Welcome to another fine edition of TP US; I daresay this might be favorite issue to date - we’ll see if any of you agree! What’s the reason for this jolly demeanor? Good help, that’s what. I’ve become somewhat accustomed to chaining myself to the computer and microcassette to produce the raw materials for a TP article. I’m not overstating fact; those intimate with this publication have no doubt recognized the trend of ‘production coverage by Bruce Jordahl’. Well I love to do this sort of work, but sometimes being Editor means you get to edit, and that’s just what this latest project offered. That’s an eloquent way of saying that I had some serious assistance in May. First up, TP Intl. Editor Mark Cunningham turned over what he claims to be his most expansive coverage yet - on U2’s Vertigo//2005. Mark’s certainly overqualified to handle this job, as he’s reported on the band for many years now. Joined by trusty photographic ace Diana Scrimgeour (who incidentally has penned the definitive U2 tour journal), Cunningham set out to discover what new creative and technical heights had been topped by the A-List production designers and crew.
Next, we serve up a big dish of Coachella pie, cooked by the ever capable Daniella Shepherd of Rat Sound. Can’t say enough about her skills, passion and timing. She took on the seemingly impossible task of covering the activities of nearly 100 bands over five days, and came out the other side without breaking a sweat. We also had access to the magic finger of Jimi G. for this one. We’re more than a little jealous over their gifts; we hope to bring you much more Daniella-isms and Jimi shots in upcoming issues.
As promised in last month’s Editorbabble, TP US is pleased to offer some photos and prose on the recent Showco reunion held in Dallas. Special thanks to Chari Short and her gang for including us in their special world. And don’t be afraid to send us your photos of the party, and from great Showco moments in yesteryear. We’ll be supplementing this online in the coming months, so keep tuned in to www.totalproductionus.com. Personally, I’m amazed this cool website hasn’t made it in to anybody’s “Here is a list of websites I think you should visit” Publisherbabble ... to date!
Our columnists are getting a break this month as well, as much by space reserved for Bono, The Edge and Co. as deadlines and writer’s block. We promise you’ll see most of them back in the magazine next month!
So what does that leave an Editor to do? Well, in addition to editing (which I daresay isn’t dull at all), I churned out a modest corporate piece on ‘An Evening of Enchantment’. I felt there was already so much rock n’ roll in these pages, I should balance it out with a bit of corporate theatre. Hope you like this issue, and I’m sure there will be those of you that respond (with irony), ‘Why can’t he do that every month?’
Nothing left to do now but hop on a plane and force feed this issue to VIPs and MarComms at InfoComm (unless I can trick somebody into doing it for me ... Mark ... are you out there?) Thanks to our readers for your continued support and interest!

Bruce Jordahl
The Editor bjordahl@earthlink.net