Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The 20th anniversary of Riot Fest entered its closing stretch, bolstered by the momentum of a wonderfully wild start and stellar second day, with additional emphasis on classic albums, another reunion and an unexpected treat.

Green Day naturally took the top slot for an encore appearance of the sold out “Saviors” Tour, which Chicago Concert Reviews previously covered at Wrigley Field and can attest to its entertaining excellence.

With that in mind, Dublin, Ireland’s Inhaler appeared right before and will likely be occupying the top line sooner than later, since after all, the indie/pop/alt-rock act’s third album, “Open Wide,” came across as quite a catchy charm.

Between a ton of those current tracks, plus prior samples off “Cuts & Bruises” and “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” front man/guitarist Elijah Hewson (son of U2’s Bono), bassist Robert Keating, drummer Ryan McMahon and keyboardist Josh Bartholomew Jenkinson demonstrated a tight-knit chemistry and collective commitment to reach for the stars.

Speaking of stadium-shaking choruses, Cobra Starship sure had a stable’s worth during a hotly anticipated reunion, which found front man Gabe Saporta, keyboardist Victoria Asher, drummer Nate Novarro and the rest of the electropop crew picking up precisely where they left off.

“Hot Mess,” “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)” featuring Travie McCoy from openers Gym Class Heroes and “Good Girls Go Bad” were just a few prompting an entire field’s worth of fans to dance, jump and get ready for next otherworldly chapter to blast off.

Bad Religion is no stranger to Riot Fest, though this time the veteran punk/melodic hardcore players turned their focus towards the entire 1988 offering, “Suffer,” one of the genre’s most pivotal projects that resonated as aggressively and agelessly as ever.

The same could be said about Chicago’s own Screeching Weasel, particularly regarding the complete edition of 1988’s “My Brain Hurts,” which adapted a streamlined sound compared to heavier beginnings, yet was still carried by fist-pumping insistence.

Despite lengthy technical delays, Hanson, as in the band of brothers responsible for the beloved bubblegum ditty “MMMBop,” were unexpected but nonetheless welcome additions, serving as a softer, sunnier palette cleanser of sorts, sporting crisp harmonies and textbook pop songwriting, alongside cameos from a percussion playing John Stamos, who already performed as part of The Beach Boys, and perhaps even more surprisingly, guitarist Stephen Egerton of old school punks Descendents.

In terms of the typically-scheduled styles, The Ataris fired up the afternoon with 2003’s full pop/punk/emo diary, “So Long, Astoria,” including a signature cover of Don Henley’s “The Boys Of Summer” that simultaneously waved goodbye to the season and fully embraced Riot Fest’s annual fall takeover.

Click here for more photos of Riot Fest at Douglass Park.

For upcoming Riot Fest announcements, visit RiotFest.org.

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