Andrew J. Lederer

Well, John Gordillo ended up not being at the club he was scheduled to appear at last night -- he had canceled quite a while ago, apparently, but after the line-ups were sent to the various listings. However, my Edinburgh friend, Vince (who I called "Victor" in an earlier post), was there and I tagged along with him to the Phil Nichol-less "Old Rope" (not, for the inattentive, a club run by a guy named Phil Nicholas), which was not too many paces down the street from the other place.

I had been wanting to check out Old Rope and this would be my last chance before departing. It turned out to be a great experience. I went on just before Josie Long, who was the headliner and Tiffany, who runs the show with (and without) Phil, said I was wonderful and that when I come back, she'll give a nice, meaty, lengthy spot.

I probably would have been nervous if Phil Nichol had been there but now, I figure when I come back he'll already have been told I was good and be seeing me through a prism of goodness. Then, his approval will seem an endorsement and lift me up to a world of respect and attention that I have heretofore only glimpsed from the other side.

Or maybe not. But still, last night was fun.

Then I went back to where I've been staying and an idiot friend from New York called at 5 AM, which angered my host, who -- stressed-out and sleep-deprived -- demanded I leave immediately.

Luckily, the tube had begun running, so I caught some restorative shuteye during several trips back and forth on the Central Line and since then we have been working things out via e-mail, so tonight I may even sleep lying down.

But if I don't, there's always the plane.