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One of the greatest spectacles in American show business
once again came to New York City on Thanksgiving Day. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, in its
88th year swept through the streets to a live audience of 3.5 million. That is in addition to the 50 million
watching at home on NBC. The Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade features massive helium balloons, floats, guest musical
appearances, marching bands, celebrity appearances, and to top it off, Santa
Clause. This magical event has been
going on since 1924 and used to feature lions, tigers, camels, bears, goats,
and elephants. Santa Claus himself has
always ended the parade except for one year when he started it off. In recent times, they have added “Falloons”
(float and cold air balloon hybrid), Balloonicles (balloon and vehicle hybrid)
and “Trycaloons” (part tricycle part balloon).
The parade strolls through Manhattan, the most densely populated borough
of New York. It starts on the west side
of Central Park on 77th St. and finishes at Macy’s on 34th
St.
Daughter Lily opened the show, proving that musical talent is certainly inherited. Hiatt took the stage with his Combo and thanked the crowd for coming out on a Sunday night, quickly rewarding them with songs ranging from grungy rock to soulful blues. Watching Hiatt is like watching a life, full of expectation, sorrow, longing and hope. 
Drawing from a deep well of country, rock pop and blues tradition, Rosanne Cash played a warm, career-spanning set in front of a sell out crowd at New York’s Beacon Theater. Many of the evening’s selection were from her 2009 release“The List”, based on a list of 100 essential country songs given to her by her father. Raised by her mother in California, Cash was basically unaware of her birth right, trying acting and traveling abroad until joining her father on tour as a wardrobe assistant. Over time, Cash was influenced by Johnny, but developed a writing style uniquely her own. Cash brought that broad set of musical diversity to the Beacon show, covering Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” and a wonderful version of the old Bobby Gentry hit “Ode To Billy Joe”.
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