With hints of country, blues, and indie folk rock in their music, Deer Tick is a force to be reckoned with. Formed in Providence in 2004 by John McCauley, they are currently on tour promoting their new album, Divine Providence. McCauley’s lyrics, hard-edged voice, and agile guitar work have been compared to those of Bob Dylan and Kurt Cobain. What he began has snowballed into a five-member band with Ian O’Neil on guitar, Chris Ryan on bass, Dennis Ryan on drums, lead singer McCauley on guitar, and Robbie Crowell, on keys and sax. All provide vocals as well. Crowell, somewhere between Austin and Santa Fe, recently found time to chat with the Mass Media.

How is the reaction from the public; how is the tour going?

It seems really good … Dallas and Washington, in particular are really awesome to us. It’s been a great tour so far. Hopefully it’ll keep on that way. The 9:30 Club [in D.C.] was awesome.

When you guys are on these tours living in such close proximity all the time, do you ever get on each other’s nerves?

I think you can safely say that this is the only band I’ve ever been in where that doesn’t [happen]. It’s definitely not been the case in other bands I’ve been in. […] Everyone enjoys hanging out with everyone else. Everyone’s pretty good at giving other people space.

Which album has changed your life, and why?

As far as the ones I’ve worked on [with Deer Tick], I think Divine Providence is pretty much the best thing I’ve had the chance being part of. John and I did a side project a couple of months ago; pretty awesome […] It’s not coming out ‘til April or so…

What would you say is the biggest difference in this album and your previous work?

It’s kind of an issue of the band being really on point while we recorded it, everyone really stepped it up as far as playing and writing goes. Like, our producers we had for this: Adam Landry and Justin Collins were just awesome, and really kept things moving. Like, chewing us out on some stuff, and keeping us focused.

Was it stressful for you, creating new material?

No, it’s usually not much of a problem with this band. Usually it’s the other way. Even with Divine Providence, we recorded 26 or 28 tracks, and then we had to pare down from that for the album. […] We had about two and a half albums’ worth of stuff when we were done.

What’s your favorite city to play in?

Hard to say. Austin is awesome. Nashville’s great. New York’s wicked. Providence is chillin’. I don’t know; there’s four or five places through the States that are always amazing. Toronto’s actually a super [town].

How about Boston?

Boston is always a wicked show, and we’re particularly looking forward to that this time because we’re gonna be playin’ with the Felice Brothers. … They’re friends of ours. We’re pretty [hyped] for that show.

How did you get into music in the first place, and who influenced you, musically or otherwise, you know, like your third-grade teacher or something?

I started playing drums when I was about eight years old, I guess, picked up the rest of the instruments on the way. I’ve been mainly influenced just by the people I play with.

I saw a clip of the band at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where you were saying that you admired Springsteen’s guitar for playing “Nebraska.”

Yeah, that’s like his main axe. It was pretty awesome to see that. It was pretty amazing to see the keyboard he used for “Tunnel of Love,” too. I kind of was obsessed with that album for a while. […] They have the actual outfit that he wore on the cover of “Born to Run”; they have the jeans and the jacket.

I’d like to ask you if you have a favorite hangover relief. But if you don’t want to answer that, what’s your favorite candy?

I can answer both of those. Currently, my favorite candy is Snickers bars, the almond ones. And, hangover relief, usually coffee, Gatorade, and a banana. Or Emergen-C. Emergen-C’s pretty awesome.

That sounds so normal.

Yeah, it works.

Catch Deer Tick’s show on Nov. 18 at the Royale Boston. It’s 18 and over; doors open at 6 p.m. You can also visit their website http://www.deertickmusic.com/ and find them on iTunes. Don’t forget to grab their new album Divine Providence, released on Oct. 25.