When followers envision their favourite bands on tour, they think about a lifetime of unbelievable moments that fulfill their wildest desires. Offered-out reveals, performances to pageant crowds, and wild inter-band stunts fueled by alcohol are solely among the experiences that come to thoughts. Nonetheless, amidst all these unforgettable highs, there may be additionally the relentless boredom that units in between reveals as artists wait endlessly at venues or sleep curled up in bunks throughout day-long drives. Fortunately, video video games provide a needed escape from the mundane touring expertise. As the gang’s roar fades away, and the adrenaline rush of acting on stage morphs into silent nights within the tour bus, these artists discover solace by turning to a controller to stage out. Forward of Slam Dunk Competition 2023, we talked to among the most notable names on the lineup about their favourite video games to play whereas on tour, and the way gaming supplies a much-needed break.
What’s your finest gaming reminiscence on tour?
Jarret Reddick, Bowling for Soup: Again in 2010 or so, three band and crew members have been super-competitive on FIFA! We had tournaments that lasted for weeks. Generally we needed to let crew individuals take a break throughout the day or wake them up from their bunks in the course of the night time as a result of it was their flip to play.
Aled Phillips, Youngsters In Glass Homes: On our final tour, Save Your Breath shared a bus with us. Dave, their guitarist, is a severe gamer. He’s the kind of gamer who takes it to the subsequent stage, with a headset, vibrating chair, and Monster Vitality drinks. The Final of Us had simply come out, and he had spent two weeks perfecting his expertise, stockpiling ammo and provides like a survivalist. Someday, he returned to the bus to seek out Kris, their singer, had taken over his saved recreation and used up each final little bit of the whole lot. I’m not even certain he killed something on the display. Dave misplaced it, and never lengthy after, they cut up up. I’m guessing it was due to this incident.
NoahFinnce: My favourite tour bus gaming reminiscence was taking part in The Sims 4 for six hours straight whereas everyone else went out to a bar.
Grant Brandell, Underoath: Not precisely a tour bus reminiscence, however I recall a Warped tour in 2011 or 2012 the place Underoath wasn’t taking part in, and I went and performed on the Warped Tour Halo workforce in opposition to the Linkin Park summer season tour! It was cool to be out on the tour for one thing aside from performing and to hyperlink up with different band members.
Ian Miles, Creeper: Within the early days of touring, it could blow my thoughts after we rented a van that had a console, however sadly, they by no means labored. It all the time felt so unfair, however I refused to lose religion. The primary time we toured on a bus, we discovered a PS4 with a bunch of video games and, after being disenchanted previously, I didn’t belief it. However, I attempted it, and it labored! It didn’t take lengthy for us to comprehend that possibly having limitless leisure wasn’t such a good suggestion. I ended up consuming and taking part in Skyrim for 12 hours straight, and it was solely earlier than our guitar tech summoned me to soundcheck that I finished.
Joshua Moore, We Got here As Romans: My favourite gaming reminiscence was discovering out that my laptop computer may run CoD Warzone. Dave constructed customized instances for his and Puckett’s PS5s. We had cell web towers, and we performed WarZone each night time; it was phenomenal! We may arrange within the inexperienced room, bus, resort rooms on an off day. We may additionally play with our mates again dwelling or different individuals who have been on the identical tour as us – it was the proper setup.
Scott Carey, Holding Absence: We as soon as created all the touring social gathering with super-exaggerated options on a WWE recreation and set it to Autoplay to see who would win in a struggle. Sadly, I didn’t final very lengthy!
For many years, music journalism has taught us in regards to the pranks, partying, and puke that rock stars interact in whereas touring. Nonetheless, as soon as the social gathering subsides, artists discover solace in digital worlds. As psychological well being continues to dominate mainstream conversations, bands search for wholesome and sustainable methods to maintain themselves entertained, and video video games present an escape.
How essential are video video games as a type of escapism in your band whereas on tour?
Ian Miles, Creeper: Every thing is amplified whereas on tour. The nice nights are the perfect nights of your life; the dangerous nights are insufferable. It’s exhausting to discover a private area to course of all of those heightened feelings. Whereas on tour, I don’t usually really feel the necessity for an escape as a result of tour, in itself, is an escape. Nonetheless, once I do want a break, nothing beats placing on the blinkers and immersing myself in digital bliss.
Alex Taylor, Malevolence: It’s important for me to have a little bit little bit of trip and escapism lately. It breaks up the time between loading right into a venue and showtime. As a vocalist, it helps once I’m beginning to lose my voice and wish a while away from the after-show social gathering to relaxation. I look ahead to taking part in video games greater than having ten beers since I’m getting outdated and uninteresting!
Maggie Linndemann: It’s tremendous essential. Some journey days are nearly 20 hours lengthy, so having the ability to calm down and get misplaced in a recreation for 4 hours might be immensely useful!
Joshua Moore, We Got here As Romans: It’s actually essential for me. On my days off, I spend a lot of the day taking part in League of Legends, WarZone, or {golfing}. It’s a “reset button” for me, a strategy to get away from a busy schedule for a day and dedicate a while to myself and what I take pleasure in. I like taking part in music and acting on stage, however having the ability to placed on my headset in a resort room and play League/WarZone or hit the golf course with Dave and even on my own is a superb psychological refresher.
Ash Wilson, Boston Manor: It’s good to submerge your self right into a fictional world, eradicating your self from actual life and nearly hitting a reset button for a number of hours. It looks like switching off and recharging your batteries in a means. It helps calm your thoughts and quickly halts the tons of of issues you consider each day. It may possibly additionally show you how to relax earlier than going to mattress or whereas on an excellent lengthy drive. On tour, it’s essential to have that, given how fast-paced the whole lot is!
Erhan Alman, Heriot: It’s extremely essential for me as a person. I believe it’s wholesome to have one thing to immerse your self in, nearly like an escape from actual life. The band’s busy schedule and our full-time jobs have made it troublesome to juggle the whole lot, and I all the time attempt to have a brand new recreation able to play once I come again from a tour.
Should you may solely take one recreation with you on tour for the remainder of your profession, what would it not be, and why?
Jarret Reddick, Bowling For Soup: Tiger Woods Golf, palms down. That’s the sport that we’re all into for the time being.
Total, video video games are an integral a part of touring bands’ day by day lives, providing a much-needed escape from the monotony of waits between reveals. These artists discover which means in spending their evenings battling coworkers in FIFA, escaping into the world of Skyrim, and taking part in cell WarZone. On days off, they immerse themselves in fictional worlds to calm their minds and recharge their batteries. Video video games provide wholesome, sustainable escapism that helps these musicians proceed to make the world a rockier place, one tour at a time.
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