This is Digital Tour Bus' official Blogger account. We're an entertainment/music website out of Chicago. We produce your favorite music web series, Bus Invaders!
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the post-punk goth rock band, Vision Video, while on their fall 2025 North America tour. Vision Video is currently supporting their newest album, Modern Horror. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - September 24, 2025
Location - Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL
In this Crazy Tour Stories segment, the rock band, DAME, shares a heartfelt story from lead singer Veronica Swift about a moment on the road that changed everything. You can check out the story below:
From DAME lead singer, songwriter, and creative mastermind Veronica Swift...
There comes a time in every touring artist’s career where we begin to grow road weary and so tired that we question our life choices. Having grown up in a jazz musician family, I was raised on the road with Mom and Dad, late nights, early mornings, having to fit in the backseat of the Subaru among the gear and amps, sleeping in green rooms, even an upright bass case once in Amsterdam. It was just as much a way of life as growing up speaking English, it wasn’t “cool” or “awesome,” it just was. So of course it made sense that at age nine I would start performing with my parents.
I was always a performer, no matter the genre or the stage, but as a young kid, you’re not thinking about how your choices will impact your career decades down the road. Before I knew it, at age eighteen, I already had a growing fan base of older white haired jazz lovers, and the jazz industry had its eyes on me. By twenty three, I was signed to a jazz label, management, booking, and off on a whirlwind jazz career touring with my trio and other jazz legends. It all happened so fast that I didn’t even have a chance to check in with myself. I saw my dreams of singing my own original rock music fading in the rearview mirror.
By 2018, I had all but consigned myself to following the jazz career path, even though it wasn’t who I truly was or what I wanted for myself. I kept my head down, drank most nights, and like a good girl, never questioned the people who were moving my career forward. I was working so much that I was constantly sick, exhausted, depressed, burnt out, and run down. I didn’t know how to say no or draw healthy boundaries for myself or my time. I took every gig that came in.
It got so bad that I recall one instance in 2018. I played a show in San Francisco, and right after the show, I rushed to catch a twelve hour midnight flight to Shanghai, China. On this particular flight, I was in the very back row, middle seat. Upon arrival, we were put on a train and went straight from the airport to the gig, and the gig was a double show night with five nights in a row following that day. As I sat on the train heading into Shanghai, drenched in my sweaty travel clothes, hair a complete mess, muscles aching from a sleepless, no recline flight, surrounded by non English speakers in a country and culture I knew barely anything about, not entirely sure if I was going to make the gig on time, I definitely questioned my life choices. What if I had started a rock and roll band instead? What if I had followed my dreams and left New York City for L.A. sooner? What if I bought that house in Virginia and married my ex? Does what I’m doing mean anything to anyone?
It wasn’t until I heard a voice on that train full of Chinese locals say, “Excuse me, are you Veronica Swift?” that time stopped, and all the alternate realities of my life collided for this one moment. A twenty something Chinese girl came over and sat next to me. She told me she had seen me at Umbria Fest that summer, that she was studying at the Berklee summer program, and that my performance and master class really helped her. She was coming to see me in Shanghai that night. I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. It was almost as if the powers that be sent her to remind me that what I'm doing does matter, and that I'm on the right track.
Since then, I decided not to let anything hold me back from following my dreams. Now here I am, seven years later, I have my rock band, live in L.A., and have started a new life with my rockstar idol and crush from when I was a kid. Nothing stops this train.
On this episode of DTB’s “Gear Masters”, Joe Pelletier, drummer of the slam band, PeelingFlesh, shows off the gear that he uses onstage, while on tour with Lorna Shore, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Shadow of Intent. PeelingFlesh is currently supporting their newest album, PF Radio 2. You can watch the video below:
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the alternative pop artist, hannah bahng, while on The Misunderstood Tour. hannah bahng is currently supporting her newest EP, The Misunderstood EP. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - November 7, 2025
Location - House of Blues in Chicago, IL
In this Tour Tips segment, the pop/R&B artist, Jill Marie Cooper, shares her advice for life on the road. You can check out her tips below:
My first tour tip would be to always bring a neck pillow for traveling. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve forgotten to bring this (despite the fact that I own two). The more sleep you can get while being on the road, the better. Keep in mind that you’ll probably feel more tired being away from home, so your body will thank you for getting in those cheeky extra winks whenever and wherever you can!
My second tip—and I can’t stress this enough—is hydration, hydration, hydration! This doesn’t mean you can’t get your caffeine fix, but because of the amount of time you’re spending on tour buses, in cars, random hotels, and venues, you’ll often be subjected to poor heating, or worse still, no heating, air-conditioning, and environmental factors out of your control. Especially when moving through different temperatures city to city, you have to be extra diligent about keeping hydrated. For every coffee or caffeinated drink, have at least one glass of water. Also, take your vitamins—your body needs to be taken care of!
My third tip would be to keep your spiritual life and nervous system regulated. For me, this means spending time with God every morning and praying every day. Whether it’s praying, taking a few minutes to breathe deeply and practice mindfulness, or simply affirming yourself daily, it’s important in the chaotic nature of touring to take this time for you. You’re a human being—not a robot—after all!
I would also say to keep in contact with loved ones and not forget to stay connected while on tour. From experience, when I’ve failed to do this, I inevitably have a little meltdown. The stress of being away from home for any extended amount of time means you need the sense of normality that speaking with people who know you well brings!
On this episode of DTB’s “Stage Threads”, Tyler Williams, drummer of the indie folk band, The Head and The Heart, shows you his stage outfits and discusses how his style connects to the music and the stories behind the clothing he wears 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
On this episode of DTB’s “Bus Invaders”, we take you inside the touring vehicle of the folk rock band, Arts Fishing Club, while on The 502s' Easy Street Tour. Arts Fishing Club is currently supporting their newest single, Some Kind of Dangerous. You can watch the video below:
VIDEO INFO:
Film Date - September 11, 2025
Location - Riviera Theatre in Chicago, IL
In this Dream Tour segment, the pop artist, Ornate, reveals who he would want on his ultimate tour lineup. You can check out his picks below:
Touring as a musician is a big goal of mine, small or large. I've seen dozens of tours in my time—those of friends, colleagues, and favorite artists. Living in Nashville, I'm blessed to live centrally where many touring artists frequent, from arena pop tours to legacy and rock artists. Every week here, there are shows happening in every genre.
With a tour, the best openers complement the title performer, and the most successful group tours keep a unity in sound and style. The music I write often blends genres, but I feel my ideal tour lineup would be alongside some of my most respected, personal favorite artists.
Bruno Major, Humble the Great, and Gabriel Garzón-Montano are three of my favorite artists in the soul, indie, and R&B spaces. Bruno is a master songwriter and jazz guitarist who writes broad and universal truths. Humble’s music is honest and always greets the heartstrings with a gentle handhold. Gabriel’s production and multi-instrumentalist skills sonically eject you from a chair to one of their dreamscapes. I’d be honored to work alongside any one of them separately or as a unit.
The power in these storytellers is the cornerstone of truth in their writing. I've always heard that the best songs can be played with a single instrument and charm a room, without a huge production, luxury studio, flashy visual, or costume. I credit myself as a songwriter and a singer primarily, and I keep this in mind when I write, because for me, to write is to share—to make art as therapy, to heal the self, and to expand your views on the subject or source. These artists have inspired me endlessly, so that’s the dream tour.
This track I wrote with my friend Jack is healing in 100 ways. I wrote it about my teenage years, about my East Tennessee extended family disowning a queer kid for just being who he was meant to. Write your truth, and sing it louder. Lots of love,
<3 Nate
![Vision Video - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2144 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/12/Vision-Video---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
![PeelingFlesh’s Joe Pelletier - GEAR MASTERS Ep. 597 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/12/PeelingFlesh---Joe-Pelletier---Gear-Masters---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
![hannah bahng - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2143 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/12/hannah-bahng---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
![The Head and The Heart’s Tyler Williams - STAGE THREADS Ep. 9 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/12/The-Head-and-The-Heart---Tyler-Williams---Stage-Threads---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
![Arts Fishing Club - BUS INVADERS Ep. 2142 [VIDEO]](https://www.digitaltourbus.com/content/images/2025/12/Arts-Fishing-Club---Bus-Invaders---ICON--2-.webp){kind=icon}
