“”You got no fear of the underdog, that’s why you will not survive.”” This lyric from indie rock band Spoon’s song “”The Underdog”” epitomizes the dark horse-persona that has driven them to acclaim, and tonight, Spoon brings their strong sound to the Rialto Theatre.

Spoon’s sound is driving and distinct. Though they are constantly reinventing themselves, they stand, undeniably, a band apart. Spoon’s sound is colored by front man Britt Daniel’s genuine vocals. He’s a crusader for the brooding and burning underdog, fighting for agency in songs like “”Don’t Make Me a Target”” and “”Don’t Let it Get You Down.””

Spoon’s latest album, Transference, is yet another experiment in reinvention, and though it may be alienating for Spoon’s casual listeners, the album is impressive to staid fans and asserts why Spoon is a success. Transference is a foray into a cerebral sort of rock — though it may seem chaotic and jumbled, the pieces, when picked apart, show a surprising amount of ingenuity and layering. At points, it drops out the guitar or drums entirely.

Transference comes on slow and strong, sinking into the listener’s skin — as opposed to some of Spoon’s past albums, like Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, which starts with an in-your-face, explosive baseline and percussion.

Spoon is dark in their newest effort, but they retain the things that make them Spoon — stripped and minimalist guitar, consistent percussion and Daniel’s endearing, grainy voice that all but asks you to be on his side.