PALEO
The Song Diary

Paleo was born David Strackany in Elgin, Illinois, a town best known for its antique timepieces. His father ran a small old folks home where David earned lunch money mowing lawns, mopping floors, and sharing lunches with the nurses and cooks. He received a degree in poetry and painting from the University of Iowa, and ran a DIY gallery and theater there. He left in 2004 to make his life in music.

Since then, Paleo has played over 250 shows across the US, produced three records of his own and one for DC's These United States. Paleo self-released his first (Misery, Missouri) in 2005, but earned most of his notoriety for his epic songwriting mecca, The Song Diary.

Paleo completed this challenge in April 2007, writing and recording 365 songs in as many days, playing 215 shows across 152 cities, 45 states, and 54,000 miles. The project was mentioned in dozens of publications, including The Washington Post, Magnet, The Chicago Sun-Times, Performing Songwriter, The New York Post, and a spot on NPR's Morning Edition. Paste called it "a streetfight of freakish prolificacy." The Boston Globe remarked "in an age where being prolific is the new black, Paleo is the most stylish of musicians." USA Today’s Pop Candy blog agreed, "if you thought Ryan Adams cranked out tunes like a machine, wait until you meet Paleo."

But some people were seeing more in the Song Diary than a simple feat of endurance. "A man this enlightened might glow in the dark," the up-and-coming music site Daytrotter said. "It's all chaos and intrigue... and gorgeous poetry," said Bruce Warren of WXPN. "A modern day Jack Kerouac," suggested the Dayton Journal News. And Columbus Alive called it "one of the great pilgrimages of our time."

Now after spending the summer writing and recording new material for a new record, Paleo is back on the road, making money to pay for his unique, if a little unorthodox, January 2008 release: The Song Diary's 365 MP3s on one DVD, and a limited edition (365 copies, numbered by hand) 470-page book of lyrics. 2008 will see Paleo touring extensively on both sides of the Atlantic.

While Paleo attracts a variety of comparisons, he doesn't keep up much with trends. The songwriter tips his hat to the old masters of the 60's and 70's of course, but regretfully admits he doesn't really listen to music anymore, old or otherwise. He just plays it. He remains one of a relatively small number of artists who makes his living exclusively from touring, doing all his own booking across the country without label support or a day job or a trust fund. He has had his share of label interest, but there's no indication that Paleo is interested in signing, having made it this far marching lockstep to his own drum.

For Paleo's website, please go to: www.paleo.ws

For a complete tour schedule, please go to: www.myspace.com/paleo