In their few short years as a band, Valencia has achieved a lot. They've opened for Fall Out Boy and All American Rejects, been chased down and signed to Midtown drummer Rob Hitt's record label I Surrender, and been a finalist in SPIN.com's Band of the Year competition. But while that list of achievements is certainly formidable, Valencia's greatest accomplishment has always been their music.

The result of the combination of five very different boys from Philadelphia, Valencia is an amalgam of the best- and hookiest- pop rock has to offer. It is exactly those varied backgrounds, personalities and influences that sets Valencia apart from their peers when it comes to songwriting.

"Having five different backgrounds in a band can be chaotic at times," guitarist J.D. Perry explains. "We agree, we disagree, and we agree to disagree. Shane and I bring the sports aspect to the band, Brendan and George bring the brains, and Max brings the diversity. In the end everything just seems makes sense for us being together as a band."

Guitarist Brendan Walter, bassist George Ciukurescu, drummer Max Soria, singer Shane Henderson and guitarist J.D.Perry allied themselves several years ago, but got their big break when Hitt discovered their three-track demo in March of 2005. So blown away by their music, Hitt called Valencia at 3 a.m. and immediately offered to release a full-length record on I Surrender. Those three songs then morphed in the album This Could Be a Possibility, which Hitt released in October of 2005.

"One of the bigger things I think makes Valencia unique is that not all the songs on our record sound the same," Soria says of the album, which has garnered strong critical acclaim and a grand slew of fans. "Each song is different in music style and in lyrical content. Another thing that I think makes Valencia unique is that a lot of our songs paint a picture in your head when you listen to them, rather than being metaphorical or figurative."

Since the release of This Could Be a Possibility Valencia has toured endlessly, always taking the time to sit behind their merch table and greet the fans. That bond the members of Valencia share with their crazed fan base has not only helped propel them into being a band you need to know, but help them beat out groups like The Academy Is... in the SPIN.com competition, which was based on online voting.

"We never want to be that band that you don't see until we play our set and don't see again after the show," Soria says. "So if you come to one of our shows, please say hello, if not Brendan will probably walk up to you and ask if you'd like a free sticker."

As their album and live show ultimately reveal, Valencia is a band to be reckoned with and they won't allow hard times or limitations get in their way.

"Our CD is titled 'This Could Be a Possibility,'" Perry says. "Anything is possible if you put your mind to it."

And clearly, the members of Valencia have.

Valencia is:
JD Perry; Guitar
Max Soria; Drums
Brendan Walter; Guitar
Shane Henderson; Vocals
George Ciukurescu; Bass

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