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Joe Bonamassa plays Thursday at the Civic Center
Christopher Lee Jenkins, 35, is the singer/guitarist for Izzy Starchild and The Psychedelic Rose, performing at 10 p.m. Friday at Vaudeville Mews, 212 Fourth St.
Q: Izzy Starchild is an alter ego you’ve had for a couple different projects. How did the persona come about?
It’s derived off a childhood nickname; my mom called me “Spaceboy.” She said my attention span was short. Izzy is like a rock and roll prophet from Mars, or something.
Q: Your influences include a lot of guitar-heavy bands. When did you first get into the instrument?
When I was like 10 years old I saw the Monkees and was instantly really into it. I saw a recording of Jimmy Hendrix right after and was obsessed. I asked my parents for a guitar and they broke down and got me one when I was 11. I started playing in bands when I was 19.
Q: Before you started performing you were doing poetry?
Yeah, music was me trying to expand the audience for my poetry. It can be kind of limiting when it’s just literature. If my music took off, I figured I could focus on poetry again and put out some books and stuff.
Q: You’re a Rastafarian. Does your religion have an impact on your rock?
I think so. It has a real positive attitude about it and a hopeful outlook. People sometimes mistake me for a reggae musician, but I’m more influenced by classic rock of the ’60s and ’70s.
