For Rhett Miller (and pretty much every other touring musician), life on the road can be the same thing day after day. But Miller, lead singer of the alt-country band Old 97’s and currently on tour promoting his second solo album, prefers to look at it in a more positive light.

“It’s a little bit like a video game really,” he says. “It’s like one of those Sim-type games where you wake up every morning and you’re in some weird, different city. You have to figure out where to find breakfast, and a bathroom to brush your teeth, … and a laundromat. Then they keep throwing these obstacles at you like a radio visit or an in-store performance at a record store. Then you’ve got to make it back by sound check, and if you’re too late the tour manager freaks out on you. Then there’s the gig, which is sort of like the big final battle at the end of each level, and then it starts all over again.”

On this tour, Miller says he’s playing songs from both his solo albums as well as some songs his bandmates in the Old 97’s usually don’t play.

“For some reason, they just get ornery,” he says.

The Believer Tour features an unexpected crowd participation section. Left without a partner for the duet “Fireflies” from his latest release, The Believer, Miller has been singing the tune either solo (facing a different direction for each character), with labelmate Susan Tedeschi, with original partner Rachel Yamagata and even with a local fan from Toronto who yelled out that she wanted to sing with Miller.

“It’s good that it worked out, because it could have been a total train wreck,” he says.

Backed by a New York-based band he’s temporarily dubbed “The Believers,” Miller says he likes the change of pace he gets from playing with other musicians.

“I’ve got a female drummer, which is badass,” he says. “The thing is, it’s not just like she’s a hot chick who kind of plays drums — she’s very beautiful but she’s also a monster drummer.”

While Miller says he enjoys solo tours, he loves playing with the Old 97’s as well.

“The grass is always greener,” he says. “When I’m out there [solo], I miss the camaraderie with the guys I’ve known for years and years and years. And then I’m out with the 97’s and I’m sick of them. Now I get the best of both worlds.”

Rhett Miller and the Believers will play the Paradise on April 12. Doors open at 9 p.m.