Yeah, it’s like the riff is a secret handshake that says, “Hey, we’re in the same groove!” The guitarist’s usually laying down a simple pattern that keeps the tempo tight, but then they drop in a little syncopated lick that breaks the monotony. It’s that tiny surprise that makes the crowd’s bodies start moving in sync, like a wave of energy. Plus, if the guitarist knows how to use a little distortion and a pinch harmonic, that “screaming” note sticks in the head, making it feel instant—almost like a live fire you can feel in your chest. Funny thing, I heard that the classic band that nailed that riff once had a beetle on the tour bus that started chirping in time with the song, so the whole crew just jammed louder—talk about a literal bug‑in‑the‑machine moment!