I'm sad to announce that one of the region's most promising bands has had a temporary setback. Parker Ben Parker's lead singer, Joe Spurling, has decided to leave the group and pursue a solo career.

Parker Ben Parker has received much favorable press in Athens from this web site, The Post, and the Athens Messenger. While such events are always sad, there are some bright sides to all of this.

First off, Parker Ben Parker is looking for a new lead singer. The band recently finished 3rd place out of 150 bands in a battle of the bands contest which was sponsored by the Dayton based radio station 97X. (Homunculus won the contest.) Any singer that joins the band would find his or herself immediately immersed in a well oiled music machine. They have solid management and definite major or major-indie label potential. Joining Parker Ben Parker could translate into a successful music career sooner rather than later.

Joe Spurling For Confidence Listen to other great local musicians by visiting the AMN soundclip archive.

Secondly, Spurling is not giving up singing. He has already recorded a track called "For Confidence" which will appear on his upcoming solo CD. He told the AMN that the song is "a temporary good-bye to supporters and friends in Athens." The song is a simple, beautifully sung acoustic folk/pop song. A copy of the track was mailed to the AMN by Jim Spurling, Joe's father.