PRIMARY GENRE: FOLK CONTACT EMAIL

PRIMARY GENRE: FOLK
2nd GENRE: AMERICANA / ALT. COUNTRY
CONTACT NAME: JON KONRAD WERT
CONTACT EMAIL: [email protected]
CONTACT PHONE:
RECORD LABEL: HILLGRASS BLUEBILLY RECORDS
LABEL CONTACT: KEITH MALLETTE
LABEL EMAIL: [email protected]
LIC & SYNC: HEYDAY MEDIA GROUP / RENEE TRAVIS
HEYDAY CONTACT: [email protected]
"Musically, Wert's reached a new level of possession. His violin: angelic. His banjo: a brothel romp. The lyrics present a
thoughtful meditation on life from a most vulnerable vantage point, one that bombards you with realities of love, responsibility,
isolation, and gratitude." “Timeless” - Austin Chronicle 2013
“BEST ALT. COUNTRY ALBUM of 2011” Independent Music Awards for “Feed the Family” Hillgrass Bluebilly Records
"Wert's sound can be described as soulful and primal, worldly and spiritual, raw and thoughtful and uncompromising. It is
real life music, his compositions and their subject matter. And though he seems to somehow transcend himself and his humanity
through song, he remains irrevocably human, and so too does his music."
-PLUG IN MUSIC/J. Carlson
"If I were to make a list of the 20 most important singer/songwriters of our time, Konrad Wert / Possessed by Paul James, would
undoubtedly be among those at the very top." -NO DEPRESSION 2010
"His musical style can only be described as insanely invigorating. Audiences have witnessed him exercise his skill, which has
been known to enchant and captivate, throwing all present individuals into fevered states of ecstatic jubilation. This guy is a
master of the fiddle, guitar and banjo; he sings about life issues ranging from love and sexuality to demons, God, salvation and
desperation, all performed with the same invigorating passion as he stomps his foot during each song for amplified percussive
effect. When Wert is on stage, you will feel singled out among a room of enthused bystanders, as if he is speaking to you alone
for the distinct purpose of mesmerizing your mind." -J. Payne DT Weekend 2008
"Nominated best "Folk" artist of 2008” - Austin Chronicle
"One-man band Konrad Wert grew up in a Mennonite family, raised by preacher father and a piano player mother, which
accounts for both the baptized-in-fire-soul and musical versatility heard in his gritty Old World music. Wert's mix of blues and
vintage folk howls with a sense of explosive freedom and latent rage-not unlike an Amish kid emerging from the wilderness to
discover America -that instills his simple guitar/fiddle/stomp-box arrangements with unusual passion." - The Onion 2007
Most noteably, PPJ has shared the stage with such artists as:
* Wanda Jackson * Frank Turner * Ramblin’ Jack Elliot * o’death * Ralph Stanley * Larry and His Flask *
* T Model Ford * William Elliott Whitmore * Austin Lucas * Chuck Ragan * The Black Angels * Sturgill Simpson *
* Lucinda Williams * Cedric Burnside * Split Lip Rayfield * Greg Graffin of Bad Religion * Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band *
* Tim Barry * Black Diamond Heavies * Left Lane Cruiser * Rev. Beat Man * The Dead Brothers * Scott H. Biram *
* Drew Emmit & Vince Herman of Left Over Salmon * Eric Mcfadden Trio * Bog Log III * Ralph White of the Bad Livers *
* Red Hunter of Peter and the Wolf * The Meat Purveyors * The Weary Boys * Harlan T. Bobo of Goner Records *
* James McMurtry * The Oblivians * Tim Kerr of Big Boys & Poison 13 * Black Joe Lewis * Erykah Badu * Walter Daniels *
Solo artist: Konrad Wert
Instrumentation: Vocals, Violin, Viola, Banjo, Acoustic / Electric Guitar,
Dobro, Mandolin, Diddley-Bow, Stomp Box
DISCOGRAPHY
“Possessed by Paul James” LP / CD 2006 SYA Records
“Hiram & Huddie 1 & 2” CD 2008 Hillgrass Bluebilly Records
(A Tribute to Hank Williams & Lead Belly (Leadbelly)
“Cold and Blind” LP / CD 2008 Voodoo Rhythm Records
'The Folksinger” DvD / SDTK Film & Soundtrack. 2008 Slowboat Films
"Feed the Family" CD 2010 Hillgrass Bluebilly Records
“Live at Antone’s” LP (Austin, Texas) 2012 NormanDeep Blues Records
"There Will Be Nights When I’m Lonely" CD2013 Hillgrass Bluebilly Records
BITTERSWEET LIFE: AUSTIN CHRONICLE - 2013
http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2013-11-01/bittersweet-life/
“Musically, Wert's reached a new level of possession. His violin: angelic. His banjo: a brothel romp. The lyrics present a thoughtful meditation on life from a most vulnerable vantage point, one that bombards you with realities of love, responsibility, isolation,
and gratitude.”
SAVING COUNTRY MUSIC - 2013
http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-stream-possessed-by-paul-james-there-will-be-nights
“Possessed by Paul Jame’s music has been described by many as more of a life-changing event than a musical experience. He
channels the spirit of music through himself like none other on stage, and leaves crowds staggered.”
BEAT SURRENDER - 2013
http://www.beat-surrender.com/2013/10/29/possessed-by-paul-james-there-will-be-nights-when-im-lonely/
“The new album follows his 2010 IMA award winning release Feed The Family and is a collection of songs that tackles head-on
the everyday trials and tribulations of life with a directness and honesty that goes straight to the heart and the mind of the listener,
stripped of pretence or charade the songs take a direct route to the consciousness”
TEACHER of the YEAR - 2013
http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/possessed-by-paul-james-awarded-teacher-of-the-year-honors
“ Just today Possessed by Paul James was recognized again and presented with the “Golden Apple” by SACU ExCEL program
set up to give recognition to teachers and to encourage collaboration and sharing of best practices, improving the quality of education for our children. The distinction also comes with a public recognition through San Antonio’s CBS/KENS News
Channel 5.
Possessed by Paul James is originally from Florida, and was born into a Mennonite family. He gives credit to his parents for
instilling the value of service to others that is evidenced in his teaching of students with special needs and when Konrad Wert
morphs into the performer Possessed by Paul James, the medium may change, but the desire to make a difference in people’s
lives doesn’t. When Possessed by Paul James performs, his passion equals the passion he brings to his class Monday through
Friday, with many witnesses to the Possessed By Paul James show referring to it as more of a life-altering experience than a simple one man music show.”
Shoulda’ Known Better
Feed the Family
Four Men From the Row
Committed
Men Men Men
Heavy
Breath Again
Texas Rose
Nightmare Waltz
Old Man Souls
When it Breaks
Color of my Bloody Nose
Fathers and Sons
Dragons
38 Year Old Cocktail Waitress
Bourgeois Blues
Back Down Here on Earth
Ferris Wheel
40 Days & 40 Nights
Sweet But Bitter Life
Oh to Rhythm
Older in my Body
We Welcome you Home
Dance with me Tonight
No Windows
Billy Bobby Boy
Warden’s Wife
Lake Pontchartrain
Soy Muriendo
Foot in Heaven / Hell
Fiddle #1 & #2
Take Off Your Mask
If I Go Before You Do
WEBSITE: http://www.ppjrecords.com
FACEBBOK: http://www.facebook.com/PossessedbyPaulJamesOfficial
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/ppjrecords
SONICBIDS: http://www.sonicbids.com/possessedbypauljames
REVERB NATION: http://www.reverbnation.com/possessedbypauljames
HILLGRASS BLUEBILLY: http://www.hillgrassbluebillyrecords.com
VOODOO RHYTHM: http://www.voodoorhythm.com
SYA RECORDS: http://www.syarecords.it
MYSPACE: http://www.myspce.com/possessedbypauljames
WIKIPEDIA: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possessed_by_Paul_James
SLOWBOAT FILMS: http://www.slowboatfilms.com