New Thrasher's Wheat Logo

Logo graphic by Geoff Moore, Silver Moon Art & Design

And here it is!

To say that we're pleased with the way the artwork turned out for our new Thrasher's Wheat logo would be quite the understatement. In fact, we're downright ecstatic!

Just a huge, huge thanks to our contributing artist Geoff Moore of Silver Moon Art & Design in Maui, Hawaii.

The other day we recounted that our old logo -- John Barleycorn -- must die. The logo above is at long last a realization of a dream of ours 13 years ago that came on a smoke ring day when the wind blows. Previously, we were never able to get the graphic to work out right and do justice for a Neil Young fan site. That is until Geoff came along to help us out. Here's what Geoff has to say:

It's an honor to be a part of Thrasher's Wheat – such a wonderful and informative source for Neil Young fans – through my logo design as inspired by Thrasher himself. I appreciate Thrasher for allowing me to write this biography about my journey into being obsessed with Neil Young's music, and the man himself, as so many of us here are.

The first cassette I bought by Neil was Everybody Knows This is Nowhere in 1992. Apparently Cinnamon Girl had become a song I needed to have on tape after hearing it over and over again on Chicago classic rock stations, and I bought it specifically so I could blast it as I dropped my senior year homecoming date off at the dance. Hilarious. It was the first time I had a Cinnamon Girl of my own, so I guess I had to make sure my fellow classmates understood this.

I never did listen to the rest of that fine recording until later down the road. By the time I got to college, my girlfriend there was into Neil. I hooked up with her to the soundtrack of Harvest Moon and the Unplugged albums. At the time, I told her, I couldn't get into Neil because he was "too folky" for my taste. But the appreciation grew over those college years, and I finally did give EKTIN full listens, especially in my ceramics class as I remember it. I took my girlfriend to my first Neil and Crazy Horse show in 1996 at Deer Creek, IN. We had lawn seats, and most of the show went over my head as I was still not too versed in Neil's music at the time.

It was not until 1999 when I scored amazing seats to the St. Louis Fox Theater solo show that I got deep into Neil. I found Hyperrust and started seeing the set lists he was playing leading up to that St. Louis show. I didn't know many of the songs, so I started seeking out albums I didn't have so I could hear these unknown songs before the show. I found a bootleg copy of On the Beach on CD, bought "Buffalo Springfield", Tonight's the Night, After the Goldrush, and maybe some others trying to educate myself before the show. After seeing this show, I was absolutely blown away, and that was about it for me. Ever since, Neil Young has been bar none my favorite musician. I really relate to Neil's dark side, the "haunting" loner vibe of his early music, and the sharpness of the man himself… thoughtful, articulate, cynical, funny and honest.

I joined the Rustlist in 2000, and since then have seen Neil live many times (nothing has ever topped that '99 show though) and have attended two International Rust Festivals (IRF's). Rust has been an amazing venue for me. My first B&P was for the '99 St. Louis show, and I have traded with many folks over the years and built up a respectable but not overwhelming collection of unreleased material. I have learned so much about Neil, and made so many great connections with people on Rust. It was not until I attended my first IRF that the community became so tangible to me ... there are so many wonderful people and good friends I have made through the list. It's really a beautiful thing.

I still listen to Neil about everyday. There's no one who does it for me more, and I have never gotten tired of his music.

In addition to the honor of designing the new Thrasher's Wheat logo, I have had the honor of designing two IRF T-shirts. I am a graphic designer by trade, and really enjoy doing digital illustration, so these projects have been very rewarding for me. You can visit my web-site here: Silver Moon Art & Design

Thanks for reading, and thanks to Neil Young, Hyperrust, the Rustlist, and Thrasher's Wheat!

Keep on Rockin',

Geoff

Yes that was me with the doves

And thank you Geoff!!!

So if anyone is ever in need of graphic art work, we can tell you that working with Geoff is a very smooth and totally professional experience.


Click to Enlarge Geoff's IRF Posters

We still have a few more design changes that we'll be rolling out in the future, so stay tuned. In the meantime, let us know what you think of Geoff's art.

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