![Dropout Kings - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2130 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/11/Dropout-Kings---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the trap metal band, Dropout Kings, while on tour with Wargasm. Dropout Kings is currently supporting their newest album, Yokai. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - September 13, 2025
Location - Reggies in Chicago, IL
Keep up with Dropout Kings on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
In this Crazy Tour Stories segment, the country artist, Rafe Carlson, shares a few wild experiences from the road. You can check out the stories below:
At this point, we’ve got so many crazy tour stories that it’s hard to pick just one… but if we narrow it down to those that are legal, and those that we’d want available on the internet, that helps quite a bit. Here’s a couple of my favorites.
On our way to Detroit Lakes, MN to play We Fest, we stopped at a small gas station in Jacobson, MN to get water and snacks. Upon further inspection of said gas station, we found our way to a back room, where a local trapper had a selection of animal pelts for sale. We left the gas station having spent our entire We Fest paycheck on fox, skunk, and coyote pelts and hats, as well as a beautiful blue fox pelt. It was a hot August day in Minnesota, and we proceeded to play the entire show, in a hot tent with no airflow, wearing our new animal furs. A wet, sweaty time. Much fun.
One time, at a festival that will go unnamed, we had an earlier-in-the-day slot, and I ended up taking a nap in the camper backstage after our performance. When I woke up, the last band was just wrapping up. I walked outside looking for everyone, and security grabbed me and kicked me out of our own show—which was fun.
Keep up with Rafe Carlson on Website, Instagram, and Facebook.
![3OH!3 Whips Up Genny’s Mac & Hash - COOKING AT 65MPH Ep. 57 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/11/3Oh-3---Cooking-at-65mph---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Cooking at 65mph”, the electropop duo, 3OH!3, prepares Genny's Mac & Hash, while on tour with Simple Plan's "Bigger Than You Think! Tour" with Bowling For Soup and LØLØ. 3OH!3 is currently supporting their newest single, SLUSHIE. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - August 24, 2025
Location - Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago, IL
Keep up with 3OH!3 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
![Ellise and Ella Red - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2129 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/11/Ellise-and-Ella-Red---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the alternative pop artists, Ellise and Ella Red, while on The PRETTY EVIL Tour. Ellise is currently supporting her newest album, PRETTY EVIL, while Ella Red is currently supporting her newest single, Aphrodite. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - August 12, 2025
Location - Subterranean in Chicago, IL
Keep up with Ellise on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and Ella Red on Facebook and Instagram
In this Preshow Rituals segment, the pop artist, Ji Nilsson, shares how she prepares before stepping on stage. You can check out her rituals below:
I’m incredibly nervous when I’m going to sing live and that’s why I’ve performed very little. When I was a child I was always the first to sign up for solos in the choir and took every opportunity I could to get on stage and sing. I didn’t prepare at all then, I just threw myself on stage. But in my teens something happened and I became terrified. The fear isn’t about being seen in front of a lot of people—I’m comfortable with that—but I’m so afraid that my nerves will prevent me from performing as well as I want to.
This has gotten better for me recently, and I think it’s because I’ve been practicing it more. I understand that I have to put in my 10,000 hours on this, just like I have with producing and writing songs, to get completely comfortable with it—and I probably have quite a few hours left when it comes to performing live. What helps me get back on track is eating at least two hours before a gig; I don’t want to be too full. I need to have room in my body to take deep breaths and calm my pulse. But the most important thing for me is the soundcheck. I want to have at least an hour to get the sound right and take in the venue. It gives me a sense of control and makes me feel calm. After that, I want to sit by myself and the person I’m playing with somewhere secluded and just recharge for the gig. However, it’s not always possible to get away depending on where you’re playing.
When I had my release party for my new album Nordic Noir last Friday, there was nowhere I could “hide.” We were at a club and I was sitting there munching on a halloumi burger when all the guests arrived. I had dressing in the corner of my mouth when people came and wanted to buy my merch haha. It was probably the worst thing I could do before such an important gig. But I just had to go with it. The strange thing is that no matter how high my heart rate is before a gig, it always goes down once I’m on stage. It’s like the music calms me down. All the thoughts before are much worse than what it’s like to actually stand there. When I feel the audience’s presence and love, that’s actually the best medicine for stage fright.
I feel a lot more excited about playing live these days, and that’s really big for me.
Keep up with Ji Nilsson on Spotify and Instagram.
![The Head and The Heart’s Matt Gervais - STAGE THREADS Ep. 5 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/11/The-Head-and-the-Heart---Matt-Gervais---Gear-Masters---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Stage Threads”, Matt Gervais, guitarist/vocalist of the indie folk band, The Head and The Heart, shows you their stage outfits and discusses how their style connects to their music and the stories behind the clothing they wear during performances. The Head and the Heart is currently supporting their newest album, Aperture. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - August 8, 2025
Location - The Salt Shed in Chicago, IL
Keep up with The Head and The Heart on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
![Jake Minch - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2128 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/11/Jake-Minch---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the singer-songwriter, Jake Minch, while on his North American tour with Hana Bryanne. Jake Minch is currently supporting his debut album, George. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date -August 18, 2025
Location - Schubas in Chicago, IL
Keep up with Jake Minch on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
In this Dream Tour segment, the synth-pop duo, Flight To London, reveals who they would want on their ultimate tour lineup. You can check out their picks below:
Our absolute dream would be opening for the legends who shaped our entire sound – starting with Tears For Fears. Roland and Curt basically wrote the blueprint for everything we do as a synth pop duo. Getting to watch them perform Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Mad World every night would be incredible. We'd probably spend every soundcheck trying to decode their vintage synth patches while praying we don't accidentally blow up a $30,000 Fairlight.
Second on the bill would have to be Scritti Politti with David Gamson – but only if we could get the full reunion with Gamson's production genius intact. That combination of Green's falsetto and Gamson's electronic arrangements is pure magic. We'd be taking notes on their harmonic sophistication every single night.
Third would be Peter Gabriel with Phil Collins behind the kit – imagine that power! Collins' legendary fills combined with Gabriel's theatrical presence would create incredible energy. Plus, we'd finally get to settle the age-old debate about whether Genesis was better with or without Phil up front, though asking that question backstage might get us permanently banned from catering.
The Police would headline, bringing that perfect blend of new wave, reggae, and rock that influenced our generation. After three months of this tour, Flight To London would either emerge as completely transformed musicians or develop severe impostor syndrome and start exclusively playing kazoo covers at children's birthday parties.
Keep up with Flight To London on their website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
![Donefor - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2127 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/10/Donefor---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the rock band, Donefor, while on Aurorawave's "Phase II Tour" with Droogs AG. Donefor is currently supporting their newest self-titled album. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - June 25, 2025
Location - Cobra Lounge in Chicago, IL
Keep up with Donefor on Facebook and Instagram.
In this Preshow Rituals segment, the indie rock band, Stock Market Cinema, reveals what they do before taking the stage. You can check out their rituals (written by Christian, bassist) below:
Honestly, our pre-show rituals are kind of chaos incarnate, so it’s kind of a miracle our shows have gone as well as they have. We usually try to run our set the day of the show and we always make a pretty organized plan talking about who’s responsible for what, what gear is going with who, trying to figure out where the hell Luke (guitar, background vocals) is, etc.
But once we cross all that off, it’s kind of a free for all for several hours. Justin (drums) and I might throw down a quick game of Magic: The Gathering, Luke vanishes into thin air, or we’ve even fired up the GameCube to play Tony Hawk’s Underground 2. It’s also not unusual to find us yelling about our current political climate. You know, super fun stuff. If someone saw us before a show, I think it’d be more likely that they think we’re a bunch of reclusive dorks that are way overdressed to be hanging out at home.
Maybe the most important part of our local show ritual is stopping by our unofficial sponsor, Francis Burger Joint in NE Minneapolis. Since almost all of us are vegetarian or vegan, we had to find a spot that met all of our dietary needs and dawg, Francis fucking delivers with the best vegan food in town. Justin recommends “THE MOTHER FUCKING HONEY DIJON CHICKEN SANDWICH WITH BACON,” Luke usually spawns back in at this point in the night and gets a classic Francis Cheese Burger, I get the spicy chicken sandwich, and Dawson’s (vocals, guitar) usual: “double cheeseburger gluten free with a side of honey mustard baby.” Cannot speak more highly of this place. We <3 u Francis.
After Francis we head to the gig for load in, grab some coffee somewhere on the way in, and then we’re off to the races. I’m always impressed at how well we operate. Justin is kind of the brains of the production and has our live set up pretty much foolproof; he tells us what cable goes where, interfaces with front of house, and makes sure we’re going to have a great night of tunes. Luke and his partner get the merch booth set up, Dawson usually mingles with the other bands and helps keep us all organized, and I help wherever else I’m needed. Before we go on, it’s all nerves and hyping each other up—but all our shows have gone off without a hitch so we must be doing something right.
-Christian (Bassist)
Keep up with Stock Market Cinema on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
![Maiah Manser - STAGE THREADS Ep. 4 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/10/Maiah-Manser---Stage-Threads---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
On this episode of DTB’s “Stage Threads”, the alternative pop artist, Maiah Manser, shows you her stage outfits and discusses how her style connects to their music and the stories behind the clothing they wear during performances. Maiah Manser is currently supporting her newest single, Who Are You? You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - September 7, 2025
Location - Schubas in Chicago, IL
Keep up with Maiah Manser on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
