WYOMING — While he may not be a household name, yet, Konrad Wert is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, special education teacher and most importantly a family man who plays his unique style of music under the stage name Possessed by Paul James.

The 40-year-old lives in a small town near San Antonio, Texas. He is taking time off from his teaching career of 15 years to tour the country and now the world with his wife Jennifer, their two young sons and the family dog.

His music has been described as fitting into the genres of alt-country, folk country, bluegrass, anti-folk, blues, and punk. However you want to describe it, his sound is truly unique.

We caught up with Konrad at the Wonder Bar in Casper on Friday night where he performed. This is the second time Konrad has made Wyoming part of his musical tour.

During a brief interview, it was very clear that his music is about family and that he hopes to put a spotlight on the topic of public education, special education and arts outreach. You can hear the themes important to him in songs such as “Hurricane.”

“People think that education is what it used to be, and it isn’t apples for the teacher anymore,” Konrad explained. His dedication to education shows in his music and work. He was named teacher of the year in 2013 at the elementary school he teaches at, it was his first year at the new school after transferring from another district.

Konrad said that his stage name came into being from the necessity of using a pseudonym when a public school teacher is moonlighting as a musician in Texas bars, he told the audience that a run in with a student’s parent in such a conservative setting could have profound and negative impacts for a Texas teacher’s career.

He settled on Possessed by Paul James, using his father and grandfather’s first names for inspiration.

While many musicians find touring to be a disruptive activity in their lives, Konrad is making the best of it, with his family right next to him. “We’re learning that you don’t have to perform every other night to make it, we’re learning how to make this business work,” he explained.

Konrad will play in Sheridan on May 7th, at the Black Tooth Brewing Company, the door opens at 7:00 p.m. go check it out if you want an honest, unfiltered and unique musical experience.

After two Wyoming tour dates, he will play in Colorado. Click here for his tour dates.

You can follow Konrad’s musical career on the Possessed by Paul James official Facebook page.