Biography
Nancy Sirianni, the Scoldees’ lead singer, has already endured sharp barbs from Howard Stern and now feels prepared to handle whatever life presents. A quartet based on Long Island, the group came together in 1997 among longtime friends and issued its debut album, My Pathetic Life, in 2000. That collection blended unhurried, reflective ballads with bright, acoustic-driven pop numbers recalling Natalie Merchant and the Sundays. Core members include Sirianni, who is married to Jackie Martling, Howard Stern’s head writer, along with Jack Hoffman on acoustic guitar and vocals, John Collis handling vocals and acoustic guitar, and Ted Rydzewski on bass. Supporting players on the record were electric guitarists Robin Macatangay and Chris Fasulo, keyboardists Peter Adams, Randy Cantor, and Benjy King, saxophonist Richie Cannata, multi-instrumentalist Shane Faber, and drummer/percussionist John Michel.
Strong original material forms a central part of the band’s appeal, with guitars, organ, and drums layered to produce varied sonic colors and depth. “I Go Crazy” delivers upbeat folk-pop carrying country-tinged vocal phrasing, whereas the fragile, inward-looking ballad “My Bright Life” shifts into a somber mood. Sound effects receive inventive treatment on “Cellophane Man,” and the title track reveals the quartet’s playful, jazz-tinged wit. Sirianni’s crystalline vocals bring to mind Joni Mitchell, Kay Henley, and Shawn Colvin, while the ensemble’s choral blend creates luminous, airy textures. Hoffman’s lead singing can shift from a gritty John Mellencamp delivery to an intimate, hushed tone. The members place great emphasis on crafting rich harmonies, a discipline rooted in their shared history performing Christmas carols within an eight-person vocal ensemble on Long Island.
Sirianni and Hoffman have collaborated musically for a decade, beginning as the duo All Soaked Up at coffeehouses and bars across Long Island. Rydzewski joined on bass soon afterward, though he stepped away briefly to explore another venture. Sirianni subsequently assembled Big Orange Marble with Hoffman and singer-songwriter-electric guitarist Bill Mignoli, resulting in a self-titled album. When Mignoli departed to pursue more aggressive rock, Rydzewski rejoined and longtime friend John Collis was added as a second vocalist, completing the Scoldees lineup.
Strong original material forms a central part of the band’s appeal, with guitars, organ, and drums layered to produce varied sonic colors and depth. “I Go Crazy” delivers upbeat folk-pop carrying country-tinged vocal phrasing, whereas the fragile, inward-looking ballad “My Bright Life” shifts into a somber mood. Sound effects receive inventive treatment on “Cellophane Man,” and the title track reveals the quartet’s playful, jazz-tinged wit. Sirianni’s crystalline vocals bring to mind Joni Mitchell, Kay Henley, and Shawn Colvin, while the ensemble’s choral blend creates luminous, airy textures. Hoffman’s lead singing can shift from a gritty John Mellencamp delivery to an intimate, hushed tone. The members place great emphasis on crafting rich harmonies, a discipline rooted in their shared history performing Christmas carols within an eight-person vocal ensemble on Long Island.
Sirianni and Hoffman have collaborated musically for a decade, beginning as the duo All Soaked Up at coffeehouses and bars across Long Island. Rydzewski joined on bass soon afterward, though he stepped away briefly to explore another venture. Sirianni subsequently assembled Big Orange Marble with Hoffman and singer-songwriter-electric guitarist Bill Mignoli, resulting in a self-titled album. When Mignoli departed to pursue more aggressive rock, Rydzewski rejoined and longtime friend John Collis was added as a second vocalist, completing the Scoldees lineup.
Albums
