trying to fix the empty string dj

bot.sh

@@ -2,17 +2,21 @@
 
 . bot.properties
 input=".bot.cfg"
-now_playing=$(<$now_playing_file)
-dj=$(parse_dj)
 echo "Starting session: $(date "+[%y:%m:%d %T]")">$log
 echo "NICK $nick" > $input
 echo "USER $user" >> $input
 echo "JOIN #$channel" >> $input
 
 function parse_dj {
-  echo $now_playing | grep -Eo '^\([^)]*\)' | sed 's/[()]//g'
+  echo $now_playing \
+      | grep -Eo '^\([^)]*\)' \
+      | sed 's/[()]//g' \
+      | xargs
 }
 
+now_playing=$(<$now_playing_file)
+dj=$(parse_dj)
+
 tail -f $input | telnet $server $port | while read res
 do
   # log the session