Value Pac

While still enrolled in high school, singer/guitarist Ryan Sheely and bassist Sean Humeston launched the Christian punk rock outfit Value Pac in 1995. The Orange County, SoCal, group began as “as a joke” and subsequently became “an even bigger joke,” Sheely later remarked. Their debut album, a self-titled release saturated with Christian themes, appeared on Tooth and Nail and was quickly followed by Jalapeno on Chordant, which shifted toward everyday lyrics and a punk-pop approach. In 1998 the band dissolved after drummer Ben Cater departed for college and Sheely’s mother passed away. The following year Sheely and Humeston reformed the project, embarked on tour, and aligned with the Internet-based label Four Door Entertainment. They tracked Incognito with production from Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell. The group split once more when Humeston exited and Sheely chose to pursue secular music.