Sabbath Knights / Cougar Candy @ Frog Alley, 7/16/2026

Heavy Metal History Comes to Schenectady   

Sabbath Knights Bring the Music of Black Sabbath and Dio to Frog Alley Brewing 7.16.26

Review and Photos by Stephanie J Bartik.

Some names don’t need an introduction.

For anyone who grew up with Black Sabbath or Dio blasting through their speakers, seeing Vinny Appice behind a drum kit isn’t simply another concert-it’s a chance to witness a piece of heavy metal history.

When I heard he was coming to Schenectady with Sabbath Knights, I knew I had to be there.

Ironically, my connection to the Appice family began long before I ever became a concert photographer.

Thirteen years ago, I wandered into Guitar Center on Wolf Road in Colonie carrying nothing more than a modest camera that was barely a step above a point-and-shoot. I had no press pass, no credentials, and certainly no idea that concert photography would one day become such an important part of my life.

That day, it was Carmine Appice making an appearance.

As a longtime Rod Stewart fan, I knew Carmine from his years behind the drum kit during Stewart’s late-’70s era, and simply meeting him was exciting enough.

Fast forward thirteen years.

When I learned that Carmine’s younger brother, Vinny Appice, would be bringing Sabbath Knights to the Capital Region, I knew I wanted to be there. This time, though, I wouldn’t be standing in line as a fan with a small camera.

I’d be standing in front of the stage, cameras around my neck, documenting another unforgettable night of live music.

Vinny Appice’s career spans more than four decades and includes legendary performances with Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven & Hell, Last in Line, Kill Devil Hill, Rick Derringer, and many other artists. His drumming helped define some of heavy metal’s most iconic recordings, making Sabbath Knights far more than a tribute band. It’s an opportunity to experience these legendary songs performed by one of the musicians who helped create their legacy.

Joining Appice are powerhouse vocalist Jim Crean, Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee; guitarist Artie Dillon; and bassist Jimmy Caputo, creating a lineup that celebrates the music of Black Sabbath and Dio with authenticity, respect, and unmistakable passion.

Opening the evening was local favorite Cougar Candy, whose energetic performance proved to be the perfect warm-up for what was to come. Fronted by drummer Anthony Verrigni, son of Tommy Verrigni of Tommy V Live, the band brought plenty of energy to the stage while reminding everyone just how strong the Capital Region’s rock scene continues to be.

Frog Alley Brewing provided the perfect backdrop for the evening. Its massive industrial taproom-with soaring brick walls, exposed steel beams, towering glass, and open spaces-felt tailor-made for classic heavy metal. With nearly 500 fans filling the venue, anticipation buzzed throughout the room long before the lights dimmed.

This wasn’t a listening-room crowd.

Hair flew in every direction. Fists punched the air. Deep-throated cries of “YEAH!” echoed throughout the building between songs. While the audience leaned heavily male, the women in attendance were every bit as enthusiastic. It was obvious that these songs still hold a special place in the hearts of generations of metal fans.

Before taking his seat behind the drums, Vinny stepped to the front of the stage to greet the audience personally. Sharing stories from his remarkable career and reflecting on his years performing alongside Ronnie James Dio, he immediately established a connection with the crowd that lasted the entire evening.

Then he walked back to the drum kit.

There are drummers…

…and then there are drummers who helped write the soundtrack of an entire generation.

Watching Vinny Appice perform wasn’t simply watching someone keep time. It was watching one of heavy metal’s architects continue doing what he has done for decades. Throughout the evening, he shifted effortlessly between laser-focused concentration and broad smiles, clearly enjoying every minute behind the kit. His thunderous playing reminded everyone why his name continues to command respect throughout the rock world.

The moment Jim Crean stepped to the microphone, the room no longer belonged to the audience.

It belonged to him.

From the opening note until the final song, Crean never relinquished command. His powerful voice handled the soaring melodies of Ronnie James Dio as confidently as the darker edge of Black Sabbath, but what impressed me most wasn’t simply his vocal ability.

It was his connection with the crowd.

He constantly encouraged audience participation, praised the Schenectady fans for knowing every lyric—even many of the deeper cuts—and reached into the crowd to shake hands throughout the night. None of it felt rehearsed. His appreciation seemed completely genuine, transforming the evening into something far more personal than a concert.

Guitarist Artie Dillon faced the daunting challenge of recreating some of the most recognizable riffs in heavy metal history.

He did so brilliantly.

Every crushing riff filled Frog Alley’s massive room, bouncing off the brick and steel as though the building itself had become another amplifier. Whether delivering the unmistakable groove of Black Sabbath or the melodic power of Dio, Dillon captured the spirit of the music while making it feel vibrantly alive.

And now…

Let’s take a brief moment to appreciate Jimmy Caputo’s hair.

Under the stage lights, it became a performance all its own, making every headbang look like it belonged on the cover of a classic heavy metal album.

Fortunately, the musicianship was every bit as impressive.

Caputo’s bass playing anchored the evening with power and precision, locking seamlessly with Vinny Appice’s thunderous drumming to create the driving force behind every song. Between his commanding stage presence and that unforgettable silver mane, he was simply magnetic to photograph.

Following the performance, the band spent time meeting fans at the merchandise table, where a long line quickly formed for photos, autographs, and conversations. It was obvious that many had come not only to hear these legendary songs, but to meet one of the musicians who helped create them.

As someone who grew up loving this music, photographing Sabbath Knights was far more than another concert assignment. It was another reminder of why I still carry cameras into dark venues night after night.

People sometimes ask me what it’s like to photograph concerts.

The truth is, before the lights explode, before the first guitar chord rings out, before the drummer raises a stick, or the singer steps to the microphone, I almost always steal a quiet moment for myself.

Even if I’m standing in a room with hundreds-or sometimes thousands-of people, for just a few seconds, it feels like I’m completely alone.

I look around.

I take in the stage.

The lights.

The anticipation.

The energy waiting to be unleashed.

Then I ask myself the same question I’ve asked countless times.

How did this become my life?

I think back to the woman who wandered into Guitar Center thirteen years ago with a little camera and no idea where life would lead her. She wasn’t thinking about magazines, press passes, or photographing musicians she’d admired for decades.

She was simply a fan.

Somewhere along the way, that fan became the photographer standing between the stage and the audience, preserving moments that disappear as quickly as the final note fades away.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers.

What I do know is this:

I never want to take a single one of these moments for granted.

So I take one deep breath.

I quietly thank the universe for allowing me to be there.

I raise my camera.

The lights go down.

…and then all hell breaks loose.

Rock on.

Sabbath Knights

 

Cougar Candy