The crowd didn’t seem to notice the absence of headlining act 30 Seconds To Mars at Friday night’s Sacramento pit-stop on the Rockstar-sponsored Taste of Chaos tour. And why would they? The evening — featuring a screamo-heavy bill that included The Used, Aiden, Senses Fail and Saosin — offered enough frenetic fist-pumping and sweaty moshing to satisfy even the most devout Jared Leto acolyte. (The official word from 30 STM’s camp was that frontman Leto had been hospitalized for strep throat, though insiders speculate that he simply wanted to spend some extra time at home in L.A. before gearing up for the tour’s Vegas stop.)

Things got off to a slow start with earnest but forgettable sets by Evaline and Chiodos, but the show picked up remarkably when Seattle quintet Aiden appeared. Led by singer Wil Francis (who wore a pink shirt emblazoned with the words “To Hell and Back”), Aiden owned the crowd when the opening strains of the raucous tune “The Suffering” from (2006’s Rain in Hell) were audible. “I want this shit to be epic,” Francis bellowed, ordering the crowd to part and make room for a massive moshing session. From the controlled chaos that ensued, it was evident the audience was more than willing to accommodate. Francis’ rock star showmanship was in full effect, and came complete with inspirational messages (“Music has the power to save and save lives”) and a Messianic, “walk-on-water” take on crowd-surfing that might best be described as “crowd standing.”

Aiden was a tough act to follow and Newport Beach rockers Saosin dropped the ball, presenting a comparatively blah set. Things picked up with the hardcore stylings of Senses Fail: the crowd got hot and bothered for the radio-friendly “Calling All Cars” and “Can’t be Saved” from the band’s most recent album Still Searching. And though front man Buddy Nielsen’s voice was painfully off-key at some points, he proved to be well-studied in the art of microphone ribbon gymnastics.

Still, it was obvious who the crowd came to see when The Used took the stage. Sporting a red shirt, black beach shorts and a crop of stringy, Cobain-esque blonde hair, lead singer Bert McCracken looked refreshingly milk-fed (at least compared to his tour mates) as he climbed onstage.

The Used took full advantage of the empty slot 30 Seconds to Mars left, indulging the crowd in an extra-long set that featured old favorites and plenty of material from their newly released CD/DVD Berth. After an energetic version of “The Taste,” McCracken brought Wil Francis back on stage. Relating an anecdote that illustrated the duo’s shared experience of conquering drug addictions, McCracken grabbed Francis and planted a swift but firm kiss on his mouth; The pair then launched into a feverish duet. Suck that, Madonna and Britney!

Following a pretty rendition of “All That I’ve Got,” McCracken dialed things down with an acoustic version of “On My Own” (from the band’s 2002 debut). Compared with the evening’s sonic cacophony, the stripped down number was as startling as it was beautiful. McCracken ended the reverie with his own inspirational message: “As long as you have your favorite music to listen to, you’re not alone.”

But it wouldn’t be a proper emo show if the concert didn’t conclude with a full-on slam dance. In this case, it was a new song, “Hospital” (from Berth) that ended the night with a taste of chaos. The crowd broke off in at least three distinct mosh pits, dancing their hearts out and assuring McCracken and his Used that they were at their riotous best.