Author Archives: Matt Goold

The Future Is Bright

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster

This past Wednesday I said good bye and good luck to my friend Oscar. He’s going back to school, and heading down to Georgia to do it at SCAD, something he’s been thinking about for quite some time, and planning for the better part of this past year. Oscar’s been a great mentor, teacher, boss, resource, and most of all friend. He’s a major part of why I have the job I do now, and I’ll be grateful to him forever

After work, for his send off, we out for a few drinks, where we got to all spend some time together and laugh. Oscar had said something about how he doesn’t know what the future holds, and I told him the future was….bright.

I think this is one of the most comforting thoughts we can embrace , especially as we embark onto new voyages in our life. Every second of our life is spent moving quickly into something we don’t know about, something we cannot predict, something absolutely unique that we’ve never dealt with before. But. just outside our window is the possibility of new and exciting times. Regardless of what they are, we can move forward knowing the future is bright.

A Good Idea: The Mobile Food Pantry

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster

“It may look like a truck. And it may run like a truck. But the 18-wheel, 400 square foot tractor-trailer is more than the sum of its parts; it’s a vehicle for long-lasting social change. The Mobile Food Pantry will hold 45,000 pounds of food, distributing fresh produce and non-perishable products to some of South Jersey’s hardest hit low-income areas. Traveling to under-served markets in four counties, the Mobile Food Pantry will also feature chefs and nutritionists to run cooking classes, coordinators to assist with food stamp applications, and surplus fruits and vegetables from South Jersey farmers to reach people with limited access to supermarkets. This grant will help outfit the truck with equipment necessary for wider distribution, networking, and education, helping to enact long lasting social change where it’s needed most.”

So our friend Nyssa is a part of  The Food Bank Of South Jersey, an organization dedicated to bringing food and well-being to those in need. Pretty awesome. Well, right now, they are in a contest of sorts that could land them $10,000 to help their cause. And fortunately all you have to do is vote for them. So Nom Now thought we could help them out in the way we can, and make some posters for this, and hopefully help them pull in a few more votes, and hopefully bring them the prize. Again, the cause is awesome. People helping people. The kind of stuff we’ve been advocating long before Nom Now. It takes a minute to vote, so think about how that time you put in can really help make an actual change in hundreds of other people’s lives.

Mike had asked me if I wanted to make a poster for this, and I definitely did. I wanted to make something that highlighted the mobility of this project. It’s literally a truck that drives around and gives out food. The Mobile Food Pantry. The image of that happening really stuck with me, and so I chose to feature this around the truck. So in a reversal of roles from the other poster Nom Now did for this, I called upon Mike for some help as I worked this out, and he gave me a few fresh ideas, and I was finally able to reach what you see above.

We all have the chance to “make it better.”  So let’s see what we can do!

Short Attention Span

Posted on by under Nom Now, Printed Work

My dear friend Biff approached me about making some album art for a compilation he was putting together called Short Attention Span. The concept is simple – all songs under 2 and a half minutes. I believe this was extended to under 3 minutes, but only 4 songs took advantage of the extra time. Anyway, I loved the idea and was excited to get something together for it. The photo is a shot I took from the parking garage I park in on the daily in Wilmington.  I just loved the sweeping and cluttered look of it. Because of the nature of this compilation, and really any compilation, and how they almost serve as a soundtrack, I wanted this to look like a movie title shot. The album was just released on Monday night, and it’s free! So please take advantage of this and download it. It’s 24 bands/artists, and I really think it wound up being a pretty cohesive and flowing comp.

I’ll have you know I actually have a song on here as well. While I’m not playing music as much these days, I still loving writing and recording songs, and any excuse to do that is good enough for me. So check out the newest Wood Goold song titled “Rolling In Our Eyes” by giving this a download.

Music Monday 8.9.10 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Posted on by under #musicmonday

This week I discovered a little band called Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. through the extremely awesome website Daytrotter. I was drawn to them because the name made me laugh, and once I listened to them I was pretty much immediately hooked. I’m not entirely sure how to describe them, because some songs are just unbelievable grooves, and some just going to make you smile. They do a cover of The Beach Boys’ song God Only Knows which is a high mountain to climb, and they hike it. Head straight over to download the Daytrotter now.

Because of the obvious connection with the racecar driver by the same name minus one Jr., I wanted to make them their own racing jacket. I was also exploring a lot of new techniques for creating and manipulating textures. This was a very fun piece to make.

Some other highlights this week include Fruit Bats, who have become my summer go-to band, We Barbarians, who came as a recommend from my buddy Biff who caught them with Local Natives. They can best be described as Cold War Kids meets early U2. Definitely check them out.

Static Sex is the project from my buddy Dana Yurcisin, who just released an album called Bedrooms which is all over the internet for free. The whole thing is really great, and highly inventive for a home-recording of that nature. Lots of great songs. For fans of Neutral Milk Hotel or anything Brian McLendon does.

Murder Boats has been described by John Andrews of Wisdom Tooth as the best band in the world. I’m certainly not going to disagree with that. Cannot wait for this full length.

Grow That Beard Fest Infographic

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster

So I saw today that John Bradley had put together an informational break down of who was playing when for Grow That Beard Fest, and it was pretty rough to say the least. John, I hope you don’t take offense to this, but I took the liberty of taking your basic idea and turning it into a pretty cool infographic. These are always fun to make, and this works as a nice companion piece to the flyer I made for the show earlier.

So here it is, everything is laid out nice and easy for you, so you can catch the bands you like, and miss the ones you don’t. Just kidding, don’t do that.

The King Stay The King

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster, Printed Work

Most of you probably already know, I am huge fan of The Wire.  I started watching the show because I wanted to watch something that was going to be as good as The Sopranos was, and what I got was something that was even better. In fact, better than any TV show I’d ever seen, or have seen since. Arrested Development comes close, and they hard to compare because they are so different, but honestly, nothing touches The Wire.

There is one now famous scene where D’Angelo Barksdale is explaining the game of chess to Bodie and Wallace after he catches them trying to plass checkers with the game pieces. He goes though all the players, which each are paralleled to some player of “The Game”, the game of the street. When asked how you become the king, D’Angelo replies “It ain’t like that. See, the king stay the king, a’ight? Everything stay who he is.” Watch the scene here.

The design of the poster comes from the ubiquitous British WW2 poster “Keep Calm  And Carry On.” Mock-offs of that poster are pretty much every where, good, bad, and ugly. But because of my love for both this poster and that quote, they seemed like a perfect match for each other. Fans of either will hopefully agree.

I’ve got a whole ton of these posters, 18 x 24, and if anyone is interested, just hit me up!

It Can Be You

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster, Printed Work

The idea behind this poster is that, so often do we feel inferior , happily submit, and sell ourselves short. But the truth is, is that you can be whatever you’d like to be, and you can take yourself to any place you’d like. The people you see doing the things you want to do? It can be you. I just want people to feel encouraged to step out of their norm and try for something spectacular. When you realize that you’re no different from anyone else, great things can happen.

I have a few of these posters if anyone is interest. Just let me know. And more importantly, I hope you all feel inspired to become something you didn’t think you could.

Grow That Beard Fest

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster

So my main man, the king of Piscataway, John Bradley, asked if I would make a flyer for a bit of show he’s throwing at his basement better known as Isla Nublar and I was glad to throw something at him. And I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out, though not at all what I had originally set out to do. But sometimes I love when that happens.

This show features a pretty stacked line up, including a Quiltary appearance, which is something I’m glad is happening. This is happening towards the later days of summer, and if you can make it out to this, well, the more the merrier. Shows are supposed to be ridiculous and fun, and this one is a perfect opportunity for you to get wild. And it’s free!

Inspire The Tired

Posted on by under Nom Now

Here is another poster I made for the Nom Now art show. It features the phrase “Inspire The Tired”, which is one of my favorite lines from our mission statement. I think one of the biggest obstacles we face as artists and as people in general, is the fact that we are always tired. Whether it be physically tired, mentally tired, spiritually tired, tired of our surroundings, or just tired of the norm, it sometimes gets the best of us. So, I think it’s the responsibility of those who are feeling rejuvenated and fresh, to pass that along to everyone else. To inspire the tired. I took this photo from the top of a ferris wheel, sort of representing being on top of your creative game. However, one day everything will flip and you’ll find yourself as the tired one, at the bottom of the ferris wheel, and hopefully someone else will be there to inspire you, and give you that lift all the way back to the top.

I have a few more posters of this one left if anyone is interested. I’d be more than happy to meet up with you.

My buddy Richie Brown made a really amazing poster for us using this phrase and putting his own spin on it. Check out his blog to give that one a look see. While you’re there, check out his other stuff, he is blowing my mind on a daily basis.

Good Times On The Reg

Posted on by under Nom Now, Poster, Printed Work

Inspired by some actual good times on the reg and of course the great Kenny Powers, from where the phrase was born (seriously, watch Eastbound And Down if you don’t already) this poster was created. Since I originally heard the phrase, it hasn’t left my mind and it will almost always make me laugh. Plus like I said, this summer has been filled with actual good times.

This is another poster that sold out at the show, and I’m going to make the same offer I did with my Shattered poster, if you think you’d like to see this 18 x 24 hanging on your wall, let me know, and I will keep you in mind when ordering new ones. Anybody own a boat? I’m looking to make “Yachts On The Reg”.

Music Monday 8.2.10 Arcade Fire

Posted on by under #musicmonday

So Arcade Fire did it again this week, and topped my charts. I have the tendency to sometimes over praise a band’s newest album and perhaps too quickly pronounce it their best, but despite that, I’m not going to NOT say that here. The Suburbs is a really really solid album that leaves me satisfied in ways their previous albums don’t. Whether you agree or disagree, this album is one to seek after. Arcade Fire are just one of the bands that will be talked about by our kids.

I took a ride with Wechter and Mike a few weekends back, and Wechter (amongst some interesting hip hop mix tapes) was playing The Black Keys latest album Brothers and I was really impressed. I’d not really ever listened to them before, but I knew they did the song that’s being used as the intro for the show Hung, and I liked that, and I liked everything I’d heard in the car, so I decided to give it a shot. These guys are playing some straight up rock and roll that I could easily get behind. I’d be interested in hearing some older albums for sure. Recommendations?

I was in a bit of a time warp circa 2004 with a few doses of Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes. I can’t say what called my interest to either of these this week, but it was alright. Sometimes you need to listen to something you haven’t in years.

Also got my fix of André Charles Thériault, who is one of the finest songwriters around. I’d put André’s album in my list of albums I can always listen to and enjoy. The songs are so relaxing, and instantly calming, it’s sort of unbelievable. Much like the Arrested Development movie, I don’t care when it comes out, I just need to know another André album will eventually be made, and I can rest easy.

Shattered

Posted on by under Nom Now

So for those of you who made it out to our show this past Friday at Vesuvio, you probably saw this. It was the first poster I made for the show, and I was sort of an idea I had for a while, but always forgot to execute. I was excited because it got some really awesome reception and I wound up selling out of this print. SO, I wanted to throw this up and make a formal announcement saying that if you were someone who wanted this poster after it sold out, or you are checking it out now and thinking you might like it, let me know on here or on facebook, because I will be ordering more of this print, and I don’t want to miss anyone.

Thanks for all your support and interest, I’m truly touched that anyone cares about this.

The picture below is the long-awaited group picture we’ve always wanted. It’s also one of the best pictures ever.  It’s very hard to get us all in the same place at the same time and we needed to take advantage of it. I love you guys, this wouldn’t be possible without all of you doing what you’re doing and I’m so glad to be doing it with you.

Music Monday 7.26.10 Arcade Fire

Posted on by under Uncategorized

Although I haven’t gotten to listen to it more than two times through, Arcade Fire’s new record The Suburbs has got me going. I have to admit, I’ve always liked but never loved Arcade Fire, but this record has me really impressed. I will certainly be listening to this throughout this week, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it tops next week’s chart as well. I read today that they describe the record as Neil Young meets Depeche Mode, and I’d say yes to that. This poster is some experimenting with patterns.

I also revisited a record that made up a good amount of my time in high school in Modest Mouse’s The Moon And Antarctica. I hadn’t listened to it in such a long time and had a longing for it. In my opinion, this is by far their best record.

I got the pleasure of creating some album art for my friend Josh Dean’s new album, which he gave me some live recordings of the songs as inspiration and that accounts for Murder Boats. If they are any indication of what’s to come on the record, and I think they are, we are all in for a very big treat. Josh Dean goes electric!

NOM NOW Moon Cycle Stickers

Posted on by under Printed Work

After our first run of Nom Now stickers, we quickly realized how fast 1000 stickers can slip through your fingers. So we decided we need to move into the next design, which I had the pleasure of doing. So here they are folks, you voted on them, and this one won. Be sure to pester me or one of the other guys for these, and we’ll gladly hook you. We’ll be giving these out at our art show on the 30th, which if you’re in the dark about that, Facebook has all the details, just look for Nom Now Art Show.

So get these while they are hot, and believe me, this batch is piping!

Ocean City, NJ

Posted on by under General, photography

So a few weeks ago, I went down to Ocean City for a day trip to the beach with some of my favorite people in the world. I brought my camera because I wanted to get some texture shots, but I wound up taking a few more pictures than that, and these are some of my favorites.
I’m not sure when the next time is I’m going to the beach, but hopefully soon, this day was one of the best of the summer so far.

Music Monday 7.19.10 Best Coast

Posted on by under #musicmonday



When I first heard Best Coast I hated them. But then one day I heard the song Something In The Way in a new way, and I was changed forever. Now, I’m at the point where I can’t get enough, and thankfully this past week I got their new album, Crazy For You, and I’m crazy for it. It’s warm and fuzzy and she’s got that perfect voice. All the songs are about falling in love, or already being there, and it’s to me, the perfect sound of summer 2010. I give this a strong approval and recommendation.

Other things to take note of is that for the first time in the 4 years I was aware of them and on and off listening, I finally understood Woods and really enjoyed listening to them. I don’t know what clicked, but something did. I was cleaning my old bookshelves while listening to this, and it was really late at night, and the music added something to that.

I also realized that Pedro The Lion’s Achilles Heel is my favorite thing David Bazan has done.

I also listened to The Books new album, which classic Books, but I like that. If you like there other stuff, this won’t disappoint.

Tetragrammaton

Posted on by under Uncategorized



This is severely overdue, almost to the point where I feel silly posting it. But still, here it is. This is the cover I designed for the 4 way split between River City Extension, We Were Once Children, Plesiosaurs, and me, Wood Goold. This gave me the excuse to write and record a song, which is always fun, and I was glad to be sharing disc space with all these guys as well. You can hear the song I recorded here. Or download the whole thing here http://www.mediafire.com/?iyyqznzxzno

The Wrestla’

Posted on by under Poster, Video


As a young man mourns the death of his grandfather, another tries to get on the topic of professional wrestling.

It’s sort of been a while since the last Moopay Film and Ian and I had been talking about making this one for a few years actually, so it was finally time. I also wanted to create a movie poster to accompany it, which I think ties the whole thing together. Thanks to Jeff Silverstein for having such a unique voice, you were 100% the inspiration for this character.

Music Monday 7.12.10

Posted on by under #musicmonday, Poster



Rodrigo y Gabriela are, according to Wikipedia, a Mexican musical duo who specialize in playing fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars; and I would say that’s pretty accurate. My dad had told me about these guys a while back when he heard them on the radio playing covers of Metallica songs. I sort of forgot all about them until this past week, when their name entered into my head and I downloaded their album 11:11, which I immediately got into. While some of it reminds you of classic Mexican guitar finger picking, their speed alone sets them apart from what you might be used to hearing. There’s also something a bit more interesting about them. They’re putting a spin on the familiar and making something really quite original. I would definitely give this a shot if for no other reason but to expand your library.

I really hate going Monday to Monday with no updates in between, but this week has been busy. I moved into my new apartment, and had a pretty eventful weekend which (thankfully) kept me away from the computer. Photos from my trip to the beach will be coming soon.