Left Out

Left Out was a Chicago, Illinois Christian punk supergroup that was active from 1995 to 2002. The band formed at Tomfest 1995 and was a side project of the Blamed's Bryan Gray. For their debut album, Pride Kills (1996), alongside Chris Colbert (Breakfast with Amy), Darren Diolosa (aka Klank), and Jesse Smith (Zao). Despite its member's diverse influences, its sound most closely resembled that of the Blamed, the Crucified, and Nobody Special. The band recorded a second album on Flying Tart entitled Serve Self, this was recorded at Neverland Studios in Nashville. The record featured bassist Brent Kaping (Craig's Brother, the Yax), Jim Chaffin (The Crucified, Deliverance) on drums, and guest performances by Jacob (Sometime Sunday) on lead guitar, Chris Colbert (lead guitar), Tracy Street (vocals) Jonathan (vocals), and Cleetus Adrian (vocals). Serve Self was recorded by Chris Colbert again and assisted by Steve Hindalong (The Choir). Left Out recorded a third full length after Bryan moved to Chicago entitled For the Working Class. FTWC featured Bryan and Brent again, and Greg Jacques (Crashdog) on drums. Numerous guest artists made appearances, notably Tim Davis (Spike Nard from Crashdog).
Shortly after the release of FTWC, Left Out toured extensively in support of the record, the live line up featured Bryan, Jason Seiler and Chris and Trevor Wiitala. The did and extensive national tour with Ghoti Hook and the Smiley Kids. Following this tour The Blamed and Left Out merged. Matt Switaj from the Blamed, who had toured with Left Out as well, and Bryan Gray merged with the Wiitala brothers and played for years under the name The Blamed. They had a meeting to decide to merge and they voted on what name to keep and Bryan was the only one who voted for Left Out. The band then played a few shows under the Left Out name performing old songs from Left Out and The Blamed's first two albums, and performed a handful of dates in Europe after the disbandment.
The band shared many members with the Blamed and Crashdog, and at first seemed to be a side project of those bands, but with their second release the group began to innovate their sound. By their third album they had become, in the words of Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, "more like an actual band" rather that a side project. One track of For the Working Class included Black Willie from the Christian rap group Cauzin' Efekt. One reviewer stated that the track proves that punk and rap don't mix, stating that Willie "sounds like a death metal singer who has been sucking on helium," and called it annoying and unsettling. Lyrically the band was all over the spectrum, attacking everything from smoking to the goth scene.