the scoldees

Nancy Sirianni and her musical partner, singer/songwriter Jack Hoffmann teamed up to perform their original songs, alternately singing lead and concentrated on their unique brand of harmony, quirky melodies and hand percussion. They formed the duo (and later trio) All Folked Up, playing regularly in Manhattan and at small Long Island clubs. The pair veered sharply left for a time to self-produce the album project Big Orange Marble, but would eventually find that the key to their sound and their sensibilities would lie in their musical collaboration with long-time soulmate, John Collis.  And so it was that Sirianni, Hoffmann and Collis became the scoldees, a band born of friendship and a love of making music, a band that may just have a little too much fun. Long-time friend and bass player Ted Rydzewski filled out the roster, and together the band recorded 2 CDs, My Pathetic Life and Nightcap World.

Recently "dis" banded, the scoldees are talking about the big reunion tour, but not before 2045.

Released without retail distribution in January 2000, My Pathetic Life included 11 tracks written by Sirianni & Hoffmann, and by Sirianni/Hoffmann/Collis. It was produced by John Michel (Lee Nestor), and recorded and mixed by Brian Harding (Billy Joel, Ray Charles) at world class Cove City Sound Studios in Glen Cove, Long Island, and would go on to acquire critical acclaim and airplay on 92 radio stations across the country. A total of 56 radio stations added the CD to their regular programming (Top40 format stations playing “All I Want” an average of 23 times per week) and 26 stations susequently added a second single, Silly Girl, onto their playlists.  Silly Girl also reported over 15,000 Internet downloads for the scoldees, and earned a spot on both the mainstreamradio.com and mp3.com charts.

On the strength of its airplay, web exposure and press, a national distribution deal was secured before the end of the promotional run.

WHAT A LIFE: “‘My Pathetic Life'‘ by the scoldees is the kind of album that you reach for when the ongoing assault of rap/metal, teeny-popper pop, and electronica gets to be too much to handle...designed to make thirtysomething adults see that music is still occasionally made as it once was. At the same time, though, cuts like "My Bright Life," a delicate confection fronted by Sirianni, and Hoffmann’s rock-edged "Dragonfly" have a contemporary feel nicely suited to triple-A and AC radio.” 
Continental Drift, BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

“the scoldees is a Long Island, NY quartet whose sound is centered around strong melodic songs with tight harmonies and crisp musical embellishments. The band...explores modern folk-rock music with thought provoking lyrics and refreshing melodies. Best tunes are the jazzy title cut, the  jangling  folk-rock  of  ‘All  I  Want’ and  the  poppier ‘Silly Girl’.”                   
RELIX MAGAZINE

“Unique insight into human nature paired with great music can only add up to one great album...just one listen will tell you that they not only excel at what they do, but that they have fun doing it. While this usually translates easily in a live setting, this band has managed to impart it in the studio.” 
FRIDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

NIGHTCAP WORLD was released on OHR Records with national distribution in place, in 2003.

The team for My Pathetic Life was re-assembled for Nightcap World, and the scoldees successfully started out where they left off, gaining more radio station “adds” in the first month of promotion than the debut CD garnered in its entire eight month run. Still receiving airplay in September 2004, the group’s sophomore CD has been played on over 330 radio stations across the country, and the scoldees once again werelauded by the press.

Guest musicians included: guitarist Jeff Pevar (CPR, Ray Charles, Jonatha Brooke), harmonica virtuoso Jon Paris (Johnny Winter, Bo Diddley), saxophone players Richie Cannata (Billy Joel) and Mario Cruz (Bruce Springsteen), guitarists Robin Macatangay and Steve Postell and keyboardist Peter Adams.

“The members of this foursome have certainly grown as songwriters and performers since their debut album, My Pathetic Life, as best evidenced by their compassionate harmonizing that suggests considerable amounts of time on the road together. At their best, co-lead vocalists Nancy Sirianni and Jack Hoffmann offer an update of the mystical Buckingham Nicks sound; indeed, few bands but Fleetwood Mac could begin an album with four tracks as strong as the first four here.” 
All Music Guide

“On their second album, Nightcap World, the scoldees present a compelling collection of original tunes, most featuring Nancy Sirianni’s emotional and diverse vocals, and engaging Folk/Rock arrangements that make the listener want to hear them over and over.” 
FRIDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

“The Scoldees have a sly, afterhours feel that sounds like a cross between impressionistic film music and R&B-flavored ballad rock. The band melds its diverse influences into compelling songs artfully delivered among the several vocalists in the group. The group is top-notch AAA music delivered with style and skill.”
Ink19

“...tunes designed to make thirty-something adults see that music is still occasionally made as it once was...”
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

“...a compelling collection of original tunes that make the listener want to hear them over and over.”
FMQB

“...modern folk-rock music with thought provoking lyrics and refreshing melodies.”
RELIX MAGAZINE

“Nightcap World is a foaming, thirst-quenching crawl from the scoldees...”
ALLENTOWN MORNING CALL

“Ringing acoustic and electric guitars, ethereal harmonies and clever lyrics are just a few of the reasons to check out the scoldees.“
20th CENTURY GUITAR MAGAZINE

“the scoldees sound is at once familiar and organic, without being derivative - full of sweet acoustic flavor and funky underpinnings.”  
ENTERTAINMENT TODAY, Los Angeles

“the scoldees belong in your CD rack, I figure between Santana and Steely Dan in the ‘big kids’ section. The scoldees are very special. Buy this.”
LI ENTERTAINMENT

“Credit the scoldees for bringing the neo-folk movement out of the coffeehouses and to the masses.“
MILWAUKEE SHEPHERD EXPRESS

“Perfect music for the non-head-banging set.”    
SOUNDINGS NEWSPAPER

“...a very edgy folk-rock group, strong on musicianship, heavy  on percussion and blessed    with top-notch harmonies.”
DELAWARE COUNTY TIMES

“...deft, thoughtful and absolutely irresistible.”                                                                                                                                                    
RAPID RIVER NEWS, Asheville, NC

“Nancy Sirianni and Jack Hoffmann offer an update of the mystical Buckingham-Nicks sound; indeed, few bands but Fleetwood Mac could begin an album with four tracks as strong as the first four here.”      
allmusicguide.com

“...the highlight has to be the smooth, deep vocals of Nancy Sirianni.”
listen.com

“...every member is integral to making an amazingly sweet sound. It’s like electrons floating around an atom’s core.” 
spinme.com

“...the scoldees are poised to become folk music's next big thing.”
cdnow.com

“...this is a band that has something to say and a way of making you want to hear it.”
cosmikdebris.com

“The pinnacle of original folk- rock.”
splendid e-zine

“...a sly, afterhours feel that sounds like a cross between impressionistic film music and R&B-flavored ballad rock...” 
ink19.com

“...a smart, slinky, calmly confident, soulful band who knows how to craft consistently solid and catchy tunes.”
fmsound.com

“A very listenable album that doesn't become ‘old’ after repeated hearings.”
greenwichvillagegazette.com

“...a solid, enduring effort that will hold up after repeated listening.”
musicreviewer.com

“Progressive? Pop? Folk? LI's scoldees are a tough quartet to categorize. The band's second album...sparkles with smooth, witty and intelligent songs.”
seaoftranquility.com

“The scoldees provide moments of magic to satisfy casual and serious pop lovers alike.”                                                     
powerofpop.com