If you've been a fan of Valencia for any amount of time, you probably know that Wednesday, December 28, 2011, was the band's last show for the foreseeable future. Playing in front of 2,300+ fans, family members, and fellow bands Valencia toured with, the Electric Factory in Philadelphia (where the band hails from) lived up to its name. On a cold, windy night, the venue was warm with a bittersweet ending to a phenomenal career. Now, I'm sure by now you're wondering: in a year when scene stalwarts Thrice, Thursday, and Alexisonfire break up, why does Valencia get their own post? That question has more than one answer, come to think of it. One, the write-ups for those other three bands may very well be coming soon
And two, because other than Jimmy Eat World, Valencia is probably the most important band to The Mike and Tom Awesome Show.
Let's take a look back, shall we? The Mike and Tom Awesome show began in October of 2008, a few months after Valencia's incredible sophomore full-length We All Need a Reason to Believe came out. Shortly after, a streak of pure luck and coincidence brought the band into the WTSR DJ booth to play an acoustic set, where they became the first "HOLY #@%$!" moment the show has ever had (there have been a few more after that, I can assure you). Reason to Believe ended up the #2 album of the year on the Top Albums 2008 countdown, trailing only The Gaslight Anthem's The '59 Sound. The album had major staying power on the show, getting near-regular airplay in the years after its release, and a few "Which song is the best on the album?" debates to boot.
Then, when I (Donald) was made an official panelist on the show, Valencia brought us all together in an even bigger way. With their third full-length Dancing with a Ghost due out in less than two weeks, Mike, Tom, and myself made the trek up to the School of Rock East in South Hackensack, NJ (RIP) to see Valencia's first headlining tour behind the album. The show was especially important for us, as this was the first show the three of us attended together. As proof of our devotion (and borderline obsession) to the band, the three of us all bought a copy of the album at the show (again, before the release date), and eagerly popped it into the CD player to listen to on our way home. The car ride was quiet, which, for us, is a pretty big deal. Somehow, three radio DJs were left speechless, and our silence was only broken by the occasional "This song/album is awesome," "This is so good," or my personal favorite "Oh my God, they did it again," as we were all floored by the maturation Valencia had showed on Dancing. We played the title track on the show the next day, and Dancing With a Ghost ended at #3 on the Top Albums 2010 countdown, with Valencia becoming the first band in the show's history to have two albums show up in the Top 10, Top 5, or even Top 3 of our year-end countdowns.
If that was too long, here's the jist: Valencia was a great band, the kind of band you don't come across too often. Their deeply personal lyrics and constantly-evolving musicianship were a rarity during a time when pop-punk was lacking both (see: Low, All Time), and the band never disappointed. So, to put it in the simplest terms I can, Valencia's Farewell show in Philadelphia was surreal. Seeing so many people recite lyrics they may or may not have had tattooed on them so passionately was one of the craziest feelings Tom, Mike, or I will ever have, and the only bad part about Valencia's set was that it had to end.
So in conclusion, to the friends, fans, family members, crew members, merch guys, and anyone else involved in Valencia, and of course, Shane, George, JD, Brendan, Trevor (who filled in for guitar at the show), Dan, and Max (Rest in Peace), from the bottom of The Mike and Tom Awesome Show's collective heart:
Thank you, and Goodbye (For Now).
The Mike and Tom Awesome Show
Mike Leatherwood, Tom Taylor, Donald Wagenblast
-Donald.
