For example, strumming The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" in a snow bank in blizzard-ravaged Massachusetts, then delivering a classic country song from the side of a road, with a cow as a backdrop.

The 30-second scenes of uniformed soldiers strumming in the snow, filmed during down time on the band's first official tour, have received a warm Facebook welcome; the "Here Comes the Sun" snippet posted Monday from near Worcester (recently named the snowiest city in America) had more than 2.2 million views as of Wednesday afternoon.

The prevailing theme of Facebook comments on the post, as expressed by one viewer: "Videos need to be longer."

The group, formed in May 2014, is designed to provide a more "personal music experience" that would allow listeners to relate to the soldiers and their stories, according to a Feb. 4 news release announcing the tour.

Master Sgt. John Lamirande, Sgt. 1st Class Tom Lindsey and Staff Sgts. John Brandon Boron and Glenn Robertson make up the ensemble, with the tour a homecoming of sorts for Boron and Robertson, both University of Massachusetts graduates.

UMass-Lowell will host the band tonight at 7 p.m., with stops scheduled throughout New England every day through Monday. Weather permitting.

Get details on the ensemble, including a full tour schedule, via Facebook.

Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.

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