Reflections D.J. Stone sings about the Station fire in "Eddie" BY BOB GULLA

D.J. Stone grew up in Warwick, where he worked as a musician and producer. So, in spite of the fact that he moved to Texas years ago, he related all too well to the Station fire tragedy.

It was a few years back that Stone moved to South Texas — San Antonio, specifically — to make a living as a songwriter. Like the rest of us, he saw the images of the Station fire on his TV. As soon as he could grasp the immensity of the situation, he did what all artists were compelled to do — he tried to express himself and his grief through his art. He wrote a song. "I wanted to write a song that would be healing," he says, "so I tried to see it from a friend and co-worker’s point of view."

Stone recently brought his tune, along with an acoustic guitar, all the way from Texas to Rhode Island, to play it for media, family, and reps from the Station Family Fund (a portion of the proceeds of the song will go to this cause).

His song, "Eddie," is powerful and moving and, arguably, the most literate song yet written about the fire. With a new country flavor and a gruff vocal, the song tells a poignant story with subtlety and skill, helping "Eddie" surpass so many of the pieces already written about that awful night.

The song recounts the story of a young music fan with a family who went out one night and didn’t return. The details are chilling and remarkable: "He always came in first and made the coffee/He couldn’t wait to turn the music on," he sings. In another line, the narrator recalls some childhood moments: "We’d ride the rides down at the Point, end up in some greasy joint." And finally, the powerful chorus line on which the whole song turns: "Last night he went to hear the music play/Eddie won’t be coming in today."

Stone’s tact and sensitivity here play major roles. He obviously has some pretty heavy influences, perhaps a reflection of the time he spent learning his trade in Texas and Nashville. In the early ’90s, Stone was nominated for songwriter of the year by the San Antonio Current Magazine and was invited to play at the prestigious Blue Bird Café in Nashville. In Nashville he met and began working with legendary producer Bob Johnston (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Cash). After several stalled attempts, he recorded a CD featuring some of the city’s finest musicians. "Eddie" was recorded during those sessions.

After recording the song in Nashville, D.J. decided it was important for him to return home to be closer to the emotions and people that inspired him to write the song. "Eddie" was released on Stone’s own label, Yankee Records, in November. A percentage of the gross sales of the recording will be donated to the Station Family Fund. Look for it and pick it up, as a token of the heartbreak we shouldn’t ever forget.Go to www.stationfamilyfund.org for more details.

LUPO’S LAST STRAND? So with Lupo’s and the Met leaving its decade-long location, how drastically do you think the local music scene will be affected? From where I sit, not very. Rich Lupo and his veteran staff are quickly making the move to its new home at the Strand, and will continue booking acts ASAP. The 1200-person capacity of the Strand space is smaller than Lupo’s former 1500, but the opening of balcony space toward the end of January at the Strand will expand the capacity to 2000. Ultra is also doing its fair share of booking locals. Get in on the act. Of course, losing the Met — which, sadly, is the baby getting tossed with the bathwater — is a real blow. The Met was a musical institution, the loss of which should be commemorated with as much fanfare as the closing of the second Heartbreak Hotel. While Lupo’s has landed on its feet cat-like in its latest location, the Met has become a dinosaur iced into extinction. We shall miss ye ol’ waterin’ hole. Just for the hell of it, think back to the great shows you’ve seen there. Some might be local acts, some might be prominent indies, some might be those "I saw them when . . ." shows. Store them away. Those will be valuable memories some day, the kind you might regale your grandkids with when they come home with their first piercing.

ZAKK WYLDE HITS THE BULL’SEYE. On December 1, the bidding started on Zakk Wylde’s bull’s-eye guitar. Do you know the one? There’s an interesting story behind it, and not the one Wylde fans know the instrument by. The guitar with the bullseye motif — donated by Wylde to raise cash for the Station relief effort — was recently raffled by Daddy’s Junky Music in Warwick. It brought in over $6400, all of which was donated to The "Doc" Fund, a victims’ fund set up in the name of ’HJY jock Mike "The Doctor" Gonsalves.

The winner of the raffle was longtime Daddy’s customer Rick Webb of Rhode Island. Rick came down to Daddy’s Warwick in August to meet Zakk and pick up his prize. But Webb surprised one and all by refusing the Wylde axe. Instead, he gave it back and asked that the guitar be brought to Ozzfest, have it signed by the Ozzfest bands, and then auctioned off again. The additional funds will also go to The "Doc" Fund. So far, the guitar has been signed by Wylde, Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, Korn, and Jason Newsted, to name just a few. Details of the auction are on www.daddys.com and www.zakkwylde.com. The auction lasts till December 20. Get yer bids in now!

WANDERING EYE. On Friday (the 12th), Mastamindz, Blackstone Valley Crew, and Faber, the winner of the high school bracket in the Institute for Sonic Evolution band battle, will play at Gallery Insane, across from Wes’s in Olneyville. It’s a Rattlehead Records show, as is usuallly the case at the Gallery. The room and the sound is awesome, so check it out. Get in for $10. Also, have you been to Mastamindz newly revamped website lately (www.mastamindz.com)? Down the road a piece at the Century Lounge, you’ll find twang-rockers Lucky 57 with J.J. Baron, the Berkshire Valley Boys, and Su Casa.

At Jarrod’s Place in Attleboro on Friday, Shades of Green will play a Toys for Tots benefit. Also on the bill is Makeshyft, Blocked Wish, Binaural, and Stryk Nine. Don’t think about going without a toy for a wee one or two.

The Blackstone Valley Sinners, not to be confused with the aforementioned "Crew," will kindle the holiday spirit this Saturday (the 13th) at the Call. It’s the release party for their new holiday disc, The Cold Hard Truth About Christmas, and will include special guests Chris Daltry, Joel Thibodeau, Johnny "The Colonel" Macguire, and Dave McCaffrey, plus lots of surprises. Get there early. In addition to great tunes, these dudes have lots and lots of friends. The Weisstronauts will open around 10.

Also on Saturday, you can catch a benefit for the Rhode Island Food Bank. It goes down at Cats in Pawtucket and includes Tung, Red Right Hand, Base 2, and Mongrel. Go to www.peterockenterprises.com for more information.

Lemme know what your music news is at big.daddy1@cox.net