Not a Black Keys fan but I went to see them Friday night because The Arctic Monkeys whom I love were opening. I found it odd that the 17,000 or so Black Keys fans at Madison Square Garden kept losing their shit over the "riffs" during the Black Keys tunes as opposed to the lyrics/chorus. Is this a sign that the "Riff" may be making a comeback? Can the average mainstream rock fan embrace the simple yet almighty power of the Riff? Thoughts?

The guy plays some good riffs. Rehashed and reused but if I want to see anyone "make it" in terms of the mainstream it would be those guys.

People know good shit when they hear it. They're just not used to going out and looking for it.

I dig their taste in hip- hop.

As far as the riff, it's as old as the blues (if not older). It comes and it goes.

don't be deceived. riff means something different to every stiff who say the word. context ain't free? is it? hardcore kids talk breakdown riffs, tech death dorks talk power of riff but to them means how complicated the counting. rappers talk bout riffin. goes back to jazz and count basie riffs. to mainstream black keys are the riff and that is about as far as they will take it. the ride ends there. doesn't mean all those thousands are suddenly going to go buy uncle acid. most ain't even going to venture as far as buying wolf mother. dead end, turn around, look under another rock.

Riff.