Charlie Owen might be one of the "horses" in Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses, but that doesn't mean he's just part of a backing band.

"Tex and I have been working together for quite a long time," Owen says.

"As they've added up, these CDs, the Dark Horses has become much more a band. It's a band now - when we record, everyone has a say.

"I guess Tex and myself overview it like executive producers but everyone has a fair say in the whole sonic experience. Particularly Joel [Silbersher], his guitar playing is very unique and so he has a big say in it."

The band is just about to release their sixth album - Tunnel At The End of the Light - and are on a short tour to promote it. That doesn't mean jumping in a van and driving up and down the coast. Owen says touring has become much more civilised these days.

"The idea of getting in a car and being away for six weeks playing every night has disappeared," he says.

"Travel is so much cheaper nowadays and everything can work out much better if you head to the airport on Thursday morning, fly out for a few shows and come home on Sunday afternoon.

"It also works out better for your lifestyle."

Owen has played in a number of bands over the years, including The New Christs, Beasts of Bourbon and the supergroup Tex, Don and Charlie.

He's also a gun for hire, touring with various musicians and doing turns as a session muso on other people's albums.

The other members of the Dark Horses have other projects as well and the outfit gives them the freedom to pursue them.

"I think it's beneficial on lots of levels," Owen says.

"Everyone gets to do other things when they want to. It keeps it fresh and alive and organic, really. It's beneficial for the soul as well as the music.

"It means when we get together it's really good fun. We all get on really, really well.

"We make a record because we like to make records and we like to make music. Then we play it for a while, then everyone gets out of each other's hair and does a few other things for a while.

"Then it's like 'oh, it's time to do another album'."

Something else you could argue might come under the heading of "beneficial" is the chance to play a gig at a winery, which the Dark Horses get to do from time to time.

It's a very different vibe from playing in a small, sweaty club where not everyone is there to hear the music.

"They treat you really well and you get a nice dinner," Owen says of the winery gigs.

"Also the people are going there not to pick up chicks, they're going there as a music audience. You play those places and the crowd is silent, they're listening and they're appreciating the music, rather than there being the burble of people chatting to each other.

"And the type of music Dark Horses play, we're very much a listening band."