Are You Experienced

From the Microsoft Museum and Shop in Redmond to the Experience Music Project [EMP] in downtown Seattle. Managed to park the smart for $3 and rushed indoors to make the most of our two hours.
Potted history of Northwest music: The Ventures were from Tacoma, WA with the instrumental "Walk, Don't Run" and their choreographed movements, much copied by The Shadows in England. Portland, OR band The Kingsmen hit big with "Louie, Louie" in 1963, a song every band played in England for years after. It was also released by Paul Revere and the Raiders.
Heart, featuring sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, hailed from Seattle and broke through in 75-76. Followed by grunge rock and Nirvana with their thrift-store fashion sense.
Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle in 1942. His early bands were the Rocking Kings and James Thomas & His Tomcats. Of touring with Little Richard he said "bad pay, lousy living and getting burned." I guess Noel Redding would later say the same. Hendrix also played in the backline with the Isley Brothers.
Chas Chandler his UK manager described him as "The best guitar player I'd ever seen." He played Monterey, Woodstock and the Isle of Wight.
The EMP is a Frank Gehry-designed building funded by Paul Allen, founding partner of Microsoft. The building is supposed to represent a smashed guitar a la Hendrix and looks like CADCAM run amok.
In the evening we sample Tex-Mex food in West Seattle, at the newly-opened Matador, which is heaving on a Friday night. The locals are glad of the developing scene as they don't have to travel into town for entertainment.
Some pictures now at: http://smartcar.blogspot.com/