Knight moves Margie Wienk celebrates a haunting new disc BY BOB GULLA

In 1994, when Margie Wienk first moved to Providence from Ithaca, New York, the scene was firmly indie rock. " It was the whole Small Factory thing, " she says, " and my first band, Difference Engine, fit into that idea. " But Providence is now known less around the country for its indie rock than as the Uber-Noise Capitol of the East. " It’s nice that Providence is known for something. It’s been an interesting journey for me in a scene that fosters loud music. "

Wienk’s latest album with her outfit Fern Knight, the haunting Seven Years of Severed Limbs, will be released here in the States on Forced Exposure Records (and on Normal in Germany). It’s an introspective work with lush backdrops of intimate sound. Acoustic guitar, bowed strings, upright bass, piano, Fender Rhodes, accordion, and brush drums all make up the delicate mosaic of a seductive and compelling performer.

Margie, who broke up Difference Engine in ’97, handles most of the instrumental chores herself with the able assistance of longtime friend and Difference Enginer Michael Corcoran. For the upcoming release party, Margie enlisted the help of Alec K. Redfearn and a few Eyesores, of which she herself is a member. In fact, they just returned from Europe following a brief tour. " We’re one and the same, " says Margie. " We work together pretty well. I’ve been in that band and the Amoebic Ensemble since 1999. "

Wienk’s eclectic folk noir sounds draw deeply from the eccentric inspiration of her own musical resume, which also includes the bucolic acoustic sounds of the Iditarod, String Builder, " and more bands than I can enumerate. " But it’s her collaboration with Corcoran that really puts a fine point on her artistry. The duo worked on Fern Knight’s quiet epic debut on and off for three years. " We didn’t really even know what to call ourselves, but we kept working on it until we figured it out. "

Margie graduated from Ithaca College School of Music with a degree in double bass performance. " I’m a classical musician by trade, " she says. " I wanted things to be quieter. So it was easy to abandon my guitar and bass in the late ’90s and pick up an acoustic guitar, cello, and upright bass. "

In addition to booking small tours, making records, and doing time in a handful of bands, Wienk teaches Suzuki Method cello at the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s music school, and plays in the Ocean State Chamber Orchestra.

" The scene is so rich here, " she says. " I’m so fortunate to be involved with so many gifted musicians. There’s an amazing cross-section of people that we should all be inspired. "

The Fern Knight CD release party happens on Friday, September 26 at AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence. Espers and Currituck Co. will also perform. Admission is $6. Call 831-9327.

BANDSONTHERUN. Dave Howard and company recently announced that Westerly native Bob Christina is the High Rollers’ new drummer. Christina actually broke in with the band in January, while former High Roller rhythm king Mike La Belle has signed on with Young Neal as a Viper. The High Rollers, which also now includes bassist John Packer (Duke Robillard), are in the studio as we speak and hope to have a new CD out sometime in the fall.

M-80 tells us that the Fox Sports program 54321 has been featuring M-80 music since the Warped Tour ended. To capitalize on that and its many other recent successes, the band will go coast to coast this November to hit the LG Action Sports Championships in LA at the Pomona Fairgrounds. The quartet is one of only 12 bands chosen to play at the event.

Don McCann from Jiya reports that the band is now looking for a lead singer, a result of his former bandmate/vocalist Ryan departing and forming his own band, the Paperroom. If you’re is interested in singing for Jiya, contact Rob at bigsausage72@hotmail.com, or call him at 440-5820. In other Jiya news, Don is working on a side project (working title: Moneypenny) based in Boston with Jiya’s first drummer Billy and McCann on guitar and vocals. According to Don, the musical will be " like Traffic, Derek and the Dominos, and other old jammers. "

In the wacky world of the Sleazies, Mike, the bass player of Loutz, Violent Anal Death, and Brooklyn Steamer fame, has decided to leave the band to pursue other endeavors. According to bandleader Jamie, with " the recent popularity of color-coded guitar/ drum duos notwithstanding, we’re a bass player-having kind of band. " That said, the esteemed John Darga (Fast Actin’ Fuses, Sinner’s Club, et al.) has stepped in to fill Mike’s void. The band is playing its first show with Darga on Saturday (the 27th) at the Living Room, going on right before ’77 UK punk rockers the Vibrators. The USM is debuting its new lineup as well. Also on the bill are the Marvels from Boston, Endangered Feces from Long Island, and Providence’s own No Regard opening. The show starts at 8 p.m. and it’s all ages. The Sleazies’ first seven-inch, " Gonna Operate On Myself " with " Airpockets In My Brain " on the flip (Rapid Pulse Records) is out and doing well. It’s available at Newbury Comics, Tom’s Tracks, Armageddon Shop, and online at www.undergroundmedicine. com. The band’s first full-length is due out this fall on Pelado Records out of Costa Mesa, CA.

WANDERING EYE. Mary Ann Rossoni brings her impressive storytelling and her band to the Fleet Skating Center in downtown Providence for a free concert at the third annual Celebration of Women tonight (Thursday the 25th). Justin " Buzz " Lyon, Ken Lyon’s son and bassist, is doing a solo acoustic set at 9 p.m. at the Blackstone in Cumberland. Buzz did some great writing during his brief stint in the Mockingbirds, and we’re told he’s excellent all-around, in a gritty sort of heir-to-Dylan way. This is a free show.

Northern Lights starts with the sound that came first from the Kentucky hills, mixes in a bit of western swing, blues, folk, jazz, Cajun, even classical, and delivers proof that bluegrass is more than foot-stomping dance music. However, you can tap your toes to the beat of this whirlwind of a band on Saturday at Stone Soup Coffeehouse, located at the Arts Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket (210 Main Street). The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $12.

In the weird sphere of Johnny Juxo, new projects have, of course, arisen. The latest, the Top Cats, includes Tom Casso on sax/flute/clarinet, vocalist Jan Schmidt, drummer J. Cote, and D. Sousa on bass. Juxo has also been hanging with DJ Swing Daddy and working every Friday at the Atlantic Beach Club in Newport.

There’s also lots of Big Nazo stuff coming up next month. They’ll be at the Waterfront Fest at the Hot Club on Saturday, October 4, the Autumn Fest in Woonsocket, and at the Odeum in East Greenwich closer to Halloween.

On Saturday at the Blackstone, the Becky Chace Band, currently sans drummer, will play a semi-acoustic set, followed by recent Boston-to-Providence immigrants Lucky 57, a female-fronted roots-rock band that’s turning some heads. Best of all, Mark Cutler’s Dino Club headlines. The show starts at 9 p.m. and costs $6, though free passes are available on the venue’s Web site (www.blackstone club.com). And lastly, Smokestack Lightnin’ will be at the Narragansett Café across the bridge in lil’ ol’ Jamestown this Saturday.

If you’d like to get some of your music news in this column, e-mail me at big.daddy1@cox.net