moe. Return after Independence Day series cancellations, with sit-ins by Daniel Donato and an emotional exit from “Mr. Fantasy” with Emma Derhak

Photo credit: Hana Gustafson

Over the holiday weekend, moe. returned to the stage for their highly anticipated Independence Day set, kicking off the band’s Best.Summer.Ever. tour alongside Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country. With shows in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Westport, Connecticut, and Jay, Vermont, the band made their first appearances after a family tragedy derailed their summer tour plans, forcing the cancellation of shows at Northlands Music Festival and Solshine: A Music & Arts Reverie. To mark their emotional and heroic return to the public eye, the band performed three very special shows, filled with high-profile collaborations and emotional moments.

On July 4, moe. landed at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, for the first show of its summer series, bringing along Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country and Neighbor for its first three dates. In proper celebration of the holiday, the seminal band opened with the original “Captain America” and closed with a debut cover of the Grateful Dead’s “U.S. Blues,” a sort of tongue-in-cheek salute to the nation on the anniversary of its declaration of independence.

Things started to heat up on July 5, when the band brought their packed bill to the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Westport, Connecticut. No highlight of the band’s return to the road topped the emotional force of Friday’s first sit-in, when bassist Rob Derhak’s daughter Emma joined the band for a cover of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” invoking the power of family healing in a moving performance. Emma has become a familiar fixture at moe. concerts over the years, but this appearance stands out for the love she showed in memory of beloved brother and son Eddie Derhak. It was the band’s second time performing the cover, having first performed in October 2005.

Later in moe.’s set, Neighbor’s Richard James backed a cover of the Dead’s “West LA Fadeaway,” and Donato joined the band for the classic “Moth,” which featured in a sprawling medley with “The Pit” and “Meat.” Donato teamed up with moe. again Friday for his holiday trio’s final show, adding his virtuoso guitar and backing vocals to “32 Things.”

moe. will return to the stage on Wednesday, July 10, for a performance at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; the band’s Best.Summer.Ever Tour with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country runs through July 21, followed by a series of solo shows through August 3. For tickets and more information, visit moe.org/tour.