Possessed By Paul James over for a six week tour starting this Saturday

Possessed By Paul James starts his European tour this week in Austria. A tour with some headline shows, festivals and support slots for the Legendary Shack Shakers, all to promote "As We Go Wandering"

The album sounds like something you would here from Mumford & Sons with its military-esqe drumming, fast guitar strumming, the fiddle and expressive vocals. Yet Possessed by Paul James is a far cry from the UK folk-rock band. The singer Konrad West, as known by his stage name of Possessed by Paul James, shows pride for his home roots throughout the album, quite obviously with ‘I Come From SW Florida’. The song showcases his talent, just his vocals and a guitar. As it one of the most stripped back productions on the album, it simply tells the story of family, that most people can relate, by telling the story of how his parents met, and yet pairing it with lyrics like: “let’s go back in the heart of every home, thereby may bitterness confusion and dismay but we will laugh along the Gulf coast waters”  which shows the juxtaposition that comes along with family. Remembering the happy memories as well as the not so pleasant ones.

Love and peace are definitely the standout themes from the record which ironically contradicts the theme and reasoning behind Konrad West’s stage name. By using his grandfather’s name- Paul and his father’s middle name- James, he is referencing something bigger than himself. Wert says it important to acknowledge “the good, the bad and the ugly.” And although peace is definitely a key theme of the album ‘Be At Rest’ highlights the struggles and hurt that teachers, Ward’s other profession, and student’s face in modern society.

It’s hard to find fault with the album – something is a given: if you are fan Mumford & Sons, chances are you will enjoy this, as similarities can be made. Yet he has incredible artistic talent, which is impossible to deny, and that ironically should not be compared. 

Tour dates:

04/06: Attnang, AUS - Pfingstspektakel Festival
07/06: Landshut, DE - Rocket Club
08/06: Berlin, DE - Seven Hearts Tatoo
09/06: Cologne, DE - Sonic Ballroom
10/06: Linter, BE - Picking Bones Festival
11/06: Dedemsvaart, NL - De Gashouder
14/06: Aalborg, DK - 1000Fryd
15/06: Höganäs, SWE - Garage Bar
16/06: Stockholm, SWE - Kafé Himlavalvet
17/06: Mariehamn, FIN - Pub Ettan
18/06: Motala, SWE - Hageby Högar
19/06: Varberg, SWE - Majas vid Havet
21/06: Norderstedt, DE - Music Star
23/06: Waardamme, BE - Cowboy Up
24/06: Middelburg, NL- Kaffee t Hof
25/06: Rotterdam, NL - Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival
26/06: Rotterdam, NL - Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival
28/06: Manchester, UK - Night & Day *
29/06: Birkenhead, UK - The Swinging Arm *
30/06: Newcastle, UK - The Cluny *
01/07: Easton, UK - Maverick Festival
02/07: Burton Bradstock, UK - SouthCider Festival
03/07: Bristol, UK - Thekla *
04/07: London, UK - The 100 Club *
06/07: Stuttgart, DE - Goldmarks * 
07/07: Andelsbuch, AT - Jöslar *
08/07: Salsomaggiore Terme, IT - Festival Beat
09/07: Collalbo BZ, IT - Rock im Ring
10/07: Tabór, CZ - Mighty Sounds 
12/07: Warsaw, PL - Hydrozagadka *
14/07: Hannover, DE - Glocksee *
15/07: Bremen, DE - Lila Eule *
16/07: Emmen, NL - Roots, Ribs & Brews
17/07: Utrecht, NL - dB's

* with The Legendary Shack Shakers