NickyThom.Com

Posts tagged with “valencia”:

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So, I’m sitting in the waiting room at The James Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio awaiting the results of a surgery that my mother unfortunately has to undergo.

Quick recap: over the summer my mother developed severe pains in her abdomen and (due to the absolute ignorance and arrogance of an apathetic doctor) her appendix ruptured due to a growth that was later found to be cancerous. Thankfully, my mother had good insurance and, although they’ve had to fight they’re way through our broken healthcare system, she’s been doing very well on low dose chemo pills for the past 5 to 6 months. At her most recent checkup, doctors examined the area where the rupturing took place(because the cancerous growth wasn’t caught before the appendix burst there was an immediate risk to all tissue within the contaminated area to be susceptible as well) and they found some spots that could be more cancer. That is why I’m here today. The surgeons will go in and examine the area with the spots to see if it’s cancer or scar tissue. If it’s scar tissue; HOORAY! If it’s cancer, they will cut the spots out and give her a “chemo-wash”, which consists of them pumping radioactive water into her, leaving it there for around 90-120 minutes and then stitching her up again. 

I’m thankful that we’re alive in a time where advances in science and medicine can help people like my mom. We’re lucky we caught it as early as we did, and I know that’s not always the case. Anyways… I’ve always loved this song, but it has definitely taken on a new meaning for me, knowing that Shane wrote it about similar situations. I’ll keep my blog updated on my mom’s recovery. I’m not a God fella, but I know my mom and my family would love and appreciate your thoughts and prayers so by all means! Shout outs to all who have been through similar circumstances. Live your lives, be happy and always make sure that your loved ones are aware of how special they are to you.

p.s. Yes, that’s me wearing my own bands shirt. 

New Tour Dates, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yep, so we’re going on tour with a band called D.R.U.G.S., another band called Like Moths To Flames and one more band called Sparks To The Rescue through January & February. Here are the dates, and you should come to every single one of them:

Jan 20 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
Jan 21 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
Jan 22 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
Jan 23 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
Jan 24 – Washington, DC – 930 Club
Jan 25 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
Jan 27 – Charlotte, NC – Amo’s Southend
Jan 28 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft
Jan 30 – Orlando, FL – The Social
Feb 2 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
Feb 3 – Austin, TX – Emo’s East
Feb 4 – Dallas, TX – The Door @ The Prophet Bar
Feb 18 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
Feb 19 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
Feb 21 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird
Feb 22 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Feb 25 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot

We’re looking forward to this tour and I’m ESPECIALLY looking forward to playing a nice, fast set and then retreating to the bars to talk to you fine folks! I’m also going to try to convince scene girls that no girl gets to Craig Owens without going through me first to “test the goods.” I’m thinking it will work 20-23% of the time.

ALSO:

We have a headling show THIS SATURDAY HERE:

December 17th in Covington, KY(Cincinnati) at the Madison Theatre 

Then we’re doing a short run with our good friends in Every Avenue and Take Cover that looks like THIS:

December 19th: Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre

December 20th: Joliet, IL @ Mojoes

December 21st: Toledo, OH @ Frankies

December 22nd: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall

December 23rd: Grand Rapids, MI @ MXTP

And finally, we’ll be playing Valencia’s last show in Philly on the 28th with Every Avenue. Get tickets HERE, and come help sing and cry simultaneously (“scrying”) to the awesomeness that is Valencia.

With all that said, our new record “INVICTA” will be in stores on January 31st, 2012. I can’t fucking wait for it to be out and be on the road playing some new jams for you beautiful people.  You can pre-order the record and get all sorts of sweet bundles from our website, which you can access by clicking on this lovely picture below:

That’s all I’ve got for now. I wish you guys the happiest of holidays, enjoy your friends and family and heck; come out to some shows and give HTL some of your Christmas spirit. Or herpes. Or both?

Love,

Nick

I’ve been a fan of the band Valencia since I first heard “The Space Between” in 2005 on a random burnt cd that I found in our van.  I was in the parking lot of Club Obsession in New Jersey and we were opening for HelloGoodbye.  Our record Stick Up was recorded but would not be released for another six months.  I remember the song kicking in and thinking “Holy Shit! Who the fuck is this and should I be threatened?!”  A year and a half from that day we ended up touring with Valencia on our first headlining tour.  I had heard all of “This Could be a Possibility” and I was a fan, but even more so as we got to know the people in the band.  I knew these guys were talented, could write catchy songs and would be a band that would grow into amazing song writers.  Sure enough, they got their break and released “We All Need a Reason to Believe” - the perfect step for them as a band and as song writers.  After that album was released I permanently retired their debut, not because I didn’t like it, but because WANARTB encompassed the band better as a whole in my opinion.  Needless to say, I have been waiting a long time, just like everyone else for the new Valencia record.  When I heard that they were going in with Mark Trombino, I was fucking STOKED.  Having worked with Mark and Carlos in the past, I knew that this was going to be a great pairing and I knew that the band had been writing non-stop in the mean time.  Logically, this would mean that the band would have a MASSIVE list of songs to choose from, which means that out of 40 to 50 songs(?), the best 10 to 11 were going to be chosen and worked on with an already talented band, and an amazingly talented record production crew.  I had no worries.  When I met up with the dudes for a Baltimore show a few weeks ago, they were selling DWAG and everyone was in high spirits, though I heard some of the dudes mention that there was a small amount of backlash from the new record.  Having not heard the complete record yet, I thought that was really strange, but I reserved my opinions until the full record had played in my own ears.  Well, after finally getting to listen to the record a few times through, I can safely confidently tell the doubters: SHUT.  THE.  FUCK.  UP. Dancing with a Ghost is a great extension from WANARTB.  I believe Valencia not only stepped it up a bit with production and the range of songs stylistically, but also made an album that is a testament to the history of the band.  It’s a Valencia meets JEW’S Bleed American in a way.  I love it, I will be listening to it and enjoying it as much as WANARTB, and the fact that anyone who liked their last album would bitch about this one just doesn’t make sense.  Considering WAY too few people supported their last effort, one that was on a MAJOR LABEL no doubt, and one that DESERVED MORE ATTENTION THAN COUNTLESS OTHER BANDS THAT ARE OUT, these guys could have quit or made a stupid artsy record that I’m sure all their “fans” would have hated and bitched about how they miss the “old stuff”.  They didn’t.  They made a Valencia record that stuck to their guns, grew intellectually, and once again proved that they can write catchy, non-cheesy, big pop-rock songs.  Valencia, you dudes should be proud of everything you do and what you stand for.  You’re real guys who make music for the fans and the love of what you do.  DWAG is great, and my only complaint is that I wasn’t on the record even though Shane asked me to be.  In retaliation: to anyone who has Hit the Lights “Skip School, Start Fights” record - I’m going to find the exact point where Shane sings in Drop the Girl and I will show you guys where to scratch out the data on the cd.  Expect a .jpeg later.  and buy “Dancing with a Ghost”.

I’ve been a fan of the band Valencia since I first heard “The Space Between” in 2005 on a random burnt cd that I found in our van.  I was in the parking lot of Club Obsession in New Jersey and we were opening for HelloGoodbye.  Our record Stick Up was recorded but would not be released for another six months.  I remember the song kicking in and thinking “Holy Shit! Who the fuck is this and should I be threatened?!”  A year and a half from that day we ended up touring with Valencia on our first headlining tour.  I had heard all of “This Could be a Possibility” and I was a fan, but even more so as we got to know the people in the band.  I knew these guys were talented, could write catchy songs and would be a band that would grow into amazing song writers.  Sure enough, they got their break and released “We All Need a Reason to Believe” - the perfect step for them as a band and as song writers.  After that album was released I permanently retired their debut, not because I didn’t like it, but because WANARTB encompassed the band better as a whole in my opinion.  Needless to say, I have been waiting a long time, just like everyone else for the new Valencia record.  When I heard that they were going in with Mark Trombino, I was fucking STOKED.  Having worked with Mark and Carlos in the past, I knew that this was going to be a great pairing and I knew that the band had been writing non-stop in the mean time.  Logically, this would mean that the band would have a MASSIVE list of songs to choose from, which means that out of 40 to 50 songs(?), the best 10 to 11 were going to be chosen and worked on with an already talented band, and an amazingly talented record production crew.  I had no worries.  When I met up with the dudes for a Baltimore show a few weeks ago, they were selling DWAG and everyone was in high spirits, though I heard some of the dudes mention that there was a small amount of backlash from the new record.  Having not heard the complete record yet, I thought that was really strange, but I reserved my opinions until the full record had played in my own ears.  Well, after finally getting to listen to the record a few times through, I can safely confidently tell the doubters: SHUT.  THE.  FUCK.  UP.

Dancing with a Ghost is a great extension from WANARTB.  I believe Valencia not only stepped it up a bit with production and the range of songs stylistically, but also made an album that is a testament to the history of the band.  It’s a Valencia meets JEW’S Bleed American in a way.  I love it, I will be listening to it and enjoying it as much as WANARTB, and the fact that anyone who liked their last album would bitch about this one just doesn’t make sense.  Considering WAY too few people supported their last effort, one that was on a MAJOR LABEL no doubt, and one that DESERVED MORE ATTENTION THAN COUNTLESS OTHER BANDS THAT ARE OUT, these guys could have quit or made a stupid artsy record that I’m sure all their “fans” would have hated and bitched about how they miss the “old stuff”.  They didn’t.  They made a Valencia record that stuck to their guns, grew intellectually, and once again proved that they can write catchy, non-cheesy, big pop-rock songs.  Valencia, you dudes should be proud of everything you do and what you stand for.  You’re real guys who make music for the fans and the love of what you do.  DWAG is great, and my only complaint is that I wasn’t on the record even though Shane asked me to be.  In retaliation: to anyone who has Hit the Lights “Skip School, Start Fights” record - I’m going to find the exact point where Shane sings in Drop the Girl and I will show you guys where to scratch out the data on the cd.  Expect a .jpeg later.  and buy “Dancing with a Ghost”.

Theme made with love by Shay Howe for Nick Thompson.