From the Heart helps Front Royal celebrate a measured return to business – But can I schedule a haircut and shave after the band is done?

Unless booked elsewhere, From the Heart plays something for everyone from around 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Front Royal’s reopened downtown commercial center. Royal Examiner Photos/Roger Bianchini

It may not be your traditional “Barbershop Quartet”, but to celebrate Virginia’s measured walk-back of COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic emergency management restrictions, punctuated by the Town of Front Royal’s weekend downtown business district street closings facilitating a walking mall ambience to draw residents and tourists back out into the properly social distanced commercial world, “Mr. John’s Barbershop” proprietor John Landes has brought his band From the Heart into play – literally.

As of June 27, according to the band Facebook page, From the Heart has set up in front of Landes’s Chester Street barbershop on Friday and Saturday evenings from approximately 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. to bring their mix of classic country, rock and popular music to Front Royal’s re-opened Historic Downtown Business District.

Yes, the barbershop is closed – the barber is doubling up fronting his band on Friday and Saturday evenings outside his 8 Chester St. business location. Below, May Landes steps in on vocals.

From the Heart gets fans dancing and smiling with material spanning decades and genres – you’re liable to hear favorites from Charlie Daniels to Rod Stewart among others on your personal top of the charts list.

And while you can’t get a haircut while the band is on – it’s hard to sing, play and snip those overgrown locks at the same time – a small contribution to the band’s tip jar might just get you to the front of the line for the barbershop’s next day of business.

From the Heart is, in addition to Landes on guitar, harmonica and vocals, his wife May on guest vocals; Kenny Smith on banjo, guitar and vocals; ‘Bubba’ Ward on rhythm guitar; and Marty Jacobs on percussion.

Kenny Smith

‘Bubba’ Ward, left, with John Landes

Marty Jacobs

A new style ‘Barbershop Quartet’

Downtown visitors Damian and Linda the well-groomed dog, stop for a photo op. Good girl, Linda – don’t look at the band, look at the camera. Linda, are you sure you haven’t been two-timing Mr. John’s at the New Creations Hair Salon next door?