This week Apex celebrated its 2nd birthday in the swankiest way possible - on the roof of the Atlas building, partying it up and taking in the (astoundingly gorgeous) view. We dropped by to check out Mishka, who played a great set.
From the start, Apex has made it’s highest priority to stand apart from the crowd and do something different. From Seth Godin’s blog post yesterday:
The only way your organization is going to make an impact is to market in the way only you can. Not by following some expert’s rules or following the herd, but by doing it in the way that works. For you. Don’t worry about someone else’s invented standards for new media, invent your own.
From setting up a live videogame event for a furniture company, to creating a blog entirely around the idea of a band’s song, to making an interactive game for a rock band based off one that usually refers to a certain actor, our goal has always been to find unique, interesting ways to get our client’s messages seen. We’ve got some exciting things coming around the corner, and the second half of 2009 will prove to be pretty interesting.
What with the re-release of their debut album Ten a few months ago, Pearl Jam want to keep giving back to their fans. They just started up a contest with action sports heavyweights FUEL TV to make a new fan-created music video for “Porch,” using footage of the best tricks you can get of yourself on tape.
They’re accepting video submissions until July 18th, so get out there, bring a camera, and maybe you’ll wind up sharing a video with some big-name pros and Pearl Jam themselves. Head over to FUEL.TV to enter.
Hmm, I like summer. And I like rooftops. And pools. And I also like parties! Go figure.
That all makes me excited for NYC’s Gansevoort Hotel, who with promoters Matthew Assante and Dustin Terry, launched a fun new brunch and rooftop pool party called Get Up, Get Down. It goes down every weekend, on both Saturday’s (noon - 8pm) and Sunday’s (noon - till the last person’s standing), until Memorial Day!
The St. Tropez themed party has DJs, bottle service, tropical drinks, a brunch menu and of course, the pool - a nice little recipe for some fun in the city! Check out the invite here for more info…
(this is another cool project Apex is working that you all should know about and come out to!)
Billy Boy on Poison are a really great band from LA, signed to Kiefer Sutherland’s Ironworks label. Their sound is reminiscent of The Stooges, The Strokes and The Vines - with a little bit of soul thrown in via lead singer Davis’ voice! In other words, it’s gooooood.
Big things are starting to happen for these guys and Apex is stoked for them - Kiefer directed the video for their single ‘On My Way’, they’ve toured with Stone Temple Pilots, their single is being picked up on radio all over the country and it’s kind of hard to miss them on TV, because their song is on every single commercial/promo for HBO’s Entourage.
Be sure to keep an eye on these guys, they’re definitely a band to watch! (and yeah, full disclaimer, we’re working this project). Make sure to check these guys out live, they’re equally impressive playing plugged in and crazy as they are playing an intimate acoustic set.
Check out the video for ‘On My Way’ below - their debut album, Drama Junkie Queen, drops July 7th!
In what is possibly the best app demo video I’ve seen, the guys behind Birdhouse explain why you, An Important Businessperson, need to purchase their app.
Described as a “notepad for Twitter,” Birdhouse is designed to let you jot down your ideas whenever, and then publish it later. You know, it’s perfect for those times when creepy people approach you on the subway platform, and you can’t tweet about it due to the lack of cell service. I’m considering it, only so I can be filled with the inner joy that comes with being fave’d. It’s available for $4 on the iTunes app store.
I’ve probably heard about the new Terminator movie at least once a week since it’s been announced, courtesy our Fearless Leader, Josh. I sent him a link to TerminateYourself.com with a note saying “your next twenty minutes are gone.” I was right.
I could pretend to tell you how we had an in-depth discussion about how great of an online marketing tool this was, and how it was a really smart use of the brand. But really, Apex just got terminated.
The fantastic folks at Quirk Books were kind enough to send a copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies our way, and while I haven’t gotten a chance to finish it, I can certainly say it’s everything I’d hoped it could be. I hate to use such a cliche line, but in this case, you really can judge a book by its cover. The scenes of Victorian English romance and social drama mesh surprisingly well with vicious attacks by the decomposing undead.
I’ll admit I’m not crazy about Jane Austen, but how can you not love passages like this:
His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien - and the report which was in circulation within five minutes of his entrance, of his having slaughtered more than a thousand unmentionables since the fall of Cambridge.
The book’s currently sold out on Quirk Book’s page, but Amazon’s still got it.
It’s March Madness time again, and to celebrate we put together this swanky interactive bracket for Sports Gaming Edge.com, a sports picks site with some of the heavy hitters of the industry. I’m still working on my bracket, but at least I have a fancy way to get everything printed out and professional-looking. Looks much better than than the time I tried to make it in MS Paint and fill it out with a crayon.
Do you find yourself out of the loop when conversations with friends veer towards “The Internet”? Do you find yourself asking, “when is peanut butter jelly time,” or perhaps, “I wonder what Jeff Goldblum’s voice sounds like slowed down?”
UPDATE: I’m saddened to see “Who’s that Pokemon” didn’t make the cut, because it reduces me to tears of laughter with its mere 14 seconds every time I watch it.
This past January, I remember my typical routine of picking up a bagel at the place around the corner and while my onion bagel (w/ scallion cream cheese) was getting made, I decided to pick up some OJ. I reached into the fridge and… what the hell were these unfamiliar cartons staring me in the face? Tropicana had changed their packaging.
My problem with the new packages wasn’t the design itself - in fact, I kind of liked the artwork and new look. The problem is this is a case of “good design, wrong client.” Removing the iconic orange and straw for which the brand has been known for years made it confusing (or worse, invisible) to consumers.
From my own experiences in marketing, I’ve learned one thing: no two clients are alike, and what works for one might be disastrous for another. To the delight of orange juice fans everywhere, Tropicana has done the right thing and is reverting to the old packaging style.
I’m pretty positive this is the most thought I’ve ever put into orange juice. I’m thirsty now.
