Vinny Appice’s Sabbath Knights at Goldfield Trading Post

October 30, 2026 | Review and photos by Chris Crone

Goldfield Trading Post was rocking October 30, and I couldn’t have asked for a better lineup. Big Machine, Phantom Power, Nova Sutro, and Vinny Appice’s Sabbath Knights brought a little bit of everything to the stage, making for one hell of a night. Goldfield had that familiar packed-house atmosphere, with fans ready to let loose and plenty of energy building as the night went on. But for me, this show was about more than just the music. I was finally getting the chance to meet one of my musical heroes, and that made this one extra special.

Big Machine

Opening the night was Big Machine, a band I’ve followed for several years and one of the first groups I photographed when I started shooting local shows. Frontman Chris and his son Mason have a chemistry that’s impossible to fake. Their connection on stage brings an authenticity and energy that immediately draws you in.

Mason impressed me years ago when I first photographed the band, and it’s been great watching him continue to grow as a performer. The confidence, talent, and passion are still there. Big Machine delivered a solid opening set and got the night off to a great start.

Phantom Power

Phantom Power kept things moving with a hard-hitting set that brought plenty of energy to the growing crowd at Goldfield. These guys came out swinging, delivering the kind of hard rock that keeps you planted in front of the stage.

The night also marked the debut of guitarist Ben, who previously played alongside Scott Eckardt in Zen Vendetta. Now the two are back at it, with Scott on vocals and keyboards, Matt Constant on bass, and Ryan Nagy on drums. Ben brings his own fire to Phantom Power’s original hard rock sound, and from what I saw, he’s fitting right in. Always great to see familiar musicians joining forces and bringing something new to the table. Welcome aboard, Ben!

Nova Sutro

Nova Sutro brought a different flavor to the evening, combining powerful vocals, memorable hooks, and polished musicianship. Their performance had a great balance of melody and intensity, with the band displaying impressive chemistry throughout the set.

The crowd was fully engaged by this point, and Nova Sutro delivered a performance that held its own among a seriously diverse lineup. I also had the opportunity to catch up with Corey Durus Cora Boren, and those moments between sets are always part of what makes covering the local music scene so much fun.

Vinny Appice’s Sabbath Knights

I’ve been a fan of Vinny Appice since his days with Black Sabbath in the early 1980s. I still remember reading in the rock magazines of the day about Bill Ward leaving the Heaven and Hell tour and Vinny stepping in behind the drums. Not long after, I headed down to Tower Records and picked up Mob Rules, followed by Live Evil. Those albums became staples in my collection, so getting the opportunity to photograph Vinny and his band was something I wasn’t about to take for granted.

Sabbath Knights features an incredible lineup, with Jim Crean on vocals, Felipe Rodrigo on guitar, Paul Lerma on bass, and Vinny Appice behind the drums. These guys aren’t simply going through the motions of playing classic material. They bring the power, musicianship, and attitude that this music demands.

Before the doors opened, Vinny came outside and greeted the fans, his entourage then walked past Shawn Irey and me while we were eating at the restaurant next door. They noticed Shawn’s camera and asked if we were heading to the show. When I mentioned I was there to photograph Sabbath Knights, one of them looked at me and asked, “Are you Chris?”

Well, that caught me completely off guard! Having someone from Vinny’s camp recognize me by name was pretty surreal.

Later, I had the opportunity to visit Vinny in the green room. Naturally, I brought along a couple of treasured albums for him to sign: Live Evil and Sacred Heart. Vinny initially gave me a serious look and told me he couldn’t sign them. For a second, I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Then he burst out laughing, joined by the rest of the band. Apparently, I’d just walked right into a joke. Thankfully, he was more than happy to sign them, and I walked away with a couple of prized additions to my collection.

When Sabbath Knights finally took the stage, Goldfield was ready for a trip through some seriously legendary music. The intimate setting put the audience right up close to the action, and the energy in the room was contagious.

Jim Crean’s vocals brought the power and attitude needed to do justice to the material, while Felipe Rodrigo delivered some killer guitar work, capturing the spirit of the original songs without missing a beat. Paul Lerma held down the low end with a solid, driving bass that locked in perfectly with Vinny’s thunderous drumming.

And Vinny? The man behind the kit was an absolute powerhouse. His playing was every bit as commanding as you’d expect from someone with his history. Standing just a few feet from the stage, I had a front-row seat to a performance that brought decades of classic metal history to life.

One of the funniest moments of the night came when the band was getting ready to play “Iron Man.” They joked that they needed Ozzy’s permission first, which brought a huge laugh from the crowd. Moments like that showed the band’s sense of humor and made the performance even more entertaining.

After the show, Vinny and the band continued signing records, CDs, and memorabilia for fans. They took the time to talk, share a few laughs, and make the evening memorable for everyone who came out. And, as far as I could tell, I was the only one who got the fake refusal-to-sign routine!

As a photographer for Capital Chaos TV, I’ve covered plenty of incredible shows, but getting to photograph a musical hero while sharing a few laughs and having records signed made this one stand out from the crowd.

Some shows are great assignments. Others become memories you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.

This one was definitely the latter.

Categories: Concert Photography