One-Man Band Brightens Neighbors Days During Pandemic Shutdown

A one-man band has been bringing joy to neighborhoods during the pandemic with his mood-boosting performances. Entertainer Eric Haines, 56, from Everett, Washington, estimates that he has walked around his neighborhood with his one-man-band ensemble 30 times since the coronavirus pandemic began. And after many months of spirit-lifting, his performances have started receiving viral attention his neighbors think he deserves. The idea came to Eric in mid-March of 2020, while watching Italians singing from balconies as a way to boost community spirit while people were forced indoors during the early days of COVID. With no balconies in his neighborhood, Eric took to the streets playing his music for the first time on March 17, 2020. But it wasn't until 2021 Eric saw his performances go viral.