BUSINESS BUZZ
A DIFFERENT
DRUMMER Mechanics know cars, chefs know food, and jewelers know diamonds. Nick Angelini knows drums.
by Sean McCarthy
I
n addition to recording numerous albums and touring the world with the punk rock band A Wilhelm Scream, this New Bedford native has taken his passion for percussion to a new level – designing, crafting, and marketing his own line of custom drums, a pursuit that is gaining him a growing clientele of respected drummers throughout the music industry. From his workshop in the north end of New Bedford, Angelini’s Wail City drum company is prospering thanks to a unique quality product and customer service that separates him from many of the more high-profile competitors. But to those around him, Angelini’s success is not a total surprise. “Nick’s a grinder – he’s devoted to whatever he does,” says guitarist Trevor Reilly, a bandmate of Angelini’s for 22 years in A Wilhelm Scream. “He doesn’t quit. He’s got his family’s work ethic and it shows in everything he does.” And what he does is earning him an international reputation. Music fans around the world buy his albums and
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“He doesn’t quit. He’s got his family’s work ethic and it shows in everything he does.” attend his concerts, and drummers around the world play his hand-crafted creations. What began with a group of adolescent friends struggling to learn their instruments in a New Bedford garage is today on the cusp of what he refers to as “the dream” – a life devoted to making and playing drums. By holding true to his ambitions, Angelini has found himself respected, rewarded, and admired by friends and peers. When he’s not driving a beer delivery truck around the South Coast he can be found on stage, in the recording studio, or in his workshop, content but inspired. “Every drum Nick makes is different, because every drummer who orders one wants something different,” says New Bedford drummer Tom O’Leary.
October 2021 | The South Coast Insider
“They’re made of different wood, and come in different sizes with different finishes. Whatever you’re getting is a one-off item that no one else has. He listens to his customers and takes the time to build it for you. “There’s a big difference between Nick and most other companies. He takes the time to make sure every drum comes out perfect. Most drum companies won’t do repairs for you after the warranty has expired, but Nick backs up everything he produces.”
Local sounds
Angelini’s creations are evidence that all drums are not created equal. Many drummers will admit that the first time they played a Wail City drum was the last time they played anything else, and that the sounds that Angelini’s drums provide are comparable or better than any top-of-the-line brands that have greater notoriety. “As a professional drummer I want the
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