rakim performs on stage under warm red and orange lighting at a lively concert, flanked by a DJ and a group of people standing behind him. The crowd is engaged, with many attendees holding up phones to record the moment. Photo taken at a Rakim concert on July 21, 2025. Credit: @thecontraire.bsky.social
July 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Simple Plan
Hollywood, CA — November 2019
Hollywood Palladium

#photography
#concerts #simpleplan
#hollywoodpalladium #palladium
#hollywood #hollywoodca #california
A large crowd of fans stands in a dark concert venue, illuminated by blue and purple stage lighting. Many attendees hold up their phones to record the performance. On stage, the pop punk band Simple Plan performs in front of three tall red banners with their name printed in bold white letters. One band member stands near the drums, while the lead singer, wearing a sleeveless shirt, sings into a microphone near the front of the stage. The energy of the audience is vibrant, with hands raised in excitement. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 2019. A packed concert venue filled with excited fans, many of whom are holding up phones to record the performance. On stage, the band Simple Plan performs under dynamic blue and white stage lighting. The band’s red backdrop displays their name “SIMPLE PLAN” in bold white letters across three vertical panels. The lead singer stands near the front of the stage holding a microphone, while other band members play guitar and drums in the background. Hands are raised high in the crowd, some pointing toward the stage in enthusiastic support. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 2019. A vibrant concert scene shows the band Simple Plan performing live on stage under red, purple, and blue lighting, with bright white spotlights cutting across the venue. The crowd is densely packed, with many fans holding up phones to capture the moment. Three large vertical red banners in the background display the band’s name “SIMPLE PLAN” in bold white letters. The guitarist and bassist perform energetically at the front of the stage, while the lead singer stands to the right, mid-song, with one hand raised to his head as if addressing the crowd. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 2019. A wide-angle view of a concert venue packed with fans during a live performance by the band Simple Plan. The stage is lit with warm amber and white lights, casting a soft glow across the crowd. A large black banner on stage prominently displays the band’s name, “SIMPLE PLAN,” in bold white lettering. The venue’s ornate ceiling and two-tier balcony design are visible, adding a classic theater ambiance to the scene. Audience members stand and watch the show from both the main floor and upper levels, creating a communal and energetic atmosphere. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. November 2019.
July 22, 2025 at 6:19 AM
thecontraire.bsky.social
Orange, CA — July 2025

#photography
#classiccars #lowriders
#carshows #autoshows
#carclubs #cars
#orangecounty #california
A sunny day at a classic car show in Orange, California on July 13, 2025. Four vintage American cars are parked diagonally in a lot outside a dealership. From left to right: a blue 1950s Ford with its hood open, a deep red early 1950s Ford, a mint green 1953 Chevrolet with a California black plate, and a dark gray Chevrolet Apache pickup truck just partly visible on the far right. Palm trees, pink flowering trees, and flags flutter in the background. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025. A classic white Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham is parked at a car show in Orange, California on July 13, 2025. The car features a plush white vinyl top, gold-spoke wire wheels, and chrome detailing. A Mexican flag with an eagle emblem is draped across the hood. Other vintage cars and tents can be seen in the background under a clear blue sky. The Cadillac is parked next to a blue Oldsmobile Cutlass. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025. At a car show in Orange, California on July 13, 2025, a vibrant scene unfolds in a sunlit parking lot. A bright orange Chevrolet SUV with hydraulic suspension is tilted sharply to one side, showcasing its lowrider modification. Surrounding it are various classic and custom cars, including a powder yellow vintage Chevrolet in the foreground with chrome accents, a blue lowrider under a canopy, a black classic car with an “Orange County” plate, and a burgundy lowrider with gold wheels. Palm trees, a flowering tree, and a liquor store with a tiled roof are visible in the background, under a clear blue sky. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025. A vibrant display at a car show in Orange, California, held on July 13, 2025, paying tribute to late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The centerpiece is a custom purple cruiser bicycle labeled “KOBE” on the frame, with gold accents and Los Angeles Lakers branding. Beside it is a yellow and purple wagon with Lakers flags, a red cooler, and a license plate reading “8 KOBE 24,” representing Bryant’s jersey numbers. A black Lakers jacket is draped over the wagon’s handle. A shiny silver trophy and a basketball are placed in front of the display on a black mat. The background includes manicured hedges and a sunny outdoor setting. Credit @thecontraire.bsky.social. July 2025.
July 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM