For the past 8 years critics and music lovers have been trying to describe the elusive Juan Prophet Organization. Hell, for the past 8 years they’ve been half-heartedly trying to do the same thing.

“It sucks that there’s not a more readily available term for it,” said Jeff Holt, one of the Organization’s founding members. “We’ve been called jazz-thrash lately, that’s been cool. And heavy metal klezmer. Lately there’ve been opera references. It must be because I sing so high.”

But this is not another tired article attempting to pigeonhole a set of musicians who, after hauling their instruments around this town and across the country for more than 400 shows, surely deserve better from their surrogate home town on the eve of their departure.

Because, whether these multi-instrumental artists and friends who’ve called Murfreesboro home for 8 years are jazz musicians, metal enthusiasts, spun-out Jews, circus freaks, frustrated opera stars, or just rock ’n’ roll misfits doesn’t matter any more.

The White siblings, Grayson and Kris, Holt, and their current drummer, Justin Whitlow, are jumping ship, praying they haven’t shopped one too many times at Davis Market, abandoning Murfreesboro, and relocating en masse to Portland, Ore. There they will be joined by fellow Organization members David Jellema and Chris Watts.

“We’re planning a mass-trip to the obelisk,” Holt said. “We’re not taking any chances.”

Holt, Kris, Grayson and original drummer Josh Foreman converged on Murfreesboro in 1999 from Ruston, La.

“Maybe six months later we played our first show,” Holt said.

It’s been full steam ahead ever since. With a rotating list of collaborative musicians and artists, the band has recorded four albums, played about 400 shows, scored a film, Trite This Way, and inspired and entranced the area’s musical community time and time again with their musical evolution, inclusion, and dedication to performance art.

“Juan Prophet was one of the first bands I really fell in love with out here,” said Amy Smith, one-third of the dynamic trio, Happy Birthday Amy. “They are amazing.”

You have one more chance to partake in a local evening of artistic debauchery, April 26 at Wall Street, where the Organization will take the stage for a farewell address.

“We’re going to put the ?fun’ back in funeral,” Holt said.

It seems that on their way out they have plenty to say.

“The thing that I’m going to miss the most? Lee Roberts,” Kris said sarcastically.

“Lee Roberts is the owner of such fine establishments as The Boro,” Holt explained. “It’s the only place that charges artists a space rental fee, for a small platform raised two inches off the ground that has no PA.”

Holt admitted JPO’s departure is in part due to the stagnation and difficulty of holding an independent music scene together in the ’Boro.

“Most of us feel like if we had been doing the same thing in Portland for the past eight years we would be further along,” he said. “It’s ridiculous that there are only two places to play with the huge influx of music industry people from all over the country.”

Holt blamed events like the smoking ban making it harder for those under the age of 21 to catch a show and Murfreesboro’s small-town mentality for squelching the scene in its infancy.

“It’s like the city itself wants the scene to fail. The cops just ride around at night and look for a bunch of cars to find parties and house shows to break up,” Holt said. “Soon they’ll be outlawing dancing, and then music. It’s going to be just like that Kevin Bacon movie.

“I love the place, but personally we’ve decided we’ve done all we can do, and that’s been an uphill battle mostly,” he said.

Out west they hope to find a little more creative breathing room, and less little-Mayberry syndrome.

“There’s a larger scene,” Kris said. “And I’m going to be working in a studio called the Map Room. I’m recording two Murfreesboro bands there already.”

“We’re searching for a more artist supportive community and a bigger area,” Holt said. “Portland is a little more creative minded, not so much business formula minded.”

JPO’s departure doesn’t mean they’ll never take the stage at fine Murfreesboro establishments again.

“We’ll definitely come back,” Holt said. “It’d have to be part of a month-long tour, but yeah, even if it’s just to see our friends and play a house party.”

As the sound of their glockenspiel fades into the distance, the JPO recommend tuning in to bands like Most Amazing Century of Science and Dr. Asimov to help you bear the loss.

Follow our truculent troubadours at juanprophet.org.

Bid Juan Prophet Organization a fond farewell for now April 26 at Wall Street.