This is 2014, so far

or Clearing the Traffic Jam, New Year's Edition

2014.01.14

In inadvertent callbacks to a previous traffic jam, two things happened at the start of 2014: a governor got in trouble (ba-dum, tish), and I didn't keep up with the blog. I am seven Star photo assignments behind, the fault being a mix of working for three days in Mooresville, the polar vortex, and preparations for the next semester of pre-med classes.

Here are the seven things I did for the paper in the first half of January. There are two New Year's Eve events, Flat 12 Bierwerks's third birthday party, and four assignments (four!) this past weekend: two shows at Radio Radio, the last day of an Indianapolis Museum of Art exhibit, and a play at the Phoenix Theatre. One of the Radio Radio shows got me a juicy bit of color-page action on A3 of yesterday's paper:

Enjoy!

Flip the light switch

$Picture Yes performs during the New Year\'s Eve Rock \'n\' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.$ Picture Yes performs during the New Year's Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Alex Farris

$Duke Tomatoe performs during the New Year\'s Eve Rock \'n\' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.$ Duke Tomatoe performs during the New Year's Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Alex Farris

$DJ Helicon picks music to mix during the New Year\'s Eve Rock \'n\' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.$ DJ Helicon picks music to mix during the New Year's Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Alex Farris

$The Flying Toasters performs during the New Year\'s Eve Rock \'n\' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.$ The Flying Toasters performs during the New Year's Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. Alex Farris

$Dave & Rae perform during the Rock \'n\' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2013.$ Dave & Rae perform during the Rock 'n' Roll Ball at the Hyatt Regency downtown, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2013. Alex Farris

People enjoy CIROC the New Year 2014 at the Regions Bank Tower downtown, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. Alex Farris

$Sinclair Wheeler plays \$ Sinclair Wheeler plays "Auld Lang Syne" during the CIROC the New Year 2014 at the Regions Bank Tower downtown, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. Alex Farris

$Doreen Crenshaw orders a sample of We Spelt It Wrong from Flat 12 Bierworks professional pourer Sarah Hutchison during a third anniversary party at Flat 12 Bierworks brewery on Dorman Street, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. The party featured tastings of over 50 of the local brewery\'s products.$ Doreen Crenshaw orders a sample of We Spelt It Wrong from Flat 12 Bierworks professional pourer Sarah Hutchison during a third anniversary party at Flat 12 Bierworks brewery on Dorman Street, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. The party featured tastings of over 50 of the local brewery's products. Alex Farris

$Brothers Josh and Jereme Grissom look at the selection of beer tastings during Flat 12 Bierworks\' third anniversary party at the brewery on Dorman Street, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. The party featured tastings of over 50 of the local brewery\'s products.$ Brothers Josh and Jereme Grissom look at the selection of beer tastings during Flat 12 Bierworks' third anniversary party at the brewery on Dorman Street, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. The party featured tastings of over 50 of the local brewery's products. Alex Farris

$Daniel (Matthew Goodrich) and Beth (Gigi Jennewien) pause while taking out a splinter in Daniel\'s foot during the Indiana premiere of \$ Daniel (Matthew Goodrich) and Beth (Gigi Jennewien) pause while taking out a splinter in Daniel's foot during the Indiana premiere of "Tribes" at the Phoenix Theatre, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. The play follows a family that raised a deaf son, Billy, as if he could speak. Alex Farris

$Christopher (Stephen Hunt) kisses Beth (Gigi Jennewein) after Beth agreed to wear a kimono during the Indiana premiere of \$ Christopher (Stephen Hunt) kisses Beth (Gigi Jennewein) after Beth agreed to wear a kimono during the Indiana premiere of "Tribes" at the Phoenix Theatre, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. The play follows a family that raised a deaf son, Billy, as if he could speak. Alex Farris

$Christopher (Stephen Hunt) berates his son, Daniel (Matthew Goodrich), over Daniel\'s attempts at a thesis during the Indiana premiere of \$ Christopher (Stephen Hunt) berates his son, Daniel (Matthew Goodrich), over Daniel's attempts at a thesis during the Indiana premiere of "Tribes" at the Phoenix Theatre, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. The play follows a family that raised a deaf son, Billy, as if he could speak. Alex Farris

$Billy (Andrew Martin) signs to his girlfriend, Sylvia (Ryan O\'Shea), as Sylvia\'s previous statement is translated to written English on the wall at dinner with Billy\'s family during the Indiana premiere of \$ Billy (Andrew Martin) signs to his girlfriend, Sylvia (Ryan O'Shea), as Sylvia's previous statement is translated to written English on the wall at dinner with Billy's family during the Indiana premiere of "Tribes" at the Phoenix Theatre, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. The play follows a family that raised a deaf son, Billy, as if he could speak. Alex Farris

$Hiss Golden Messenger vocalist M.C. Taylor opens for a tribute concert for Jason Molina at Radio Radio, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Molina, who lived in Indianapolis and recorded at Bloomington\'s Secretly Canadian label, died of complications related to alcoholism on March 16, 2013. The remaining members of his band Magnolia Electric Co. are on a tour of Indianapolis, Chicago, Durham, N.C., and Asheville, N.C.$ Hiss Golden Messenger vocalist M.C. Taylor opens for a tribute concert for Jason Molina at Radio Radio, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Molina, who lived in Indianapolis and recorded at Bloomington's Secretly Canadian label, died of complications related to alcoholism on March 16, 2013. The remaining members of his band Magnolia Electric Co. are on a tour of Indianapolis, Chicago, Durham, N.C., and Asheville, N.C. Alex Farris

$Jason Groth plays guitar during a tribute concert for Jason Molina at Radio Radio, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Molina, who lived in Indianapolis and recorded at Bloomington\'s Secretly Canadian label, died of complications related to alcoholism on March 16, 2013. The remaining members of his band Magnolia Electric Co. are on a tour of Indianapolis, Chicago, Durham, N.C., and Asheville, N.C.$ Jason Groth plays guitar during a tribute concert for Jason Molina at Radio Radio, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Molina, who lived in Indianapolis and recorded at Bloomington's Secretly Canadian label, died of complications related to alcoholism on March 16, 2013. The remaining members of his band Magnolia Electric Co. are on a tour of Indianapolis, Chicago, Durham, N.C., and Asheville, N.C. Alex Farris

$Hiss Golden Messenger\'s M.C. Taylor sings with surviving members of Magnolia Electric Co. during a tribute concert for Jason Molina at Radio Radio, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Molina, who lived in Indianapolis and recorded at Bloomington\'s Secretly Canadian label, died of complications related to alcoholism on March 16, 2013. The remaining members of his band Magnolia Electric Co. are on a tour of Indianapolis, Chicago, Durham, N.C., and Asheville, N.C.$ Hiss Golden Messenger's M.C. Taylor sings with surviving members of Magnolia Electric Co. during a tribute concert for Jason Molina at Radio Radio, Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. Molina, who lived in Indianapolis and recorded at Bloomington's Secretly Canadian label, died of complications related to alcoholism on March 16, 2013. The remaining members of his band Magnolia Electric Co. are on a tour of Indianapolis, Chicago, Durham, N.C., and Asheville, N.C. Alex Farris

$Chelsea van der Meer and Giorgio Giudice stand together looking at a photo of artist Henri Matisse at Last Call for the \$ Chelsea van der Meer and Giorgio Giudice stand together looking at a photo of artist Henri Matisse at Last Call for the "Matisse, Life in Color" exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Last Call is an after-hours program put on by the IMA on the last Saturday night of featured exhibitions. Alex Farris

$A photo shows Henri Matisse working from his bed at Last Call for the \$ A photo shows Henri Matisse working from his bed at Last Call for the "Matisse, Life in Color" exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Last Call is an after-hours program put on by the IMA on the last Saturday night of featured exhibitions. Alex Farris

$Meredith Van Rooy and museum visitors draw Herron School of Art and Design model Kevin M. Brown at Last Call for the \$ Meredith Van Rooy and museum visitors draw Herron School of Art and Design model Kevin M. Brown at Last Call for the "Matisse, Life in Color" exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Last Call is an after-hours program put on by the IMA on the last Saturday night of featured exhibitions. Alex Farris

$Patrons dance to The Seven Deadly\'s covers of Jerry Lee Lewis songs during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014.$ Patrons dance to The Seven Deadly's covers of Jerry Lee Lewis songs during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Alex Farris

Zizi Portmann (a.k.a. Janet Duke) of The Seven Deadly sings Jerry Lee Lewis songs during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Alex Farris

Patrons enjoy the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Alex Farris

An old Elvis Presley movie and the Colts-Patriots games play on TVs behind the bar during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Alex Farris

Danny Thompson performs songs popularized by Elvis Presley songs during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Alex Farris

$Tiffany Kloss and Mike Lightnin\' dance to Danny Thompson\'s covers of Elvis Presley during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014.$ Tiffany Kloss and Mike Lightnin' dance to Danny Thompson's covers of Elvis Presley during the 10th annual Elvis Birthday Bash at Radio Radio in Fountain Square, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. Alex Farris