“It’s all there,” said Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood when asked in a recent interview with NUVO about his band’s latest record, 2008’s Brighter Than Creation’s Dark. “We cut 19 songs and that’s about it. I wrote about 50 and [Mike] Cooley had a few left over.”

Along with Wilco and My Morning Jacket, the Truckers — Hood, Cooley, Brad Morgan, John Neff and Shonna Tucker — have become known as one of the most road-steady bands of the decade, averaging well over a hundred shows each year in support of the five studio albums they’ve released since 2002. That was the year that saw the three-guitar-driven Southern rock band come to national attention with the release of their now-classic concept album, Southern Rock Opera. Hood says that the album came together organically.

“The new album really worked as one big piece,” Hood continued. “I really like how one song flows into the next, especially with three writers and singers. That’s my favorite thing about this band. And the songs are just getting meaner and meaner as the tour goes on. It’s become a really intense rock show.”

Bridging the gap between classic Southern rock fans and today’s younger Americana set, the Truckers’ Skynyrd-meets-Neil Young-meets-Tom Petty sound incorporates sometimes humorous, always poignantly stated lyrics. Those ripping, organic and professionally-written songs explode on stage — the place the Truckers seem most comfortable — and are at the heart of the band.

“Over? What does that mean?” Hood joked in closing when asked about the band’s post-tour plans. “We’ll be touring all year, then I guess we’ll sleep for a while. Oh, and I don’t have a persona that I know of; it’s just stories and songs.”

The Drive-By Truckers will appear at the Vogue Friday, May 2, their first Indianapolis visit since touring with the Black Crowes over a year ago.